If you're looking for something to do with all of that extra Halloween candy, I recommend shoving it into these Halloween candy brookie bars! Brookies are basically just a brownie and a cookie put together. So, you could say brookies are literally the best of both worlds.
Brownies and chocolate chip cookies are the ultimate dessert mash up. A perfect Halloween dessert recipe to use up leftover candy. You could make these without the added Halloween candy also if you prefer!
I love serving anything in a dessert bar form. It makes it more fun to eat, easy to make, and fun to look at. This dessert is also great for kids to help with as they can put any chocolate candy add ins that they like! If you enjoy making dessert bars, be sure to check out my other dessert bar recipes!
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Brookie Bar Ingredients
The ingredients included are simple and the Halloween candy you use is completely up to you. We make two separate batters, one for the brownie base layer and then of course some chocolate chip cookie dough.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ingredients
- unsalted butter, softened
- sugar
- brown sugar
- egg
- vanilla extract
- flour
- baking powder
- baking soda
- salt
- chocolate chips
Brownie Batter Ingredients
- unsalted butter, melted
- sugar
- brown sugar
- eggs
- unsweetened cocoa powder/baking cocoa
- espresso powder
- chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- vanilla extract
What kind of candy should I use?
It's best to stick with candies that will bake nicely into the batter or dough while still ensuring a soft bite. For instance, if you put a hard sugar candy like a jolly rancher in your brookie bars, you will either be biting into something very hard or it will melt oddly into the dough - not good!
I like to stick with chocolates, caramels, or any soft type of candy for these dessert bars. Use whatever leftover Halloween candy you would like, but chocolate candy variations compliment brookies the best.
Also, if you don't go trick or treating or you just want to make these bars for fun, here are some of the candies I used for this recipe.
- Halloween orange filed Oreos
- Reeses
- Green Witch's Brew Kit Kat bars
- Ghoulish Green Snickers
- Brach's caramels
- Halloween M&M's
- edible glitter (I use The Sugar Art brand)
- Halloween sprinkles
How to Make Halloween Candy Brooke Bars
Halloween candy brookie bars require two separate mixtures, one for the brownie batter base layer and one for the chocolate chip cookie dough top layer. You'll want to prepare a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper and nonstick baking spray to ensure the Halloween candy brookie bars do not stick.
Brownie Batter Instructions
Start by melting the butter for the brownie batter and tossing in the chocolate chips, allowing them to melt down with the butter, mixing to combine. While that is melting, whisk the dry ingredients together in another bowl including flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt.
Then add in your eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Whisk vigorously for a solid minute until well combined. Fold in dry ingredients just until combined but do not overmix. Pour into prepared pan and spread into an even layer.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Instructions
In another small bowl, whisk together all of the cookie dough dry ingredients. With an electric mixer, beat softened butter, both sugars, and vanilla together in a separate bowl. Then beat in the egg until combined. Add in flour mixture and lastly fold in the chocolate chips. Dough will be thick but easily scoopable.
Now that you have both the brownie batter and chocolate chip cookie dough prepped, all you need to do is layer them together to create brookie bars!
Remember brownie + cookie = brookie.
Start by layering your brownie batter in an even base layer in the prepared 9x13 baking pan and then adding some varied candies on top. I line my pan with parchment paper and also spray with nonstick baking spray. Leaving an overhang of parchment paper will help you lift the cookie dessert from the pan after baking and it also ensures an easy release/no sticking! I also use metal binder clips to help keep the parchment paper in place while assembling the brookie bars.
Next, scoop chocolate chip cookie dough on top and press evenly with your hands or a spatula. Then, you'll push in even more chopped Halloween candy on to the top. These are truly loaded with candy!
Next, put them in the already preheated oven and bake until the bars are golden on top but still soft and a bit underbaked. Remember the brookies will continue to bake in the hot pan even after you remove them from the oven.
You want these to be fully baked, but also the worst thing you could do (and about the only way you could mess these up) is if you overbake them. If brookies are getting too brown on top while baking (check around the 20–25 minute mark), cover them with aluminum foil during the rest of the baking process.
How can I tell when the brookie bars are fully baked?
You'll see in the below pictures, the difference is subtle. On the left is before being baked and on the right is after being baked. The top will just turn a little golden brown and puff up around the candies. You can stick a toothpick in the center and it should come out with a few moist crumbs but no batter. Removing from the oven a little bit earlier is better than too late as the brookies will continue to bake in the hot pan.
