The morning of November 1st is always chaotic. Kids are crashed out from their sugar highs, excess Halloween costume pieces are strewn across the floor, and there’s still multiple bags of uneaten candy sitting abandoned on your kitchen counter. One important question remains: do you toss the extra candy, let your kids stuff their faces with it, or try something different? This year, I’m determined to pick the latter by trying out some of my favorite leftover Halloween candy recipes.
You may be surprised to know that leftover Halloween candy can be incorporated into some of the best sweet treat recipes: sugar cookies, brownies, and blondies, just to name a few. Whether your kids’ buckets are full of full-size candy bars or mini packs of Skittles, there are recipes on this list for every type of candy. Keep reading for 24 of my favorite leftover Halloween candy recipes, as well as tips and tricks on how to prep and store your kiddos’ favorite candy after October 31st.
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Quick Tips Before You Start Baking
Even for those comfortable in the kitchen, sorting through piles of Halloween candy can be overwhelming. Here are some tips I swear by, so that when you’re ready to start baking, everything is organized and ready to go.
How to sort your candy by type
Different types of candy cook and bake differently, and some candies (gummies, hard candies) are much harder to use than others. Before you start making your treats, you’ll want to sort your candy into three different categories:
- Chocolate candy
- Gummy/chewy candy
- Hard candies
Chocolate candy is best to bake with, whereas gummies and hard candies are best for no-bake treats and snack mixes.
How to cleanly chop candy bars
In order to cleanly chop your candy bars without breaking them up, there are a few steps you’ll want to follow:
- Freeze first, then let thaw to room temperature
- Use a long, serrated bread knife to grip the chocolate
- Use a plastic or marble cutting board, with a no-slip base underneath (paper towel, dish rag, etc.)
Another trick I love is to heat up my knife by dipping it into a jar of hot or boiling water. This way, the knife will easily melt through stubborn chocolate shells. You’ll also want to chop with a gentle, downward pressure for the cleanest cuts.
Which candies melt well and which don’t
Save this list so you know which candies to stick in the oven to melt, and which ones are going to be a bit more stubborn.
Candies that melt well:
- Standard chocolate bars
- Chocolate chips
Candies that do not melt well:
- Gummy and chewy candies
- Nougat, caramel, and peanut-filled bars (inner filling burns easily)
- Hard candies and coated candies (artificial dye and sugar shells will crack)
How to Store Leftover Halloween Candy
Storing leftover Halloween candy depends on how long you want to be able to eat it, and for what purpose. Here are some tips to save for November 1st, when it’s time to package everything up.
Short-term pantry storage
- Use clear glass or sealed plastic containers, zip-seal bags, or vacuum-sealed jars to keep out moisture (and pests!)
- Keep at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and any strong odors
- Sort candies by type!
Most candy (including sealed chocolate) can last for up to nine months when stored in a pantry. Hard candy and lollipops can even last indefinitely, so long as they’re kept dry.
Long-term freezer storage
- Place the candy into freezer-grade resealable bags or vacuum-seal pouches
- Squeeze out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn
In a freezer, chocolate and hard candies can last for up to a year. You’ll just want to let it thaw for a couple of hours before eating.
Cookies, Brownies & Bars
1. Candy Bar Cookie Pie
Cookie pies were my favorite sweet treat as a kid, whether it was a night at home or a birthday party. This recipe comes together in less than an hour and can incorporate any of your kids’ favorite Halloween candy, from Snickers to M&Ms. Plus, leftovers mean you’ll have a fun sweet treat for weeks to come.
2. Thick & Chewy Candy Bar Blondies
Some of my favorite candy bars to include in a blondie recipe are Snickers, Twix, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but the possibilities are endless. Even with the inclusion of the candy bars, this recipe doesn’t sacrifice any of that sweet, buttery texture that makes blondies so unforgettable.
3. Halloween Candy Cookies
A classic you can’t go wrong with. Combine all of your favorites into this simple cookie recipe—anything goes! Your kids can even decorate them with frosting afterward.
