Using up leftover Halloween Candy Corn to make Homemade Butterfinger Candy Bars

I'm pretty sure I like the 'idea' of autumn Candy Corn better than the real thing.  And I suspect my memories of the scent and taste of the candies as a child digging through my Halloween bag outweigh my common sense when it comes to craving them.  Because I do crave them - and I don't like them.

Every year at Halloween I see the little bags of candy corn in the store and something about them makes me want them.  Or at least a few of them.  But no one else in our family likes them, and I really only want about 7 little pieces to quell that craving so spending $2.88 on a little bag of candy corn is not something I was willing to do.  So, I haven't bought them in probably six years.

Last weekend I was shopping at our local membership warehouse and saw this big bag of candy corn on clearance.  $1.81.  What the heck!  I threw it in the cart.

When I arrived home I opened it up and grabbed a few while I put groceries away.  I grabbed just a couple more as I walked out the door to get into my truck.  Suddenly it hit me.  Remember;  my body doesn't like sugar.  I was sick.  Yes, about 10 little candies was enough to make my stomach lurch.

So that craving is gone.  Done.  Over.

And in it's dust it leaves... almost five pounds of leftover candy!  Ha.

Well, if you've been around An American Housewife for a few years, you might remember a recipe I posted back in 2007 when we used up candy corn in a "Butterfinger Candy Bar"  recipe.  Come to think of it, that may have been the last time we bought candy corn.

That recipe came to mind as one of the few ways I could use a lot of candy up, in a new edible product that didn't resemble or even really taste like the 'real deal'.   This time I added the crushed cereal to help give it some of the texture it was missing last time.


Homemade Butterfinger Candy Bars

3 c candy corn candies
1 1/2 c peanut butter (I used creamy)
1 c crushed flake cereal (I had grape nut flakes on hand)
12-16 oz. chocolate for melting and dipping

Basically just melt the candies in a microwave safe bowl.  About a minute, stir, and another 30 seconds if they aren't warm enough to melt yet.  Then add your peanut butter and cereal.  Press into a lined or greased 8X8 pan and press.  Chill about 40 minutes and slice with a knife or pizza cutter into the shapes you want.  I refrigerated mine overnight because I was busy.  I then had a heck of a time cutting them (rock hard!) until I warmed them up in the microwave just a bit.  You can slice them however you wish (cubes, patties, etc.)   Melt your chocolate and dip each candy.  Let set up to harden and serve.

I happened to have these particular brands on hand

Getting ready to melt them down

Melty melty

Peanut butter and cereal added

Slice how you wish - whatever shape you like

And here is where I STOP.
Why no finished product photo?
Because I am saving THAT post for my Christmas candy posts.  I liked these so much that it's now going to be one of our Christmas Candies on the trays this year.  So, you'll have wait to see the finished, chocolate covered product in a couple weeks!