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Home » Recipes » Cookies

leftover candy cookies

October 27, 2021 34 Comments

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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! 

A pan of leftover candy cookies topped with flaky sea salt. this recipe

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!

A close-up of chopped up halloween candy.

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!

A bowl of cookie dough full of candy pieces.

Cookie dough balls on a baking sheet.

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. 

Baked cookies on a cookie sheet.

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. 

Leftover candy cookies, sprinkled with flaky sea salt, on a pan.

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!

Leftover candy cookies on a tray, sprinkled with sea salt.

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A pan of leftover candy cookies topped with flaky sea salt.

Leftover Candy Cookies

These cookies are buttery, soft, and loaded with caramel and chocolate - the best way to give your leftover holiday candy a new life!
5 from 19 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: Dessert
Keyword: Christmas Candy Cookies, Halloween Candy Cookies, Leftover Candy Recipes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Dough Chilling: 1 hour
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 14 cookies
Calories: 125kcal
Author: Stephanie Simmons

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup salted butter, melted 1.5 sticks
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
  • 1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 and 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup white whole wheat flour Sub 1 cup all-purpose for this, if desired
  • 1 tsp cornstarch Tapioca starch works too
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cups candy, 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 egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and whisk until just incorporated. Add the flours, starch, baking soda, and salt and stir, scraping the bowl, until everything is well incorporated. 
    Cut your candy into chunks and stir it into the dough.
  • Chill: Chill the dough, covered with a clean kitchen towel, for 1 hour in the freezer or 2 hours in the fridge - this is important in preventing the cookies from spreading like crazy when baked. Don't skip this step!
  • Bake: Preheat your oven to 325° F. Let the cookie dough sit out for a few minutes if it's too hard to scoop. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Scoop cookies into oversized tablespoons - building the cookie dough balls upward not outward. 
    Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until they just barely look done. Don't overbake! They'll set up as they cool on the cookie sheet. 
  • Serve + Store: Let cool on cookie sheet a 5 minutes, then serve warm or transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Store leftovers 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 then chilled in the fridge in an airtight container. (The dough will be hard to scoop if you don't do it before the longer chill.)
    Unbaked cookie dough balls can be frozen for up to 3 months. Bake frozen cookie dough balls for the same amount of time, or add an extra minute if needed - don't thaw them first.

Notes

NOTE: For your candy, use any kind of chocolate or caramel that you like/have! I don't recommend harder candy like whoppers or heaths because they're way too crunchy. Things like snickers, milky way, reeses, hersheys, caramels, etc. are great!

Nutrition

Calories: 125kcal

 

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Comments

  1. Beth says

    November 02, 2022 at 6:00 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 03, 2022 at 9:23 am

      Glad to hear it, Beth! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Rolan says

    December 29, 2019 at 9:40 am

    Do u have to use white whole wheat flour or can u use all purpose flour if so what measurement do u use

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      December 29, 2019 at 11:42 am

      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!

      Reply
  3. Alexis says

    November 12, 2018 at 1:33 pm

    5 stars
    What a great idea and fun way to use up leftover Halloween candy! This is certainly a sugar filled time of year.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:50 am

      Haha yes it is!

      Reply
  4. Chef Mireille says

    November 08, 2018 at 12:53 am

    5 stars
    oooh – those just look heavenly with all that oozing melting chocolate. Definitely would put the kids in a chocolate coma!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:52 am

      Right?! Adults too ?❤️

      Reply
  5. Linda says

    November 04, 2018 at 12:40 am

    5 stars
    Whoaaa black Friday is coming early this year, but these cookies will be my favorite. I love how you combine both caramel and chocolates so there’s always excitement in each bite.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:53 am

      Thanks Linda!

      Reply
  6. Anna Hettick says

    November 03, 2018 at 7:09 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is PERFECT for after candy heavy holidays like Halloween & valentine’s day! I love making cookies with my kids candy. Leftovers not needed, I just pick out the best to keep for cookies! ?

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:54 am

      Thanks Anna!

      Reply
  7. Krista Price says

    November 03, 2018 at 6:52 pm

    5 stars
    Unfortunately I don’t have any leftover candy because I don’t have kids and we don’t get any trick or treaters, BUT this gives me an excuse to stock up on all of the discounted Halloween candy! YES! This is awesome love, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:55 am

      Thanks Krista!

      Reply
  8. Amanda says

    November 03, 2018 at 4:22 pm

    5 stars
    I so need to make these cookies because I have way too much leftover candy. These look delicious! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:55 am

      Thanks Amanda! ❤️

      Reply
  9. April says

    November 03, 2018 at 3:08 pm

    5 stars
    Buttery is my favorite type of cookies! I just love them. But when you load them with caramel and chocolate – I just can’t stop myself from eating everything I see in front of me! 🙂

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:55 am

      Buttery cookies are so good, right!?

      Reply
  10. Kelly Anthony says

    November 03, 2018 at 8:14 am

    5 stars
    What a great way to use up all the Halloween candy. These cookies look like the perfect amount of ooey gooey goodness!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:55 am

      Thanks Kelly! ❤️

      Reply
  11. Samantha H. says

    November 03, 2018 at 6:28 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:55 am

      Clearance holiday candy is the best!

      Reply
  12. Stine Mari says

    November 03, 2018 at 4:07 am

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:55 am

      Thanks Stine! ❤️

      Reply
  13. Jacqueline Debono says

    November 03, 2018 at 3:11 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:56 am

      That’s a great idea!

      Reply
  14. Adriana Lopez Martin says

    November 03, 2018 at 1:45 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:56 am

      Thanks Adriana! ❤️

      Reply
  15. Shernell P Cooke says

    November 02, 2018 at 10:15 pm

    These cookies look absolutely amazing. What a great addition to any holiday table these would make.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:56 am

      Thanks! ❤️

      Reply
  16. Jere Cassidy says

    November 02, 2018 at 9:20 pm

    5 stars
    Hmmm, I must stop eating all my candy bars. I think they would taste so much better in a cookie.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:56 am

      Haha I agree! ?❤️

      Reply
  17. Gloria says

    November 02, 2018 at 5:55 pm

    5 stars
    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!!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:56 am

      Haha yes indeed!!

      Reply

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