Description
Sweet memories of childhood collide with Leftover Candy Shortbread Bars, creating a delightful dessert that repurposes holiday treats. Crumbly, buttery shortbread cradles chopped candies, offering a nostalgic twist that satisfies your inner sweet tooth.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Base Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup butter, room temperature (2 sticks, 226 grams)
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
Sweet Additions:
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 2 cups chopped candy bars and candy-coated chocolates
Seasoning:
- 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350°F and positioning a parchment paper liner in an 8×8-inch pan, ensuring edges slightly overlap for easy removal.
- Utilize a stand mixer to blend butter, light brown sugar, and kosher salt until the mixture becomes airy and whipped, approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Incorporate flour gradually into the creamed mixture, mixing until fully integrated. If the dough appears crumbly, use hands to press and warm the mixture, helping it bind together cohesively.
- Distribute the dough uniformly across the prepared pan, creating an even layer and smooth surface.
- Bake the shortbread until it achieves a rich golden-brown color, typically requiring 30-35 minutes.
- Immediately after removing from the oven, scatter chocolate chips across the hot surface and return to oven for 1-2 minutes to encourage melting.
- Extract the pan and use an offset spatula to spread the softened chocolate into a consistent layer across the shortbread base.
- Gently distribute chopped candy bars and candy-coated chocolates over the melted chocolate, pressing them lightly to ensure they adhere.
- Allow the bars to cool completely, permitting the chocolate to set firm – this can take 30 minutes at room temperature or overnight for optimal results.
- Slice the cooled dessert into 16 uniform bars and serve. Store remaining pieces in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Customize candy choices by mixing different chocolate bars or seasonal treats for unique flavor combinations.
- Ensure butter is room temperature for smoother, more evenly mixed dough that prevents crumbly texture.
- Chill bars completely before cutting to get clean, precise edges and prevent chocolate from smearing.
- Use parchment paper overhang as easy lifting handles when removing bars from baking pan for neat serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 32 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg