Hi guys. I’m Emily Carter, and on this AJ Zorvella Bakes, we’re making the perfect Halloween candy so we inherited some so I have a Halloween Chocolate Cookies Recipe that we can use to get rid of all the chocolate ones so let’s get started it’s basically a chocolate chip cookie recipe that I thought we could just put in the cut candies the chopped candies.
Halloween candy leftover cookies, but I’m also going to use this recipe not just for baking. I’m also going to show you how I’m going to freeze them, so I’ll have cookies ready for Thanksgiving. I’ll be able to just pull them right out.
So, let me get my ingredients. For this recipe, you’ll just need a hand mixer, or if you have one of the big KitchenAid mixers, that works too. I think this recipe is pretty easy to make.
You’ll need flour, some vanilla, baking soda, a couple of eggs, white sugar, brown sugar, two sticks of butter, and two cups of chocolate pieces. You can use chocolate chips, or you can use chopped Halloween candy. Cutting up the candy was fun, and it was even better getting to sample a few pieces!
Equipment List
- Hand mixer or stand mixer (KitchenAid)
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
- Baking sheet (cookie sheet)
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat (optional but recommended)
- Cooling rack
- Sharp knife (for chopping candy bars)
- Cutting board
- Freezer-safe baking sheet (for freezing cookie dough)
- Freezer-safe zip-top bags or airtight freezer containers
Ingredient List
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Sugars
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
Dry Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt (the creator reduced the original amount from ½ teaspoon because the butter already contains some salt)
Mix-Ins
- 2 cups chopped Halloween candy (Milky Way, Twix, Kit Kat, M&M’s, etc.)
- Extra semi-sweet chocolate chips for topping before baking
Also have some more chocolate chips here on this side for pudding on top and I’ll show you that before I even get started in the creaming part I think I will add a little bit of the butter or the salt I’ll just do half of it so instead of half of a teaspoon I’ll do a quarter of a teaspoon so I have my measuring spoon here to we’re just going to add the eggs and the vanilla and then mix it in some more you guys this is a pretty straightforward recipe whenever you make your cookies you always want to cream the butter and sugars first and then start slowly adding everything I didn’t do my spill let my spill over I love extra I love having extra vanilla now we are adding the dry ingredients so I have a table a teaspoon of baking soda and let me get my quarter teaspoon of salt when after thinking about it I was like I don’t think I probably had that much salt in the butter anyways so that way it just cuts a little bit more and you can actually taste more of the sweet flavor when you do follow the recipe .
I’m gonna do two and a half cups of flour and then we’ll just blend that up so now I get to add the candies so these are mostly like Milky Way’s and Twix and KitKat’s plus M&Ms I do have some peanut M&Ms but mostly not I kind of wanted to stay away from a lot of the peanut flavor which I did make my husband a gluten-free version more the peanut butter ones because it’s gluten free so we were able to put a bunch of them into the freezer and not only that recipe below as well all I did was omit the flower for a gluten-free flour and everyone made sure that there were no wafers in the cooked into the candies and that was a good substitution to make it gluten free.
I’m just gonna get this in and mix it up oh yeah this is gonna be so good let’s get them onto the baking sheet shall we into the oven 350 for 12 to 14 minutes can’t wait and so now I’m going to put my next cookie sheet with a bunch of them but I’m going to just put them into the freezer so that way I always have something that I can quickly cook up for when we would like to have them or I could use them for Thanksgiving or for when friends come over so it’s just an easy way to be a little bit more prepared this season and if you are watching me thinking I should try a certain of one of your favorite cookie recipes .
This going now these ones are just going to the freezer and it does take a little bit longer to kind of put the the chocolate chips and but it makes it look better to me and it will give it even more chocolate chip cookies with milk chocolate chips or some white chocolate I’m a semi chocolate because I think it just tastes even better so even though there is milk chocolate in here because of the candies the semi-sweet ones went on top these look delicious they smell so good I’m gonna let them rest for a little while but then I’ll be trying you know I have to try it so good I got the one that looked like it had Milky Way my favorite I love Milky Way.
I think I could taste it but I taste a lot of sweetness and it’s so good you guys so think of the possibilities I mean you could do like Christmas candies or you could do like seasonal different seasonal kinds maybe in the spring maybe from Easter candy period yes this would be a good one to do I usually take my kids candies and make Halloween candy pancakes with them and then put them in the freezer and then they can have breakfast.
I don’t think they’re really into pancakes at this minute give us about a month and then a little blue wanting it again but this is so good so I’ll have to see how everybody else likes them so I have a taste tester so these are all the Halloween candies that I chopped up do you like them do you think it would be so good like maybe with peppermint chocolates and stuff like Christmas candies that would be really good I think so Wow got a little snack for the family tonight I hope everybody likes it do you think they will so I’ve had these in the freezer for about an hour.
I am going to just write the directions on how to cook them so 350 for 12 to 14 minutes because they’re frozen I am going to watch them a little bit more because I want to make sure that they’re getting cooked all the way through and we’re not overbake either so you can just put these right into the oven this is gonna be great for when we have guests and I’m hoping they will last till Thanksgiving if not I might have to make another batch and slip them in the freezer and then tada they are ready for the freezer and ready for whenever I need them so these freezer bags will keep them nice and fresh and I would keep them no longer than three months in case you were wondering but I guarantee they won’t last that long .
I hope you get a chance to make this recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use leftover Halloween candy instead of chocolate chips?
Yes! That’s what makes this recipe so much fun. Chopped candy bars like Milky Way, Twix, Kit Kat, and M&M’s all work well. It’s a great way to use up leftover Halloween candy instead of letting it sit in the pantry.
What kind of candy works best?
Soft chocolate candies melt nicely in the cookies. Milky Way, Twix, Kit Kat, and plain M&M’s are great choices. If you’re using peanut candies, just keep in mind they’ll add a stronger peanut flavor.
Can I use regular chocolate chips?
Absolutely. If you don’t have leftover candy, you can make these cookies with milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, or even white chocolate chips.
Can I freeze the cookie dough?
Yes! Scoop the cookie dough onto a baking sheet and freeze it for about 1 hour. Once the dough is firm, transfer the cookie dough balls to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep well for up to 3 months.
How do I bake frozen cookie dough?
There’s no need to thaw the dough first. Place the frozen cookie dough on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C). You may need to add 1 to 2 extra minutes to the baking time, depending on your oven.
How long do I bake the cookies?
Bake the cookies at 350°F (175°C) for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes. Simply replace the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Just make sure any candy you use is also gluten-free.
Can I use other seasonal candies?
Definitely! This recipe works with more than just Halloween candy. Try chopped Christmas chocolates, Valentine’s candy, Easter candy, or your favorite chocolate bars any time of the year.
How should I store the baked cookies?
Let the cookies cool completely, then store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay fresh for several days and are perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Can I add extra chocolate chips on top?
Yes! Pressing a few extra chocolate chips onto the cookie dough before baking makes the cookies look even more homemade and gives you a little extra chocolate in every bite. It’s a simple step that makes a big difference.
