Haunted House Cookie Bars Recipe
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free Option
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup chocolate frosting (dark or black preferred)
- Orange and purple decorative icing
- Candy eyeballs, candy corn, and Halloween-themed sprinkles
- Graham crackers (cut into house shapes)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This will make it much easier to lift the bars out of the pan once they have cooled and are ready for decorating.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and granulated sugar until well combined. Add the egg and vanilla extract, whisking until the mixture is smooth and slightly pale. This ensures a chewy texture for your bars.
- Sift in the cocoa powder, all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder. Use a spatula to fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the bars tough. Fold in the chocolate chips for extra gooeyness.
- Spread the batter evenly into your prepared baking pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Do not overbake, as you want the bars to remain fudgy.
- Allow the cookie base to cool completely in the pan. Once cool, use the parchment paper handles to lift the entire block out and place it on a flat surface. Cooling is essential so the frosting doesn’t melt when you start decorating.
- Spread a thick layer of chocolate frosting over the entire surface. Cut graham crackers into small house shapes and press them into the frosting. Use the decorative icing to draw windows and doors on the “houses,” and place candy eyeballs and sprinkles around the houses to create your haunted landscape. Slice into squares and serve!