Once the fun of trick-or-treating is over, and the first round of gobbling up favorite sweets is done, there’s a pressing question that arises in many households on November 1 or thereabouts: What are we going to do with all this leftover Halloween candy? Not the most dire issue of our day. But if like us you don’t want to contribute to food waste, it feels right to find alternatives for the candy corn, gummy worms and mini candy bars that populate our homes after the big night. If you’re similarly inclined, have a look at our list of the 12 best recipes to easily repurpose your leftover Halloween candy this year.
Halloween season is here, and you know what that means –if you don’t take action, you’ll find yourself with buckets of Halloween candy wasting away in your pantry starting November 1. And no, you cannot use any of it for Easter baskets! ‘Cause that would just be wrong.
The best recipes to easily repurpose your leftover Halloween candy this year.
Come on, now – maybe this year can be different. Aren’t we all interested in becoming a bit more sustainable?
And when it comes to candy, “sustainable” can equal “delicious” – especially when you’re turning all those Kit Kat’s and Milky Ways into a dessert that everyone will enjoy.
Whether you have an excess of sour or sweet treats, here are twelve recipes to help you easily repurpose your leftover Halloween candy this year. Bon Appetit!
1. Leftover Halloween Candy Brownie Trifle from The Kitchen Magpie
As Karlynn Johnston suggests in her delectable recipe, Halloween is the perfect excuse for a dinner party – because you need a way for this dessert to become your centerpiece. This is a great one because it’s a catch-all for whatever you have left – whether it’s gummy, chocolatey, crunchy, or chewy.
Besides chopped Halloween candy, the only ingredients are brownie batter, chocolate pudding, and whipped cream – which you can either make from scratch, or from a box, depending on how much time you have. Simply follow the directions to combine, and suddenly those leftover candy pieces will look (and taste!) a lot more appealing.
2. Candy Corn Pretzel Hugs from Sally’s Baking Addiction
Leftover candy corn presents its own special problem because… who likes candy corn anyway? Just kidding! We’re sure there are people out there who do. Anyway, you know what makes candy corn much better? The addition of a salty, crunchy base.
Pick up some pretzels, rope in the rest of your Hershey’s kisses, and you’re all set. These mini bites are sure to be a hit.
3. Witches Brew Brownies from Home Made Interest
All you’ll need for this scary-cute recipe is some leftover Halloween candy, some brownie mix (or your favorite recipe), and yes, Edible Eyes. They are what add the witchy twist to this genius, candy-covered brownie recipe.
And though these may be designed for chocolate-based treats, the sky’s the limit, and you should feel free to throw in whatever your candy-loving heart desires.
4. Halloween Candy Fondue from The Food Network
Bet you didn’t think you’d see fondue on this list. And yet, this is perhaps the easiest (and tastiest?) recipe of them all. All you need to do is unwrap your leftover candy, and heat with heavy cream. That’s it.
All chocolate candies – including ones with peanut butter and caramel – are welcome, and will make a rich and decadent base for dipping. Fruit, marshmallows, and pound cake are recommended vehicles for the chocolate, but use your imagination.
5. Sour Patch Vodka Slushies from Delish
We had to include at least one recipe that was specifically designed for grown-ups. If your child ends up with too many sour patch kids this year, you’re in luck.
These Sour Patch slushies are exactly as delightful as they sound, complete with a technicolor appearance that comes straight from the candy.
6. Candy Bark from Completely Delicious
We really like the way this candy bark looks, and it has the advantage of getting us ready for the holiday season (hello, peppermint bark), which is right around the corner.
You can use anything from Whoppers to Kit Kats, and the only thing you’ll need to pick up is a bar of bittersweet chocolate to serve as the base. Easy and delicious.
7. Halloween Candy Cookies from Two Peas and Their Pod
It doesn’t have to be complicated. These gooey, chocolate-filled cookies would be a scrumptious new home for whatever candy you have lying around.
And best of all, they’re easy and quick to make. We love the way the candy adds a bit of texture to an otherwise-traditional recipe.
8. Candy Cookie Bars from Together As Family
With their oat and peanut butter base, these cookie bars have a different flavor than you might expect, which is great if you’re craving something besides chocolate.
And chances are, after a day (or days!) of Halloween candy, you might be! Don’t worry, you can still find plenty of chocolate inside – but the peanutty goodness helps to break up the taste.
9. Candy Bar Pie from Dorothy Kern
As we exit Halloween, we approach pie season. So why not kick off the pie times with one last nod to October? This pie has a blondie base thanks to its delectable dose of brown sugar, and you can use a homemade or store-bought crust as you see fit.
Everyone loves a cookie pie, and they recommend serving these colorful slices with a scoop of ice cream on top.
10. Gummy Worm Ice Pops from The Food Network
If you have a lot of extra gummies, this is absolutely what you should do with them. All you need is sugar, ice, and lemon juice, and you’ll have a sweet and tangy lemonade popsicle that is full of gummy surprises.
And obviously, other gummies are welcome at the party, too. An excellent treat for those who are not in the chocolate-peanut-butter-and-caramel camp.
11. Halloween Party Mix from Kitchn
If you find yourself with some leftover Reese’s Pieces and candy corn (and who isn’t going to end up with leftover Reese’s Pieces and candy corn?), why not make this amazing party mix?
It’s candy blended with puppy chow, which sounds like as much of a crowd pleaser as you’ll ever be able to find. Perfect for snacking all month long.
12. Halloween Candy Cake from Cookies & Cups
Last but not least, the ambitious and talented bakers among us should undertake the creation of a Halloween candy cake. We love this recipe, because it is so easy and yet so magical. The base can be any cake of your choosing, homemade or from a box, and the icing is an easy-to-make homemade orange buttercream.
Then once the cake is finished, simply arrange your candy pieces as a phantasmagorical topper. It may sound a little chaotic, but it’s a great way to use up all your leftover candy at once – the more candy, the merrier – and the look is something really special. Try it out on November 1st.
best recipes for leftover Halloween candy
Those the recipes we vote for as best for using up all the trick-or-treating loot that you and your gang amassed but can’t possibly consume. What do you think, dear reader? You can invite the whole neighborhood over and share the sweetness. Happy Day-After-Halloween, everyone!