4. Halloween Candy Brownies
Brownies are always a fun recipe to fill with candy because you won’t really know what you’re getting until you bite into your piece. Use your favorite box mix or get creative with a recipe from scratch.
5. Chewy Oatmeal M&M Cookies
Oatmeal cookies are the most underrated type of cookie, in my opinion. Stuffed with candy, they’re an even better choice for a post-Halloween sweet treat. They come together in an hour and—made in a large batch—can feed your family dessert for weeks to come.
6. Peanut Butter Nutella Candy Bar Brownie
Of all the treats on this list, this is the one that looks the most impressive, without all the complicated steps or baking-induced headaches. Not only can this be an at-home sweet treat featuring your kiddos’ favorite treats, but it also doubles as a perfect treat for a Halloween party.
7. Halloween Spider Cookies
The award for the most adorable treat goes to these Halloween spider cookies! All you’ll need is mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, chocolate frosting, candy eyes, and some peanut butter.
8. Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
If you love a peanut butter treat, but still want to taste all the chocolatey goodness in your cookies, this recipe is for you. White chocolate is such an underrated ingredient to include in your cookies, and it shines in this recipe.
9. Homemade Healthy Peanut Butter Cups
I included this homemade peanut butter cup recipe because they can be so easily stuffed with the candy of you (and your kids’) choice! Plus, if your kids love peanut butter cups, but didn’t get so lucky in their Halloween haul this year, this recipe is a great consolation prize.
10. Halloween Monster Eye Cookies Recipe
Another adorable recipe for the win! The M&Ms and candy eyeballs will be loved by your kids, and the addition of maple syrup to the recipe adds an unexpected sweet touch to the cookies.
Chocolate Candy Recipes
11. Pretzel M&M Hugs
Pretzel hugs are the perfect recipe for toddlers to help out with, since assembly is so easy. Plus, they can be personalized for any holiday—I love making them for Valentine’s Day.
12. Halloween Bat Treats
Yet another peanut butter-chocolate treat your kids will love. Plus, these incorporate Oreos, one of my favorite guilty pleasures. They are always in my pantry, so this recipe is definitely one of my go-tos.
13. Chocolate Owl Cupcakes
For allergy households, these chocolate cupcakes can easily be made gluten and dairy free. Candy corn, chocolate eggs, and chocolate candy bars are just some of the candies you can incorporate into this recipe.
14. Hot Cocoa Bombs
You can melt down any chocolate bar to make these hot cocoa bombs—you’ll just need to do so in a mold so that you can freeze them afterward! Make these on a cold winter night and enjoy all of the cozy vibes with your little ones.
15. Double Chocolate M&M Cookies
The amount of recipes you can use M&Ms for is really endless. Any chocolate lovers will definitely want to save this one, though. The batch comes together in only 30 minutes!
No-Bake Treats
16. Halloween Marshmallow Bars
The preparation and “cook” time for these marshmallow bars only takes 10 minutes—and four ingredients! Then, just pop them in the freezer and wait for the magic to happen.
17. Halloween Rice Krispie Treats
Rice krispie treats are one of my favorite no-bake treats. You’ll just need rice krispie treats or cereals, plus some marshmallows. Then, your kids can decorate their rice krispie balls with whatever candy they want.
18. Halloween Chocolate Bark
The steps for this recipe are simple: melt, freeze, and apply toppings. As for candy to include, some of my favorites are Hershey Kisses, candy corn, and mini Hershey bars. Save this one to serve at parties or as a classroom treat.
Breakfast and Snack Ideas
19. Sheet Pan Pancakes (with Candy!)
Pancakes for breakfast are always a win in my household, especially on weekends when there’s more time to experiment and decorate. Add candy to your stack the same way you’d add chocolate chips or berries.
20. Homemade Honey Granola
Adding candy to granola is a great way to get kids to try out a new breakfast or snack food with a sweet incentive. Whether it’s a quick morning before school or a snack before soccer practice, they’ll love this recipe.
