Halloween Trash Bars are a sweet and salty treat made with Ritz crackers and condensed milk. Change up the colors depending on the holiday.
What is Halloween trash bars?
These are sweeter than sweet with a hint of salty cookie like type bar. They are mainly made from saltine or Ritz crackers, condensed milk, chocolate chips and frosting. You can add other items like nuts or candy sprinkles, if you like. You can customize these to go with whatever holiday or themed party you like.
For example:
Trash bars are made with crackers (in most cases) and cookie bars are made with cookie dough.
Fun facts about Halloween trash bars
One of the fun things about trash bars is how they turn pantry staples into a party dessert. Ritz crackers bring the salty, buttery crunch, sweetened condensed milk helps everything bind together, and chocolate chips or candy melts add the color and sweetness. The name comes from the old-school style of tossing together whatever sweet, salty, crunchy goodies you have on hand and turning them into a treat that looks casual but tastes amazing.
For Halloween, the orange, brown, black, purple, and green colors make these bars especially fun. They look great on a dessert table, but they are also easy enough to make for movie night, classroom parties, trunk-or-treat gatherings, or a quick weekend baking project.
Tips and tricks for the best trash bars
- Crush the crackers finely, but leave a few small pieces for texture. If the crumbs are too powdery, the bars can become dense.
- Line the pan with parchment paper if you want to lift the whole batch out before cutting.
- Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the pan so the bars hold together after baking.
- Let the bars cool completely before adding frosting. Warm bars can make frosting slide or melt.
- Chill the frosted bars before slicing if you want cleaner squares for a party tray.
- Change the topping to fit the holiday. Use pastel candies for Easter, red and green sprinkles for Christmas, or pink and red candies for Valentine’s Day.
Serving suggestions
Cut these into small squares because they are rich and sweet. They are perfect on a Halloween dessert board with candy corn, chocolate-covered pretzels, popcorn, cookies, and fresh fruit. You can also place each square in a cupcake liner for easy grab-and-go serving at parties.
If you are serving a crowd, make two batches with different toppings. One can be classic Halloween chocolate chips and frosting, while the other can use candy pieces, toffee bits, chopped nuts, or a drizzle of melted chocolate. A little flaky sea salt on top can also help balance the sweetness.
Make-ahead and storage tips
Halloween Trash Bars are a great make-ahead dessert because they need time to cool and set. You can bake them the day before, frost them once cooled, and keep them covered until you are ready to slice and serve.
- Store covered in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 to 3 days if your kitchen is cool.
- Refrigerate for up to 5 days if the frosting is soft, the room is warm, or you prefer firmer bars.
- Freeze unfrosted or fully set bars for up to 1 month. Wrap tightly, place in a freezer-safe container, and thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
- Place parchment paper between layers so the frosting and toppings do not stick together.
Quick variations
- Chocolate lover: Add extra chocolate chips or drizzle melted chocolate over the frosting.
- Toffee crunch: Mix in toffee bits for a buttery caramel flavor.
- Monster mash: Add candy eyeballs and purple or green sprinkles after frosting.
- Nutty version: Stir in chopped pecans or peanuts for more crunch.
Other great party desserts…
ITEMS/INGREDIENTS USED IN RECIPE – If you are interested in any of the items I may have used (or are similar to the items I used) in making this recipe, I have listed some of them below. NOTE: These links are affiliate links of which I receive a small commission from the sale of certain item. This does not affect your price, it remains the same.
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Rock on!
~Bobbi
Halloween Trash Bars
Equipment
- 8×8 baking dish or 8×8 cake pan
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 3 Rolls (Pkgs) Ritz Crackers, Crushed
- 1 Can (14 oz) Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1 Bag (10 oz) Halloween Chocolate Chips Can substitute with orange and brown candy melts, or even Reese's pieces.
- 1 Tub (16 oz) Vanilla Frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Crush Ritz Crackers.
- Pour crushed crackers into 8×8 greased baking dish.
- Pour sweetened condensed milk over crackers.
- Mix in all but 1/4 cup of the Halloween Chocolate Chips.
- Pat down mixture. Bake 15-20 minutes until edges start to bubble and caramelize.
- Allow to cool. About 1 hour.
- Slather icing on top.
- Chop/Crush remaining Halloween Chocolate Chips. I used my NutriBullet. Sprinkle on top. Serve!
Notes
Nutrition
I love bars like this. I’ll have to try this variation! Thanks for linking up to last week’s Creative K Kids’ Tasty Tuesdays Linky Party. I have pinned your post to the Tasty Tuesdays Pinterest board!
Me too…wonder what it says about us? LOL Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Have a great day!
Thanks Kim…appreciate you always stopping by! Will catch ya next partay!
Have a great day 🙂
Looks yummy! Thanks for linking up at the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party.
Monique recently posted…Make Your Own Felt Dinosaurs
Thanks Monique. Appreciate you stopping by.
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I’ll eat that trash anytime 🙂
Erlene recently posted…Chocolate and Oats Graham Bars – October Cookie and Dessert Share-fest
LOL…it’s the kind of trash we like right? Thanks so much Erlene. Appreciate you stopping by!
Have a great day 🙂
Wow, those look fun, and yummy! The combination of the sweet with the salty Ritz crackers sounds good. Thanks for sharing at On Display Thursday.