It is also essential to allow the Halloween candy brookie bars to fully cool before removing from the pan. I like to lift them out with the parchment overhang and then cut them versus cutting in the pan. I think it makes it easier. However, if you pull them out too soon they could fall apart, so make sure they've cooled completely or at least just slightly cool to touch.
How do I cut brookie bars?
Cut these bars with a clean sharp knife like you normally would with brownies or cookie bars. Because we bake these in a 9x13 pan, we can slice them in a few different ways to get different serving amounts. You can slice once down the middle and 5 times horizontally to get 12 bar shapes. If these servings are too large, you can cut each one in half to get 24 square bars.
Brookie Bars Variations
You can easily swap in any Halloween candy you want. As I mentioned above, I would stick with chocolate candy varieties to achieve the most tasty chewable brookie dessert bar. See above for a list of the candies I used in these Halloween brookie bars.
Additionally, I like to add some of the candy between the brownie layer and the cookie dough layer, but you could opt to only include the candy on top of the brookies or between the brookie layers, instead of doing both. If you really want a candy packed dessert bar, then do it both ways like I show in the pictures.
Lastly, you could opt to not use any Halloween candy at all and just make brookie bars. Feel free to alternate the batters as well instead of having one layer brownie and one layer chocolate chip cookie dough. You can really customize these how you would like!
Equipment Needed to Make Brookie Bars
All you really need is a 9x13 baking pan for this recipe to bake the dessert bars in. Additionally, you will want an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to mix the chocolate chip cookie dough. The brownie batter can be whisked by hand.
How to Store Brookie Bars
Store the baked Halloween candy brookie dessert bars in an airtight container at room temperature for a week. I recommend baking these bars fresh or a day in advance of when you need them. The more fresh they are and less exposed to air, the better and softer they will be.
Top tip
You do not want to overbake these brookie bars. Trust me on this. You have to find the sweet spot of underbaked and overbaked. If they are underbaked, they will fall apart and if they are overbaked, they will be crunchy and too hard to eat. I personally always underbake just a tad because they have to be cooled completely before cutting. I simply let them finish baking while they are cooling on the counter. Because of the heat from the pan, the brookies will continue to bake so take them out of the oven when they're just a little bit underbaked but golden on top. Also be sure to store these in an airtight container once cooled, so that they stay moist and don't dry out!
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Leftover Halloween Candy Brookie Bars
Ingredients
Brownie Batter Layer
- ½ cup unsalted butter (melted (1 stick))
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs (room temp.)
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon espresso powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Layer
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temp.)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg (room temp.)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- pinch of salt
Halloween Candy
- 1 ½ cups assorted chopped Halloween candy ((use as little or as much as you'd like up to 1 ½ cups total chopped))
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prep 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper and sprayed with nonstick baking spray.
- Chop all of the Halloween candy in pieces and set aside.
Brownie Batter Layer
- Melt butter and add in chocolate chips to melt.
- While the butter melts, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Set aside.
- The chocolate chips should be soft enough to whisk into the melted butter now until fully combined. If not fully melted, heat a little bit more. Whisk in granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and two eggs. Whisk vigorously for one minute.
- Fold in the dry ingredients until just combined. At this point you can pour the brownie mixture into the prepared baking pan and spread in an even layer, then set aside.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Layer
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In another bowl, cream together room temperature butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg and vanilla extract until fully combined. Then mix in the dry ingredients until a dough forms. Lastly, fold in the chocolate chips.
Assembling Halloween Candy Brookie Bars
- Add chopped Halloween candy on top of the brownie batter layer in the pan and push the candy into the batter. Use around ½ cup of the chopped candy but don't worry about being too specific. You can use a little more candy or a little less here.
- Then scoop the chocolate chip cookie dough in small scoops all over the top and push it down evenly with your hands.
- Add the rest of the chopped Halloween candy on top of the cookie dough layer and be sure to push the candy in just a bit so that it can bake easily into the cookie dough.
- Place in the preheated oven on the middle rack for 25 minutes. Check on your brookie bars and ensure the top is not browning too much. If it is, you can add a piece of foil to tent the top of the brookies (this is not always needed, but be sure to check). Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until completely baked, usually 35-40 minutes total.*
- Let brookies cool completely before removing from the pan. One cooled, remove and slice evenly into 12 rectangle bars or 24 square bars. Enjoy!
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Notes
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