Want to see something really scary?

No, it's not Dan Ackroyd*.
It's the candy bowl on the day after Halloween.

The ultimate parent trap**.

Sure, you can donate the candy to the local children's hospital.  Or bring the candy to the single people in the office.  Or, hide the candy way up high in the cupboard and pretend to forget all about it until about 4:30 in the afternoon when you just need a little something sweet to tide you over until dinner and then stuff the wrappers deep in the trash so no one knows the candy is still somewhere in the house.

But what's fun about that?

Halloween Candy Bowl Cookies
A bizarre but remarkably tasty adaptation of my chocolate chip cookie recipe. Based on the mix of candy you choose, the combination of flavors and textures will make each bite surprisingly different from the next, while the dash of salt keeps everything in balance, and helps avoid the normal Halloween candy sugar coma.

2 c. flour
generous 1/2 tsp. salt
scant 1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 c. butter, melted
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 Tbs. vanilla
1 1/2 - 2 cups chopped assorted candy bars
Sea salt, for sprinkling

Note:  My mix included Twix Bars, Reese's PB Cups, Baby Ruths, Snickers, Kit Kats, M&Ms, Milk Duds, Nestle Crunch Bars, and Candy Corn***.   The kids did well this year.

Preheat oven to 350.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda, then set aside.  In a larger bowl using an electric mixer, cream melted butter and sugars together until smooth. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla, and mix well.   Blend in the dry ingredients, just until combined.  Stir in the chopped candy.

Using your hands, form dough into small discs about 2 inches in diameter and 1/2 an inch thick. Place cookies a few inches apart on a Silpat covered baking sheet.  Sprinkle each cookie with a little sea salt.

Bake for 12 minutes, until the edges are golden brown.  You may very well see some drips and oozes out of the cookies as the various candies melt during baking.

That's fine!  These caramelized bits add to the fun. When the cookies come out of the oven, use a spatula or a knife to neaten the cookies up, either by trimming away any excess, or by pushing the candy back into the cookie to harden as they cool.

Cool on the sheets for a few minutes, then transfer to a baking rack.  Eat one, then hide the rest in a really high cupboard until about 4:30 in the afternoon.

Click to print this recipe!

* Remember this?

** A hilarious rendering of Halloween parenting can be found on Crappy Pictures, one of my new favorite blogs.  Hint:  Involves CANDY!
*** Next time, I'll leave out the Candy Corn (it was cool looking when it melted, but was my least favorite bite out of the bunch.