If you love the sweet-and-salty magic of trail mix and can’t resist the nostalgic charm of candy corn, then these Candy Corn Trail Mix Cookies are about to become your new favorite fall treat!
Packed with gooey candy corn, crunchy pretzels, salty peanuts, and melty chocolate chips — these cookies are the perfect combination of chewy, crispy, and utterly addictive. They bring together the flavors of Halloween and the cozy vibes of autumn in every single bite.
Perfect for bake sales, Halloween parties, lunchbox treats, or just satisfying your sweet tooth on a chilly afternoon, these cookies are a must-bake for the fall season. 🍁
🍬 Why You’ll Love Candy Corn Trail Mix Cookies
🍂 Festive & Fun: Bursting with colorful candy corn and fall flavor!
🍫 Sweet Meets Salty: A perfect balance of chocolate, candy, and pretzels.
⏱️ Quick & Easy: Ready in just 30 minutes — no fancy techniques required.
🎃 Perfect for Halloween: Great for parties, potlucks, or gifting.
🍪 Soft, Chewy, and Crunchy: The ultimate texture combination in every bite!
🧂 Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make these irresistibly festive cookies:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup candy corn
- 1/2 cup mini pretzel pieces
- 1/3 cup salted peanuts (or mixed nuts)
- Optional: 1/4 cup M&Ms or butterscotch chips for extra color and flavor
👩🍳 How to Make Candy Corn Trail Mix Cookies
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until light and creamy (about 2 minutes).
Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Mix in the eggs, one at a time, then add vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and fluffy.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low until just combined. Do not overmix.
Step 6: Fold in the Good Stuff
Gently stir in the chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, peanuts, and candy corn.
💡 Pro Tip: Reserve a few candy corn pieces to press into the tops of the cookies right before baking. This keeps them colorful and prevents melting.
Step 7: Scoop and Bake
Scoop dough into 1 ½ tablespoon-sized balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers are still soft.
Step 8: Cool & Enjoy
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Enjoy warm with a glass of milk or pack them up for a festive Halloween treat! 🎃🍪
🍭 Pro Tips for Perfect Candy Corn Cookies
✅ Protect your candy corn! Candy corn can melt quickly in the oven, so make sure they’re not touching the pan edges. Tuck them into the dough or add them right after baking.
✅ Chill the dough: For extra chewy cookies, chill the dough for 20 minutes before baking.
✅ Customize your mix: Swap in raisins, sunflower seeds, or granola for a true “trail mix” twist.
✅ Add color: Use Halloween M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces for even more festive fun.
✅ Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days — they stay chewy and flavorful!
🎃 Fun Variations
🍫 Double Chocolate: Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder for a rich chocolate base.
🍂 Peanut Butter Lovers: Replace half the butter with creamy peanut butter.
🌰 Nut-Free Option: Skip the nuts and use extra pretzels or granola instead.
🍪 Trail Mix Style: Mix in dried cranberries, coconut flakes, or pumpkin seeds.
🧡 Halloween Party Version: Decorate cooled cookies with a drizzle of white chocolate and extra candy corn on top.
🍪 Serving Ideas
These festive cookies are perfect for:
🎃 Halloween parties – A crowd favorite for kids and adults alike.
🧁 Bake sales & cookie swaps – Bright, colorful, and irresistible.
🍫 Lunchbox treats – Fun surprise for school or work snacks.
☕ Afternoon coffee pairing – Sweet, crunchy comfort with every sip.
🍂 Fall gatherings – Adds a cozy, seasonal touch to dessert tables.
🧊 Storage & Freezing
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Refrigerator: Keeps fresh for about 1 week.
- Freezer: Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months — just thaw and enjoy!
You can also freeze unbaked dough balls and bake them fresh whenever you want.
🍫 Nutrition (Per Cookie – Approximate)
- Calories: 210
- Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Sugar: 17g
- Protein: 3g
(Nutritional values may vary based on mix-ins and portion size.)
🍁 Why You’ll Want to Bake These Again and Again
Candy Corn Trail Mix Cookies are everything fall should taste like — sweet, salty, colorful, and cozy. They combine the best of a chewy chocolate chip cookie with the playful crunch of trail mix and the seasonal joy of candy corn.
Each bite is a little party of flavors and textures: gooey chocolate, buttery cookie, nutty crunch, and a touch of Halloween magic. Plus, they’re fun to make with kids and even more fun to share.
Whether you bake them for a Halloween party, Thanksgiving dessert spread, or a cozy night in, these cookies are guaranteed to be a hit! 🎃🍫🍪
✨ Final Thoughts
If fall had a flavor, it would be these Candy Corn Trail Mix Cookies — playful, nostalgic, and absolutely delicious. They’re everything you love about autumn in cookie form: warm, comforting, and just a little mischievous.
So grab your mixing bowl, throw on your favorite cozy sweater, and whip up a batch of these sweet-and-salty wonders. One bite, and you’ll be hooked! 🍁💛
Print
Candy Corn Trail Mix Cookies 🎃🍪
Ingredients
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• ¼ cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups quick-cooking oats (gluten-free if needed)
• 1 cup candy corn, chopped or whole
• ½ cup mini pretzel sticks or broken pieces
• ½ cup M&Ms or chocolate chips
• ½ cup chopped peanuts or pecans
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, milk, peanut butter, and vanilla. Bring to a rolling boil and cook exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat. Stir in oats, candy corn, pretzels, chocolate chips, and nuts until fully coated.
- Drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared sheet (work quickly before mixture sets).
- Let cool 15–20 minutes until firm and set.
✨ Perfect for:
• Halloween treat bags
• Fall bake sales
• Kids’ snack boxes
💡 Make ahead: Store in an airtight container at room temp for up to 2 weeks.
PREP TIME & NUTRITION :
Prep Time : 10 mins , Cook Time : 5 mins , Total Time : 35 mins , Servings : 18 cookies , Calories : 130 per cookie , Net Carbs: 16g , Fats: 7g , Protein: 3g