Mix your favorite leftover Halloween candy into a cookie dough that can be frozen and then baked whenever you’re craving cookies!
Save that Candy!
Halloween has come and gone and that means we all likely have buckets of candy sitting around our house screaming to be eaten. I consume my fair share of candy on Halloween and I’m usually in a candy coma the morning after, only to wake up to buckets of leftover candy on the counter. To keep our hands out of all that candy the days after Halloween, I stir it into a simple cookie dough that can be frozen and baked whenever we’re craving cookies.
Watch Me Make Leftover Halloween Candy Cookie Dough
Best Way to Save Your Faves!
Let’s talk candy! What’s your favorite? Mine is anything chocolate and if it has peanut butter, it’ll be in my mouth before it even has a chance to hang out in a Halloween candy bucket. I love Take 5, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Snickers most!
What Do I Need to Make Leftover Halloween Candy Cookie Dough?
- unsalted butter, softened
- granulated sugar
- brown sugar
- eggs
- vanilla
- all-purpose flour
- baking soda
How to Make Leftover Halloween Candy Cookie Dough
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until smooth.
- Beat in the vanilla and eggs until well combined. Add the flour, baking soda and salt.
- Mix until just combined. With the mixer on low speed or with a mixing spoon, stir in the Halloween candy.
Note: For each batch of this cookie dough I make, I stir in about 30 chopped bite-sized candy bars as well as about 10 mini bags of candy pieces like M&M’s and candy corn. A total of 2 cups candy.
I scoop the cookie dough into 2 tablespoon-sized scoops and top with additional candy, just for fun!
The cookie dough balls are first frozen in a single layer on a baking sheet for at least 30 minutes before being transferred to a freezer-safe bag to store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Bake the Frozen Cookie Dough
When we’re craving cookies, I simply remove the number of cookie dough balls we want from the freezer and place them a few inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
They bake at 350°F for about 12-14 minutes or until they start to brown and crisp around the edges. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Or enjoy them warm right off the baking sheet.
They’re the kind of cookies that everyone will love because they’re crisp around the edges, chewy in the middle and loaded with all kinds of crunch and chew from the variety of candy baked into them. A sweet surprise in every bite!
I have no doubt these frozen cookie dough balls will come in handy over the next few months when family is in town or we’re entertaining friends around the holidays.
I dipped into our candy supply today so I could make a batch and bake some for us to enjoy this weekend. I have to say, all the candy in these cookies makes them awesome and irresistible! I’m planning to make several batches this weekend so we have a freezer full. Nothing beats warm cookies at a cravings notice.
Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween! If you make this Leftover Halloween Candy Cookie Dough, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me or tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see. 😍 I love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the recipes I share. Enjoy!
xoxo,
Leftover Halloween Candy Cookie Dough
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 32 mins
- Yield: 30
- Category: Dessert
Description
Mix your favorite leftover Halloween candy into a cookie dough that can be frozen and then baked whenever you’re craving cookies!
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2–1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups leftover Halloween candy (about 30 bite-sized chocolate bars chopped and 10 mini bags of candy pieces such as M&M’s and candy corn)
Instructions
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until smooth. Beat in the vanilla and eggs until well combined. Add the flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until just combined. With the mixer on low speed or with a mixing spoon, stir in the Halloween candy.
- To freeze the cookie dough for baking later, line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop 2 tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the baking sheet. Scoops of dough can be close together at this point. Press a few extra pieces of chopped candy and candy pieces into the tops of each scoop of cookie dough, if desired.
- Place baking sheet in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Take the cookie dough out of the freezer and transfer to a freezer-safe plastic container or plastic bag. Return the dough to the freezer and store until ready to bake. Dough can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- When craving a cookie, simply remove the number of cookies you want from the freezer and place a few inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 12-14 minutes or until cookies start to brown and crisp around the edges. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
If you want warm cookies shortly after mixing the cookie dough, refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes before placing 2 tablespoon scoops of dough a few inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Press a few extra pieces of chopped candy and candy pieces into the tops of each scoop of cookie dough, if desired. Bake at 350°F for 9-11 minutes or until cookies start to brown and crisp around the edges. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
I also had issues with these cookies spreading flat and burning around the edges. Using any candy with caramel doesn’t seem to work, as it crystallizes, burns, and makes the cookies stick (even with a silicone sheet underneath it). My boys said they taste fine, but I wouldn’t ever make these for anybody beyond my own family. Not an attractive cookie!
Hi Beth! I’m sorry to hear they didn’t bake as great for you as they’re supposed to. I always use caramel in ours and love the way it bakes throughout each cookie with some caramelized edges and pockets on the tops. Some are certainly prettier than others, but all taste amazing to us.
We make these all the time, bake a few and freeze the rest. They are perfect to quickly bake anytime you need a cookie. They are delicious!
DO NOT MAKE THESE! I followed the directions to a tee. They are so ugly and thin, most are sticking to the baking sheet and fall apart when removed. I was going to take these to a cookie exchange, but they are embarrassing. Such a waste of ingredients.
