Candy Compost Bars

Happy November 2nd! It's November! Can you believe that? That's crazy to me. I hope everyone had a fabulous Halloween weekend. Did you eat lots of candy? I kinda like peanut M&M's - they're almost healthy for you. I think I'm going to go out today and stock up for treat-making. However, I will not be stocking up on Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kisses. What a shady, shady candy that is.
They're always slightly unwrapped when you get one, which draws suspicions that there is a razor blade or needle strategically placed inside, just to off you.

So Eric and I went to a party this weekened. We needed costumes and I wasn't feeling creative, so I asked him what we should be. He only had one idea, but once he said it, I knew that was it. I went over to his apartment, before the party, to assist in the transformation.

This is before. He grew his facial hair out specifically for this costume.


Umm, don't ask. Actually, I should probably explain. He has a pillow taped under his stomach. He is wearing a mask out of a t-shirt to prevent inhaling hairspray/hair dye fumes.


This is me looking frustrated as I fix his hair.

Okay! Are you ready for the big reveal??

It's Ultimate Recipe Showdown's Guy Fieri and me!


Let's compare:



Yeah! These costumes are off the hook!


Yo. Fo' shizzle my nizzle.


Oh, that's money.

Guess what? Halloween is also our one year anniversary! We started dating at the same party last year. :) But we actually worked together years before, at the restaurant where I still work at. Remember this blog post from November 3rd of last year? I wasn't feeling that way about foccacia.

Guy needs some lovin'!

I'm very grateful to have him as a boyfriend. He is always there for me when I need him, and I know he'd do anything for me. I love his personality, his humor, his interests, his values, his family... he's pretty perfect! Not to mention he's smoking hawt. Especially in his Guy Fieri/Sammy Hagar costume.

A year is the longest amount of time either of us have been in a relationship (that doesn't make us sound very good), so we need to thank our sponsors. We couldn't have done it without:

-Spearmint Stride. The gum of our relationship.
-Taco Bell. For those three AM gordita runs.
-Target. For Eric's wardrobe.
Steak 'n Shake. The first establishment we ate at together.
Walmart. For our weekly shopping trips together. Milk? Check. French bread pizzas? Check. Mini waffles? Check.
Seinfeld. The television show of our relationship.

I could go on and on, but I better stop. Let's get to the Candy Compost Bars.
What to do with leftover Halloween candy? Make these!

I thought and thought about what I wanted to make; cookies and brownies seemed boring, cakes and pies didn't seem fitting. I finally decided to make a bar.



The first layer is chocolate cookie with oats, chopped peanuts, and chopped candy bar mixed in. I used Snickers, but you could use whatever candy bar you still have left. The next layer is a peanut butter popcorn layer, which I stirred chopped Twix in, but once again - you could use whatever your heart desires. Chocolate is drizzled over the top, and M&M's are pressed into the surface.

Oh my goodness. These are so delicious! Get them out of this house! Give these a try, most definitely. You may even want to throw in some crushed potato chips or pretzels into one of the layers.

Candy Compost Bars (Recipe by Me)
Printable Recipe

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus an additional 1/2 teaspoon
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened, plus 2 tablespoons
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips, melted, plus an additional 1/4 cup, melted
1/2 cup finely chopped peanuts
1/2 cup finely chopped mini candy bars (such as Snickers)

2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup corn syrup
2/3 cup peanut butter chips
4 cups popped popcorn
1/2 cup finely chopped mini candy bars (such as Twix)
1/2 cup M&M's

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter bottom and sides of a 13x9-inch baking dish and line with foil; butter foil.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon salt; whisk in oats until combined. In a large mixing bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat together 1/2 cup butter and sugar until creamy, about 1 minute. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in 3/4 cup melted chocolate until combined. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually beat in flour mixture until combined; beat in peanuts and candy bar until combined. Dump the batter into the prepared dish and flatten evenly into one layer. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until set and golden brown around edges.

To make the popcorn layer, melt the additional 2 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; stir in peanut butter, corn syrup, and additional 1/2 teaspoon salt, and bring mixture to a simmer. Remove pan from heat and stir in peanut butter chips until melted; stir in popcorn until well combined, followed by chopped candy bar. Spread and pack popcorn over chocolate cookie layer.

Pipe or drizzle remaining melted chocolate on top of bars, then sprinkle and press M&M's into the surface. Cool completely before slicing into bars.

Makes 18 bars