These Leftover Candy Cookies ares soft, thick, and loaded up with caramel and chocolate! It’s truly the best way to give your leftover holiday candy a new life!
This recipe was originally published on November 1st, 2018, but I just updated it with new photos and make-ahead tips.
When Halloween has come and gone, we usually have a ton of candy left over – and I’m not sad about it because that means I can make yet ANOTHER batch of these most-amazing cookies!
The beauty of this recipe is that you can use any leftover candy – Easter, Christmas, Halloween – you name it! Just chop up some chocolate bars (caramel is delicious too!) and throw it into this super-simple, one-bowl cookie dough base. Chill your dough for 1 hour in the freezer or 2 hours in the fridge – this is the perfect time to take down your decorations (wah!) – and then bake!
When you make your dough balls – be sure to build them up rather than out – that along with the chill time will prevent them from spreading like crazy town in the oven.
Once they’re out of the oven, sprinkle them with a little flaky sea salt – it’s SO good paired with all the chocolate and caramel.
Make-Ahead Tips:
These cookies can be made ahead in a few different ways. This is a great way to save time, or start stocking your freezer with a stash of cookie dough for holiday baking.
Fridge: Make the cookie dough, scoop it into balls, and chill them overnight in the fridge for a day before baking.
Freezer: Scoop the dough into balls as in the first method, and then freeze them in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Bake these from frozen – no need to thaw first.
May the weeks between Halloween and Thanksgiving involve lots of these cookies, hot chocolate, and walks outside, leaves crunching underfoot. But mostly, the cookies. Happy Baking, friends!
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Leftover Candy Cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup salted butter, melted & cooled slightly 170 grams
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed 163 grams
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar 156 grams
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled 390 grams
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 and 1/2 to 2 cups candy, roughly chopped See notes for recommended candy
Instructions
- Make the dough: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter and the sugars until well combined. Add the eggs, and vanilla and whisk until well incorporated. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt and stir, scraping the bowl, until everything is just about incorporated. Stir in your chopped candy last, reserving a few pieces for pressing on top of the dough balls.
- Optional Dough Rest: These cookies are no chill, but they will turn out thicker if you do rest or chill the dough a bit. Scoop balls about 70 grams in size, and chill in the freezer for 15 to 30 minutes or in the fridge for 30-60, if desired.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 365° F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place 5-6 cookies on each sheet, leaving some room for spread. Bake for 11-13 minutes. The edges will appear set and the cookies will be lightly golden. Let cool on the
- Serve + Store: Enjoy these cookies while warm (the best!) or transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Store cooled leftover cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Make ahead tip: Cookie dough can be made ahead a day ahead, scooped into balls, and kept in the fridge in an airtight container for 2-3 days before baking. Unbaked cookie dough balls can be frozen for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes of bake time as needed.
Notes
Nutrition
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Lauren says
These are amazing! Such a hit!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much, Lauren!
Beth says
This was a great recipe to use up my leftover Halloween candy! I baked a few and stashed the rest of the scooped dough in the freezer for future cookie cravings!
Stephanie Simmons says
Glad to hear it, Beth! 🙂
Alice S. says
Loved making these cookies with a little help from my kids!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks Anna!
Lisa says
I love the chocolate and caramel in every bite!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks Linda!
Rolan says
Do u have to use white whole wheat flour or can u use all purpose flour if so what measurement do u use
Stephanie Simmons says
Hi! You can sub all-purpose flour in the same amount as the white whole wheat flour – so 2 and 1/4 cups of all purpose flour, TOTAL. 🙂 Enjoy!
Kristen says
These cookies are the best!! Will be making every year.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks Krista!
Celine says
These were absolutely amazing!!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thank you!
Alexa says
What a great idea and fun way to use up leftover Halloween candy! We loved these.
Stephanie Simmons says
Haha yes it is!
April says
It was so hard to stop eating these!
Stephanie Simmons says
Buttery cookies are so good, right!?
Amanda says
I so need to make these cookies because I have way too much leftover candy. These look delicious! Thanks for sharing.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks Amanda! ❤️
Kelly Anthony says
What a great way to use up all the Halloween candy. These cookies look like the perfect amount of ooey gooey goodness!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks Kelly! ❤️
Samantha H. says
These cookies look amazing! Definitely a great use of clearance Halloween candy (I can’t be the only one who does that, right?). I completely agree that there should be more Thanksgiving decorations! It’s my favorite holiday!
Stephanie Simmons says
Clearance holiday candy is the best!
Stine Mari says
I absolutely love the rustic look on these cookies! Although there is no such thing as leftover candy in my house, I am such a sucker for candy. I will however sacrifice some of it for these super yummy cookies. In fact, I think I have to make some this weekend.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks Stine! ❤️
Jacqueline Debono says
Love this idea of turning leftover candies into cookies! I want to try this at Christmas when we always have tons of candies in the house!
Stephanie Simmons says
That’s a great idea!
Adriana Lopez Martin says
Great way to use leftover candy! I need a cookie now looks so gooey and sweet. Would pair nicely with my coffee too. You always have great ideas!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks Adriana! ❤️
Shernell P Cooke says
These cookies look absolutely amazing. What a great addition to any holiday table these would make.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks! ❤️
Jere Cassidy says
Hmmm, I must stop eating all my candy bars. I think they would taste so much better in a cookie.
Stephanie Simmons says
Haha I agree! ?❤️
Gloria says
Well you never want candy to go to waste. These look even more addictive than the original candy…and in my opinion…would taste better too. Time to raid the loot bags!!
Stephanie Simmons says
Haha yes indeed!!