Nerdz Candy Barz

I’m subtitling this recipe What to do with leftover Halloween Candy, the cheap stuff. These bars are an ooey gooey playground for pure sugar candy, the gaudier the better! It’s chewy texture provides nice contrast for hard candy like pebbles, or even chewy fruity pellets and bullets chopped up. Think gumdrops or mike & ikes, red hots or tamales if you wanna get spicy. Of course, you can always go the chocolate candy route with M&M’s (especially the mini’s) or peanut butter pieces. But in my experience, those are usually eaten first and from hand to mouth no embellishment needed.

Ingredients:

1 c. butter, room temperature

1 c. (8oz.) cream cheese, softened

1 c. suagr

1 large egg

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

2 1/3 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. or 5 oz. Nerds candy or rainbow sprinkles

*Optional glaze

1/2 c. white choc chips

1/4 c. milk

4 tbsp. powdered sugar

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.. Grease a baking sheet and cover in parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl with a hand mixer or with a wooden spoon and a vigorous arm, beat together butter, cream cheese, and sugar until creamy, about 100 strokes or 2 minutes,

3. Add egg and vanilla, continue to beat until combined.

4. Add flour, baking powder, and salt, and continue mixing. WHen a firm but pliable batter forms fold inthe candy, and enjoy the vibrancy of the color against the creamy background of the batter.

5. With a meta spatual press and spread batter over the baking pan, so that the corners are filled evenly. Place in oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the center is set or the dough turns golden around the edges.

6. Remove from oven and let cool before glazing with milky white chocolate icing.

To make glaze:

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat mix together white chocolate morsels and milk until a melty thick sauce results. Remove from heat and mix in powdered sugar. Glaze and decorate as you wish!