Use it Up: Halloween Candy

Are any of you stuck with the last dregs of Halloween candy? Just us? My usual rule for the boys is anything that is left by Thanksgiving gets tossed. Most of it is usually smarties and lollipops, but I totally overbought this year and had a bunch of Milk Duds and Whoppers left over (because of course I already ate the Reese's peanut butter cups, Twix and KitKats). I like Whoppers, but they're pretty rich if you eat more than a couple at a time, and I'm always afraid that I'll lose a filling every time I eat a Milk Dud, so I was trying to figure out a way to use some of this stuff up. I was raised not to waste food, so it kills me to throw it away, even if it is candy.

So, I looked around for some inspiration on the internet and found it! Milk Dud brownies and Whopper Blondies! The Milk Dud Brownies are a little like something my Grandma used to make with melted caramels, chocolate chips and walnuts. If I tried this again, I might try to melt the Milk Duds and swirl it in the batter, but other than that, I think these turned out pretty well.

Just in time for Thanksgiving (you always need extra snacks and treats!), I wanted to share these quick and easy ways to use up some of your leftover candy:

Milk Dud Cake Mix Bars (from Kleinworthco.com)

2 Devil's Food cake mixes
1 12 oz can of evaporated milk
2 cups Milk Duds
2 cups Chocolate Chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees & spray a 9x13 glass baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Mix cake mix, evaporated milk & melted butter in mixer beating well.
3. Add 1 cup milk duds & chocolate chips & beat well.
4. Transfer 3/4 of batter to prepared pan & spread out flat in bottom as best you can. It's very sticky.
5. Bake 10 minutes - pull out.
6. Top with remaining milk duds & chocolate chips and all of walnuts (if using)
7. Drop remaining batter on top- do not spread out.
8. Return to oven & bake another 40-45 minutes
9. Check with toothpick test- should be mostly clean.
10. Remove & allow to cool completely before cutting.

Store at room temperature in airtight container

Whopper Blondies (based on a recipe by Bobby Flay on the Food Network)

1 1/2 sticks butter, melted, plus more for greasing pan

1 cup all purpose flour
2 cups Whoppers, divided
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and line a 9-by-9-by-2-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing a 2-inch overhang. Butter the lining, too.

Pulverize 1 cup of Whoppers, either in a food processor, blender, or using a rolling pin. Try to get it as fine as you can, but it's okay to have a few chunks in there. Whisk together the crushed Whoppers, flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.

Combine melted butter, both sugars and whisk until combined and the sugar is melted, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract until combined. Add the flour mixture and whisk until just incorporated. Cut the remaining 1 cup of Whoppers in half (some smaller pieces will break off, but that's okay). Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. 

Honestly, y'all, I thought it looked a little like vomit when I put the batter into the pan:

Sprinkle the halved Whoppers on top (this made it look less vomit-y):

Bake until the top cracks slightly and is firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the center comes out with moist pieces clinging to it, 24 to 27 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and let cool completely. Remove the bars from the pan using the parchment handles, transfer to a cutting board and cut into 2-inch squares.