A sweet cookie bar, flavored with a hint of lemon, made to look like a favorite Halloween treat!
This time of year is a little bit overwhelming to me. Do I make something with pumpkin? With apples? Halloween treats? Comforting fall soups or casseroles? There’s just not enough time to make it all!! And since I really do try to make only one dessert a week, it gets even more overwhelming – trying to narrow down all of the choices and ideas out there. So please forgive me if I go a little dessert crazy over the next few weeks (or months). But it’s all worth it, right??
I actually made these bars to give away. A few nights ago, we had a treat delivered to our doorstep. The note said that we had been “Boo’d”. It’s kind of like a chain letter – but I’m guessing there isn’t any “bad luck” that comes if you choose not to participate. 🙂 Basically, I now have to pass on a treat to 2 other houses in the neighborhood. The hard thing about this is that any treat that I make, I’m going to want to blog. So I’m having to be very careful at who I deliver these bars to – and try to choose someone that I think doesn’t read my blog here!!
These bars would be perfect for a Halloween party or somewhere where there are lots of choices and everyone wants to just take a little piece. I say that because these are pretty sweet. If you eat more than one, you’ll go into sugar shock. But they are quite delicious. They are super moist and I love the hint of lemon. And you can never go wrong when something looks like candy corn, right?
There are a couple of changes I’d make for next time, though. I would actually probably use more than half of the batter for the yellow layer, because it kind of got squished down and the layers definitely don’t look even. And I would cut back on the sugar, because like I said, they are mighty sweet. But they definitely are a fun treat!
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Lemon Candy Corn Bars
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 30 bars 1x
Description
A sweet cookie bar, flavored with a hint of lemon, made to look like a favorite Halloween treat!
Ingredients
Bars
- 3/4 cup butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
- 4 eggs
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 8 drops yellow food coloring
- 6 drops red food coloring
Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
- 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Decoration
- candy corn
Instructions
- Line the bottom and sides of an 11×7-inch baking dish with foil, extending 2 inches of foil over the edges. Spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, sugar and lemon peel and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Add in the eggs, one at a time, mixing completely in between eggs. Stir in the flour and baking powder, stirring just until mixed. Stir in yellow food coloring and stir until mixed through.
- Spread half of the mixture into the prepared pan, about 1 1/2 cups. Place the pan in the freezer until slightly firm to the touch, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 325F. Mix the red food coloring into the remaining batter.
- Spread the orange batter over the yellow batter and bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean, 45-50 minutes. Cool completely, about 45 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add in the powdered sugar until well blended. Mix in the milk, vanilla and salt. Add more milk if necessary to reach desired consistency.
- Using the overhanging foil as handles, lift the bars out of the baking pan. Frost with the frosting. Cut bars into 3 rows by 5 rows, and cut each square in half to form a triangle. Top each piece with a piece of candy corn.
- ——————————
- Adapted from Pillsbury.com
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Want more candy corn inspired treats?
Candy Corn Cheesecake Mousse from Glorious Treats
Candy Corn Cheesecake from RecipeGirl
Janice West says
So what part is too sweet , cake or icing? And what would you recommend for correcting the amount?
Deborah says
Both the cake and the icing were quite sweet. You could probably cut back on the sugar by a half cup on each and see how that goes. Let me know if you try it and how it goes!!
Colleen @ What's Baking in the Barbershop?! says
I love all the different treats people make to look like candy corn. These are some of the best I’ve seen. So much fun!
grace says
i like things mighty sweet! i’m glad you tried this and found out about the yellow layer. regardless of its size, these are adorable!
Patty H. says
Very cute idea! I’m with you on not knowing what to cook next – – Halloween treats, pumpkin desserts, hearty casseroles…. I wish I could just take one whole week to cook straight through every day!
Bambi says
I am making these tomorrow! We just polished off the last of pumpkin cupcakes which I also found on your blog. Love them! Thanks a bunch
Twin Tastes says
Adorable! What a festive dessert
Lauren @ hey, who cut the cheese? says
These are adorable! Perfect for Halloween =)
Erin says
These are absolutely adorable. What a cute little treat to give away! Love the idea 🙂
Kelli says
Came across this on foodgawker! Love your blog. Those lemon bars are the cutest halloween thing I have seen this year! Great job!
Jennifer @ Mother Thyme says
These are so cute and festive! Love these!
foodie @ tasting spot says
they are really cute… very creative
Cookin' Canuck says
These are adorable! My kids are begging to “boo” someone this year. These would be perfect!
Kristy says
These are so cute! What a clever idea. 🙂
Katrina says
Mmm love this! So perfect for fall AND Halloween.
Betty says
Our classrooms at school “Boo” each other- these would be a fun treat to share! They are adorable. 🙂
Joanne says
I was desperately trying to think up some fun candy corn desserts just a few weeks ago! I came up with zilch. I think the lemon must be perfect to temper out the sweet candy corn!
teresa says
these are so adorable, adn i love that they are made of lemon. i want to make them soon!
Erika - The Teenage Taste says
Ooooh, these look delicious! If only I lived in your neighboorhood – I’d be begging you to “boo” me! That way I’d get to taste these lovely things. 🙂
newlywed says
So cute! I feel the same way about fall cooking and baking. Now we are having a bit of warm weather which is even more confusing!
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions says
I have seen sugar cookie bars before but had never thought to make them candy corn colored! Too cute! I love all the Halloween treats floating around the web right now! In fact I am super excited to share some “ghoulish” recipes I have been making next week as part of a Halloween themed week!
Valerie M. says
So cute! Adding it to my file.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
These are awesome looking…I love candy corn 🙂
Becky at Vintage Mixer says
These are adorable. I’m loving the mini sized desserts lately!
Krista {Budget Gourmet Mom} says
How clever! I love getting boo’d and I would especially love it if these were on my doorstep! I think the fresh lemon flavor would be a nice change. I wouldn’t want to get tired from all the pumpkin desserts (if that is even possible).
Cassie l Bake Your Day says
This is so fun, love it. You are so creative!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts says
These are so cute! Love this time of year, but you are right – so many options. How do you pick, pumpkin, apples, Halloween etc.!
Jess Wakasugi {Life's Simple Measures} says
These are adorable!! Absolutely love these and they look SO good! What a fun and festive dessert 🙂
Carrie@bakeaholicmama says
Cute! I will have to make these for my son’s Halloween party!
Bev Weidner says
Look at that! I don’t eat sweets, but I could stare at those all day.
Lawdy me.
Kristy @ Sweet Treats and More says
These are too cute! We are “booing” some neighbors too (is it a Utah thing?;)) I love doing it and it keeps me from eating all the treats myself.