When Halloween never ends
No need for leftover candy to go to waste.
Halloween is all about creative costumes, hay rides, fun parties, haunted houses … and the candy. So much candy. Don’t toss leftover Halloween candy in the trash, however – not when there are so many smart uses for all of those Snickers, Twix bars, M&Ms and Skittles. In fact, you might even pick up a little extra this year (or hit that extra row of houses while trick-or-treating) and have fun testing out these tasty ideas from Thanksgiving.com, Grateful.co and the USA TODAY Network.
Donate your leftover Halloween candy
What’s always a great option when you have more of something than you need? Give it away!
Operation Gratitude sends sweets to deployed troops and first responders.
Soldiers’ Angels Treats for Troops ships donates candy to veterans and deployed service members.
Some dental offices and other businesses hold Halloween candy buybacks, in which they trade toothbrushes, floss or other items for candy that they then donate to troops.
Want to know your local options? Contact nearby nursing homes and homeless shelters to see if they’ll accept such donations. You can also try programs like Big Brother Big Sister and the Ronald McDonald House Charities, too.
Here’s a sweet bonus: Halloween candy can present a learning opportunity when you encourage your kids to share their bounty.
Make leftover Halloween candy blondies
Reese’s peanut butter cups, Milky Way bars and whatever else is in the candy bag can go into these leftover Halloween candy cookie bars. Simply make a basic cookie dough base and stir in chopped-up candy (chocolate-based candy works best). Press the dough into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, sprinkle with more chopped-up candy and bake.
You can make cookies this way, too; just place scoops of batter on a cookie sheet and bake.
Make leftover Halloween candy brownies
If you’re more into brownies than cookies, prepare some boxed brownie mix. Stir chopped candy into the batter, pour into a glass dish, sprinkle a bit more candy on top and bake.
Mix leftover candy into fudge
Basic chocolate fudge gets an upgrade when you mix in chopped Snickers, Mars, Butterfingers or other chocolate candies. Sprinkle some on top, too.
Make a DIY ice cream sundae bar
Invite some neighborhood friends over for an ice cream sundae bar. Chop up all the leftover candy and put it in small bowls, along with leftover M&Ms, Skittles and gummy candies. Kids and adults alike will have fun building their own ice cream sundaes.
Make a batch of homemade candy ice cream
Speaking of ice cream, candy can liven up plain flavors such as vanilla and chocolate. Just stir in some chopped or melted-down candy before freezing (try Laffy Taffy or Reese’s Pieces), or mix in chopped candy bars or whole M&Ms or Nerds into softened ice cream before freezing.
Mix leftover candy into popcorn balls
Mix in leftover candy corn or M&Ms when making popcorn balls for a yummy sweet-and-salty combination that’s always a hit for after school or during family movie night.
Halloween Chex mix
Combine Chex cereal with pretzels, pour a glaze of butter, brown sugar and vanilla over the top, and bake. Once it’s cool, place it in a large bowl, and stir in leftover Halloween candy such as candy corn, M&Ms and Reese’s Pieces.
Make a grownups-only infusion
Another way to use candy without actually eating it is to infuse alcohol with it to create liqueurs. Many candies work for this: Jolly Ranchers, candy corn, Skittles, Starburst.
Simply divide the candies up by color, place in flasks, and add vodka or tequila. Let the flasks sit for at least 24 hours, shaking them several times. As the candy melts down, it creates beautiful color and delicious flavor.
When in doubt, melt it
Too much chocolate? (Is that even possible?) Melt it in the microwave to make a syrup for ice cream, a glaze for a cake or even fondue dip.
Freeze it for later
Don’t feel pressured to use up all that candy at once! It will keep. Place it in an airtight container and freeze it. Most candy stays fresh in the freezer for at least 10 months, which means you can use it during the holidays to decorate gingerbread houses, or take some out at any time of the year.