Leia recently posted…Crock-pot Salsa Chicken
Thanks so much Leia!! I keep getting requests for more 🙂 Appreciate you stopping by!
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Oh yeah, trash bars are the best! These look so yummy. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday.
Rachel @ Craving some Creativity recently posted…Fall Pumpkin Table Centerpiece
Yeah they are..LOL. Thanks so much. Appreciate you stopping by!!
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This looks delicious and would be perfect for a Halloween party! Thanks so much for sharing at Project Inspire{d} ~ pinning and sharing 🙂
Mary Beth @ Cupcakes and Crinoline recently posted…Project Inspire{d} Week #87
Thanks for pinning and sharing Mary Beth…much appreciated. And thanks for taking the time to swinging by and leaving me a comment too.
Have a great day 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your Halloween recipe at the Say G’Day Linky Party. It looks very indulgent! I’ve just shared your post on Pinterest/Twitter/Facebook.
Best wishes for a great week!
Natasha in Oz
Natasha in Oz recently posted…Say G’day Link Up {107} and the #1day12pics Photo Challenge!
Thanks so much for pinning/tweeting/posting…LOL I appreciate it big time Natasha!! You’re so sweet!
Have a great day 🙂
Well…the schools know best right? haha Thanks so much for visiting and taking the time to leave a comment! Much appreciated 🙂
Have a great day!
Hi Bobbi – I’ve never heard of these kind of bars but they sound so sinful! Perfect for Halloween! Thanks for co-hosting the What’s Scarier Linky party! Hugs, Holly
Holly @ Coconutheadsurvivalguide recently posted…Turn Your Instagram Photos into Your New Favorite Book with Blurb
I was honored to have been a part of it. It was a great party!! Thanks so much for getting it all together for us and being such a great ambassador!!
Hope you have a great week!!
Oh my word, I bet your grandkids love visiting you! Thanks for sharing you treat at #theWeekendSocial. Hope to see you again Thursday 9:00 PM EST. http://www.theKitchenChopper.com
I’ve created monsters…now they are picking out what they want to make when they get here. And from the minute they get here..it’s “Can we make it now” up until we make it. LOL
Cutie pies. Thanks so much for swinging by!
Yumm! These look delicious! Thanks for sharing! Pinning to try!
-Michelle @TheGraciousWife.com
Michelle @TheGraciousWife.com recently posted…Apple Brown Betty
Thanks Michelle. Appreciate you stopping by and checking it out!
Have a great day 🙂
Your Halloween Trash Bars look yummy! Hope you are having a fantastic weekend and thanks so much for sharing this awesome post with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Miz Helen recently posted…Whats For Dinner Next Week 10-5-14
Thanks so much Miz Helen! I appreciate you stopping by and checking them out 😉
Hope you are having a fantastic weekend too!
Totally love the name of these delicious halloween bars! I mean, who wouldn’t like a good TRASH bar:) I could just scoop these babies out with a spoon! To heck with cutting into bars!
Adrian recently posted…Cheesy Dill Mini Muffins
You sound like my daughter. If I leave any thing in the dish…she grabs a fork or spoon and eats it out of the dish. LOL She wants more of these too!
Thanks for swinging by and checking them out.
Hope you’re having a great weekend!
Heidiiiiiii Hoooooo Girlfriend… oh my goodness check these out… I have got to add this too my recipes… please come over and share with my readers too! YUMMMMMEEEEEEE
XmasDolly recently posted…Recipes, Blast from the Past & Let’s be Friends!
Hello there 😉 I shall swing on by. Thanks for stopping by here and checking them out!
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Well who can resist these? My favorite part of Halloween is all the junk food!! Looks delicious! Thanks for linking them up with us at Foodie Fridays!
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life recently posted…Must Try Meals and #FoodieFridays no. 16
Apparently not my daughter..she ate them all! Keeps asking for more 🙂 I love the junk food too, but my body doesn’t seem to. Thanks for stopping by! Much appreciated 😉
Have a great day!
I’ve been looking for some ideas for a Halloween party. This looks really good! Thanks for joining us for Hump Day Happenings.
Jenna @ A Savory Feast recently posted…Etsy Crush // The Organized Kitchen {Plus a Giveaway!}
Pretty sweet stuff. Thanks for swinging by Jenna! Much appreciated 😉
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I love the name of these 🙂 and all the yummy flavors in these! Going to definitely try them! 🙂 Saying hello from thrifty Thursday, and I hope that you are great today!
Cathy
Cathy recently posted…5 dinners for $50
Thanks so much Cathy…appreciate you stopping by and checking them out!!
I’m great today and hope you are too 🙂
These look delicious. Pinned!
Holly (2 Kids and Tired) recently posted…Recipe Adaptations
Thanks so much Holly!! Much appreciated 😉
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YUM!! I have to make these, they’re just too easy not to! Pinning for later, thanks for the recipe! 🙂
Amanda @ Dwelling in Happiness recently posted…HomeGoods $150 Giveaway!
My daughter is requesting more of these 🙂 She loves them!! Thanks for stopping by and for pinning it too 😉
Have a great day!
These bars look too good to pass
I’ve never tried something like them – with the crackers, and I’m intrigued 🙂
Winnie recently posted…עוגת דבש עם חמאת בוטנים
Hey hey Winnie!! Great to see ya!! I hope you can try them…talk about sweet!
Thanks so much for stopping by and checking it out! Hope you’re having a great weekend!