These brown butter Candy Bar Cookies are the perfect solution for the leftover candy that appears during the holidays. I picked out my favorite chocolate-based candy bars, gave them a chop, and added them to a wonderfully buttery cookie base.
The result? Amazing. the candy bars melt and become a little lacy around the edges providing a perfect crunch. All you need is a glass of milk and a little time.
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These Candy Bar Cookies are the answer to the age-old question of what to do with all that candy that comes home from holidays like Halloween, Valentine's Day, and Easter. I have two young girls and the amount of candy they come home with is astounding. Truly.
I developed this Candy Bar Cookie Recipe to help eliminate the ever-present bucket of goodies. And, this is such a good one. Pick through their loot and chop up your favorites. This cookie recipe is absolutely perfect and perfectly delicious. Try it next time your little ones show up with 74,567 pounds of goodies.
How To Make Brown Butter
Brown butter candy bar cookies need brown butter. My love affair with brown butter goes back many years at this point. This simple step absolutely transforms the flavor of the cookies. Don't skip it. It's worth it.
To brown the butter, add one stick of butter to a heavy-bottom skillet or pot on medium-high heat. Do not walk away from this step. Stir often. You will see it start to foam and, then, when the foam begins to dissipate, the brown bits should start to become visible.
The brown butter also has a distinctive smell that should be made into a candle. It's rich and nutty. You'll definitely be able to tell.
Once the butter is browned, remove from heat and let cool for about 5 minutes.
They really should turn the smell of brown butter into a candle, but I digress.
Frequently Asked Questions
How small do I chop the candy bars?
I chopped all of my candy bars into pieces slightly smaller than a regular chocolate chip. You don't want the pieces to be too big. Just keep them all relatively small and consistent in size.
What would not be a good candy for these candy bar cookies?
I would stay away from hard candies or taffy-type candies. These will just melt and make a huge mess in the oven.
Tips and Tricks
- Use room temperature ingredients for the very best cookie result.
- Don't use taffy or hard candies for this cookie recipe. They may spread too much.
- If using full size candy bars, give them a rough chop so that the pieces are at least bite-sized.
Variations and Substitutions
I have used a variety of chocolate-based candy bars over the years. I keep the flavors in the same category, so anything with chocolate, caramel, and nuts is my recommendation, but you can play with this.
Think:
- Snickers
- Twix
- M&Ms
- Baby Ruths
- Milky Ways
- Kit Kats
- 100 Grand
- Crunch Bars
Candy Bar Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 4 cups chocolate candy bars, chopped into small pieces I cut my candy bars into pieces slightly larger than a regular chocolate chip
- smoked sea salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
- To brown the butter, cook one stick of butter in a pot on medium-high heat. Stir often. You will see it start to foam and, then, when the foam begins to dissipate, the brown bits should start to become visible. Once the butter is browned, remove from heat and let cool for about 5 minutes.
- Cream the cooled brown butter, remaining stick of butter, and sugar together.
- Mix in the eggs and vanilla.
- Add the flour and baking soda, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in the chopped candy bar pieces.
- Using a tablespoon scoop, portion dough balls onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. I suggest doing 12 dough balls per baking sheet.
- Before you put the dough balls into the oven, give them a little tap on the top. Just to flatten them out slightly. Transfer to oven and bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove the cookies from oven. The edges will be ever so slightly golden and the top slightly doughy.
- Sprinkle the cookies with a little smoked sea salt and allow to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Candy Bar Cookies recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! And, please leave a comment or review. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
For another great dessert recipe, try my Espresso Brownies!
For more cookies with brown butter goodness, you've gotta try my Brown Butter Oatmeal Raisin Cookies or my Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies!
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