Candy Bar Cookie Bars Recipe

If you have a serious sweet tooth and love a good mix of chocolate, crunch, and chewy cookie goodness, then you’re going to adore this Candy Bar Cookie Bars Recipe. It’s like all your favorite candy bars teamed up inside a deliciously soft cookie bar—trust me, it’s fan-freaking-tastic! I can’t wait to share how easy it is to make and how perfect it is for snacking, parties, or whenever you just need a little chocolate happiness.

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Ingredients & Why They Work

I love how the ingredients in this Candy Bar Cookie Bars Recipe come together to create a perfect balance of chewy, sweet, and crunchy textures, plus a lovely buttery flavor that complements your favorite candy bars beautifully. Picking good quality candy bars really makes a difference, so feel free to choose ones you adore or want to experiment with!

• Butter: Provides rich flavor and moist texture; melting it helps combine the dough easily and creates those lovely chewy edges.
• Brown Sugar: Adds a deep, caramel-like sweetness and helps keep the bars soft and chewy.
• Sugar: Balances with sweetness and helps with browning for that inviting golden top.
• Egg: Acts as a binder to hold everything together while adding richness.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the sweet flavors and adds warmth.
• Flour: The base that gives structure to the cookies without being too dense.
• Baking Soda: Helps with a light rise and perfect chewy texture.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and intensifies the chocolate flavor.
• Chocolate Candy Bars: The star of the show! Chopped inside and scattered on top, they create gooey pockets and a delightful candy crunch.

Make It Your Way

This Candy Bar Cookie Bars Recipe is one of those versatile treats I love to tweak depending on the season or what candy I have on hand. You can swap out candy bars, add some nuts for extra crunch, or even swirl in some peanut butter to amp up the flavor. Make it yours – that’s half the fun!

• Variation: I’ve had great luck substituting half the candy bars with peanut butter cups for a peanut buttery twist. It’s a fan favorite at family gatherings!
• Dietary tweaks: For a dairy-free version, just switch butter to coconut oil and pick your favorite dairy-free candy bars.
• Seasonal changes: During holidays, I like mixing in peppermint bark or butterscotch candy bits for festive flair.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Candy Bar Cookie Bars Recipe

Step 1: Melt Butter and Mix Sugars

Start by melting your butter gently—either in the microwave on low power to avoid splatters or on the stove in a saucepan. Once melted, whisk in both brown sugar and granulated sugar vigorously until the mixture is smooth and slightly glossy. This mixing step, which takes about 2 to 3 minutes, ensures your cookie bars come out perfectly chewy and sweet.

Step 2: Add Egg and Vanilla

Next up, add your egg and vanilla extract. Whisk these into the butter-sugar mixture until it looks smooth and well combined. This is crucial for binding the dough and developing flavor, so don’t skip the vanilla — it really lifts the whole thing!

Step 3: Incorporate Dry Ingredients

Now stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix gently until just combined; overmixing can make the bars tough, so just bring it together until there are no streaks of flour visible.

Step 4: Fold in the Candy Bars

Fold in about 1 cup of chopped chocolate candy bars to your cookie dough. I like to save some to scatter on top after baking – it makes for a gorgeous finish with melty, gooey pockets of chocolate.

Step 5: Bake and Top with Candy

Spread your dough evenly into a parchment-lined 8×8 baking pan. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20 to 28 minutes, watching closely for a light golden brown color. Remember, don’t overbake; you want these bars soft and a little gooey in the middle. Once baked, let them cool for about 5 minutes, then scatter the rest of your candy bars on top. To keep them from melting too much, I like to pop the bar back into the freezer right away for a quick chill.

Step 6: Chill and Cut

To get those clean, neat bars, chill your candy bar cookie bars in the freezer for 20-25 minutes before slicing. Trust me on this one—a plastic knife works wonders for smooth cuts without smushing your gooey chocolate.

How to Serve Candy Bar Cookie Bars Recipe

Garnishes

I like to keep it simple with these bars—usually just a light dusting of powdered sugar if I’m feeling fancy. Occasionally, I’ll add a few sea salt flakes on top to help balance the sweetness, which really elevates the flavor without overpowering your favorite candy bars.

Side Dishes

These bars are pretty rich on their own, so I enjoy pairing them with something light like a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a cold glass of milk (classic combo, can’t beat it!). For a brunch or party, fresh berries or a citrus fruit salad provide a bright contrast.

Creative Ways to Present

For birthdays or holidays, I like arranging the bars on a tiered dessert stand, mixing in candy pieces and sprinkles for extra fun. You can also wrap individual bars in clear cellophane with cute ribbons to give as homemade gifts—always a hit with friends and family!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After baking and cooling, store your candy bar cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want to keep them even softer, wrap them snugly in plastic wrap before placing in the container to prevent drying out.

Freezing

These bars freeze beautifully! I like to cut them into servings first, then wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap before placing them in a freezer bag. When you’re ready for a sweet treat, just thaw at room temperature or pop them in the microwave for a few seconds for that fresh-baked warmth.

Reheating

To revive leftovers, heat individual bars in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds or warm them in a preheated oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes. This softens the chocolate and cookie just right without drying them out.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Candy Bar Cookie Bars Recipe is one of those failsafe desserts that brings out the kid in me every time. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or craving a sweet pick-me-up, these bars are ridiculously easy and oh-so-satisfying. I hope you give them a try and make them your own—because nothing beats the joy of sharing homemade candy bar cookie bars with friends and family. Trust me, you’re going to want to keep this recipe handy!

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