Hi Jacque! It sounds like something went wrong on your end as this recipe is tried and true and has been baked with success and enjoyed by millions for years. The type of candy you mix into the recipe could certainly effect the final results, but it sounds like something was wrong with the base cookie dough mixing on your end. I’m bummed to hear you didn’t get to enjoy them like the rest of us have for years.
I haven’t made these yet but I went overboard buying Halloween candy. Do you have any recommendations for high altitude?
I recently moved from Dallas and have never baked in high altitude before and have heard it’s different. Thanks!
Hi, Claudia! I don’t have any experience baking at high altitudes, but these are some sources I would trust for tips. Hope this helps. Enjoy! ❤️ https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/learn/resources/high-altitude-baking
https://iambaker.net/high-altitude-baking-tips/
Cookies seemed to spread way too much. Edges of cookies were dark brown while the center was raw at only 12 minutes. I think the recipe has way too much sugar and will try to remake with 1/2 cup of white sugar and 1/2 cup of brown sugar instead. This is my second year trying this recipe and same issue happened both times
Jasmine, I had the same experience. Everything tasted AMAZING, but the cookies came out HUMONGOUS and very thin. I actually think it’s the butter that did it. I was also curious whether the process of freezing them made the batter “behave” differently. I’m excited to try The Baker Mama’s Monster Balls, as another commenter said she makes them weekly!
I’M OUT OF BROWN SUGAR :(((((( please tell me there’s a way to salvage this??
Hi! You can use all granulated white sugar if you have 2 cups or you can replace the 1 cup brown sugar with one of these brown sugar substitutes: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/brown-sugar-substitutes Hope this helps. Enjoy!
Hello!
I chilled the dough for 20 minutes as recommended and then baked them all!
I am leaving some out for my family but have decided to freeze the rest in a container with parchment paper in between the layers. I want to freeze them to have next week on Christmas.
Do you think this is okay?
Hi Jessica! Yes, you can definitely freeze the already baked cookies. Putting them in a freezer safe container with parchment between each layer is perfect. I’m sure everyone will enjoy them!
These are so good and such a fun way to use up candy! I baked about half right away and froze the other half. Thanks for this recipe, I have a feeling it will become a beginning of November tradition!
Yay! So happy to hear. They’re our favorite tradition! Continue to enjoy!
This is a great recipe! I enjoyed having some cookie dough in the freezer for last minute treats. I’ve been looking forward to making them again this fall! I used salted butter and still added the salt called for in the recipe and didn’t find them overly sweet. I also put the candy in the fridge before cutting, which worked well in making them easier to cut without smashing them for most except 100 Grand (that caramel got pretty hard).
These are amazing!! Keeps me from picking at the candy all day 🙌🏻. I used 1/2 of each sugar and they’re still amazingly delicious and sweet. I’m thrilled to have some pre-made cookies in the freezer as well.
Thanks for sharing this recipe! I went ahead and made it with some early Halloween candy.
This was probably user error (may have been an error in measurement on my part), but I found these to be pretty sweet. For me, adding a little extra salt and saltier candies helped.
I’m looking forward to trying it again! thanks!
Made these this week with leftover Halloween candy (yes it’s January) and Christmas candy (those dang stockings). I used twix but be careful because the caramel oozes out and burns. I made these to use up candy and my plan was to freeze them. We ended up being invited to neighbors for dinner and I had something to bring on short notice. Yummy! Thanks for the idea. Now to check out those monster balls from a few comments up.
Wow!!! I cannot stop eating these cookies!! Even my husband loves them and he doesn’t usually like sweets! I added an extra 1/2 tsp of salt and it blew them out of the water! He wants me to save this recipe forever that’s how good they are! Thank you!!!
Never mind!!! I just found my answer in the notes! I love your recipes – the monster balls are made every week in my house, so the kids have some quick, yummy protein to grab on the way to all the sports!
Hi! Can these be baked right away, or are they meant to baked from frozen?
Hi Ruby! You can definitely bake them right away, but I would suggest chilling the balls of dough for 15-20 minutes first to prevent from spreading too much. Enjoy!
As others have said, these came out very thin (not at all like the picture). I am glad I added extra salt. They also took 4-5 minutes longer to bake than instructed. I did not freeze, perhaps that is why? I followed the note for how to bake without freezing. They do taste good!
Hi Samantha! Did you leave the cookie dough in scoops or flatten them? I don’t flatten these cookies before baking them so they spread nicely as they bake. I’m also wondering if your dough might have been over-mixed which would have caused them to spread quicker as they baked. Also, each batch of this cookie dough is different depending on the variety of candy that is mixed in so if you used more caramel-heavy or quick-melting candy, they would probably spread more as they bake. Oven temperatures certainly can vary so that is probably why yours took a bit longer to bake. Hope this helps and that you get to enjoy them again soon!
Do you have to line with parchment paper?
Hi Allison! You don’t, but I would recommend spraying or lightly greasing the cookie sheet so the cookie dough doesn’t stick during the initial freeze. Hope this helps. Enjoy!
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