21. Halloween Popcorn
For all those family movie nights, tossing your favorite popcorn mix with some Halloween candy is always a good idea. Plus, it keeps that spooky season spirit going even after the 31st has passed.
Recipes for Hard Candy, Gummies & Candy Corn
22. Peanut Butter Candy Corn Blondies
Another blondies recipe, but this one incorporates peanut butter and candy corn! Despite getting all the hate, candy corn is one of my favorite Halloween candies to bake with (and eat).
23. DIY Dirt Worm Macarons
While this recipe calls for gummy worms, you can incorporate any gummy candy your kiddos have in their giant haul. Plus, you’ll want some candy rocks and eyeballs on hand.
24. Candy Corn Pretzel Hugs
Another hugs recipe to round out the list, and with candy corn! They’re the perfect mix of salty and sweet and so easy to assemble.
Non-Food Ways to Use Leftover Halloween Candy
If you’re a parent thinking, “My kids are still on their Halloween sugar high. I don’t want to feed them more sugar!” I see you. There are plenty of ways to use leftover Halloween candy that don’t involve food, baking, or stuffing your kids faces with any more sweets.
Find a candy donation spot near you
There are tons of local organizations that welcome wrapped candy! Consider donating to any of the spots below:
- Food Banks
- First Responders
- Military Organizations (Treats for Troops)
- Teachers (many use candy as a classroom prize!)
- Local Children’s Hospitals
Add leftover candy to a gingerbread decoration kit
The end of Halloween means the holidays are right around the corner. Sweet Tarts, MilkDuds, Nerds, M&Ms, Twizzlers, candy corn, and mini candy bars make great decorations for gingerbread houses. Just be sure to keep them sealed or frozen until December comes around.
Use excess candy for science experiments or learning games
You’d be surprised how many candy science experiments are simple, engaging, and accessible for kids. They really are the perfect rainy day activity. Here are some of my favorites:
- Dissolving candy: kids predict which liquids they think will dissolve candy the fastest. Experiment with water, vinegar, soda, etc.
- Create Skittles experiments: just grab a plate, hot water, and a pack of Skittles. What follows will be a colorful, educational science experiment.
- Sink or float: test different candies in different liquids to see if they sink or float!
FAQs About Leftover Halloween Candy
Can you freeze Halloween candy?
Yes! Freezing Halloween candy can extend its shelf life by six to 12 months. Chocolate, candy bars, and hard candies hold up especially well in the freezer. Just use a moisture-proof, sealed container, and let it thaw before eating.
What’s the best candy to bake with?
Reeses’s Peanut Butter Cups and M&M’s are my personal favorite candies to bake with because they can so easily be added to cookie and brownie recipes. Hard or chewy candies can definitely be added as toppings, but are best left out of the oven.
How long does leftover Halloween candy last?
Leftover Halloween candy generally lasts anywhere from six months to two years, depending on the type of candy and how it is stored. To best extend a candy’s shelf life, consider freezing it! This works best for chocolate and candy bars.
As for hard candies and gummies, they can last anywhere from nine months to a year kept in a pantry at room temperature and away from direct sunlight.
Can you melt any candy bar?
Melting pure chocolate candy bars is very simple, but melting candy bars that contain non-melting fillings or certain stabilizer-heavy confections can pose a challenge. Gummy, chewy centers will burn very easily and should not be melted. As for hard fillings like nuts and crisp rice, the chocolate exterior will melt, but the hard interior will settle into the liquid.
Where can I donate leftover Halloween candy?
Some of the best places to donate leftover Halloween candy are local children’s hospitals, food banks, or military support organizations.
Rebecca Smith, Editorial Assistant
As an Editorial Assistant, Rebecca works with The Everymom team on updating existing content, photo sourcing, pitching original articles, and more. She’s passionate about creating authentic and diverse online content and is thrilled to help women of all ages feel represented.
