Halloween Kitchen Sink Cookies
These cookies are the perfect way to use up leftover candy. For an extra twist, try adding crushed pretzels and a sprinkle of sea salt for a delicious sweet-and-salty combo!
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, browned and cooled
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup sugar (reduce by 1/4 cup for less sweetness)
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups assorted leftover candy (chopped)
- 1 cup crushed pretzels (optional)
- Sea salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Brown the Butter: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter until it turns golden brown and has a nutty aroma. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream the browned butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to the wet ingredients, mixing until combined.
- Fold in Candy and Pretzels: Gently fold in the chopped leftover candy and crushed pretzels.
- Chill the Dough: Cover and chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Form the Cookies: Scoop the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the baking sheets. Lightly sprinkle each cookie with sea salt.
- Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips
- Mix and Match: Use a variety of candy for a fun mix of flavors and textures. Chocolates, caramels, and candy-coated chocolates work great. Stay away from harder candies like Heath bars or lollipops, as they can make the cookies too crunchy.
- Freeze for Later: If you don’t want to bake all the cookies at once, freeze the dough in individual scoops for easy, fresh-baked cookies anytime.
- Sweet and Salty: For a delicious sweet-and-salty combo, add a handful of crushed pretzels to the dough along with the candy. The pretzels will add a satisfying crunch and balance the sweetness perfectly.