"Itâs November 1st, and weâve made it through the whirlwind of Halloween. Costumes are in the laundry (unless your toddler also insisted on wearing theirs again today), the carved pumpkins are going to compost, and the skeleton decorations are getting packed back into storage. Also, if your family is anything like mine, your kids came home with pounds of Halloween candy from trick-or-treating, class parties, and spooky parades. And likely some of us overbought estimating for more trick-or-treaters than stopped by our doors and are wondering what to do with the leftover Halloween candy.
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We all know that having that much sugar lying around isnât ideal for kidsâor parents like me who are easily tempted by a sweet treat. So if you’re wondering what to do with the extra Halloween candy, there’s one new Halloween tradition making the rounds on social mediaâthe Switch Witch. Here’s what to know about the trend, as well as 10 other creative ways to use or repurpose that extra Halloween candy without overdosing on sugar!
1. Try the Switch Witch Tradition
The Switch Witch is a Halloween tradition that could be fun for toddlers, young kids, and kids with allergies who still want to participate in trick-or-treating. Much like Elf on the Shelf, Boo Baskets, and Christmas Eve boxes, parents are divided on the Switch Witch tradition. Here’s what to know if you want to try it out.
How does the Switch Witch Halloween tradition work?
Kids choose a number of candies to put outside their homesâor at a chosen location indoorsâto leave as a treat for the Switch Witch. Then they wait for the Switch Witch to arrive, often overnight. At some point, the âSwitch Witchâ (i.e. a parent, grandparent, neighbor, or friend) swaps the candy for another type of treat like a small toy, book, or other non-candy goodie. Kids still get to participate in trick-or-treating on Halloween, but then trade candy for a different kind of treat from the Switch Witch.
Parents have been sharing their Switch Witch traditions on social media, like dad Brett Green (@dadgotbars). In his video, Grandma is the Switch Witch and his daughter looks delighted!
Shop Switch Witch Printables
Official letters from the Switch Witch make it easy for parents to create a little extra post-Halloween magic. Here are some of the cutest Switch Witch printables.
2. Bake With the Leftover Candy
A quick search will turn up tons of recipes to incorporate Halloween candy, from Monster cookies to brownies to candy bar bark. Additionally, you can add M&Ms to a homemade trail mix recipe to enjoy alongside healthier snacks like pretzels, nuts, and cereal.
3. Get Crafty with Extra Halloween Candy
Choose their least-favorite candy picks (Iâm looking at you Smarties and mystery candies) to create glued works of art on cardboard or construction paper.
4. DIY a Candy Advent Calendar
If your family counts down to Christmas with an Advent Calendar or creates a countdown to the holidays or winter break calendar every year, consider DIYâing your own with a piece or two of candy for each day.
5. Add Leftover Candy to a Gingerbread House Kit
Use the extra Halloween candy stash as décor for gingerbread houses! Sweet Tarts, MilkDuds, Nerds, M&Ms, Twizzlers, candy corn, and mini candy bars make fantastic decorations. Keep them stored in a bag to reemerge come December.
6. Try Candy Science Experiments
- Dissolving Candy: Have kids predict which liquids will dissolve candy the fastest (experiment with water, vinegar, soda, etc.).
- Create a Skittles Rainbow: All you need is a plate, a few packs of Skittles, and hot water for a colorful science experiment.
- Sink or Float: Introduce some science concepts by testing different types of candy to see if they float or sink, then discuss why.
7. Trade It for Experiences
Set up a âcandy bankâ where kids can âcash inâ pieces of candy. Maybe one candy bar gets them stickers or extra screen time. While multiple pieces of candy will earn them bigger experiences like a trip to the movies or the museum. Itâs part learning experience, part fun!
8. Freeze It for Later
A lot of chocolate-based candy freezes well. Toss it in a freezer bag, label it, and save it for any number of uses later in the year. You could use the extra Halloween candy for holiday baking, ice cream toppings (chop up candy before you freeze it!), or to have an emergency chocolate stash.
9. Use Excess Candy for Learning Games
- Basic Math Practice: Many kids absorb math concepts better with hands-on activities. Use candies for math games like counting, sorting, or creating addition and subtraction problems. Pro tip: Keep a candy stash on hand when your kid needs to bring 100 items for the 100th day of school.
- Introduce Data Concepts: For more advanced learners, have your kids sort candy by type, then make a bar graph or discover percentages in a pie chart for a fun introduction to data visualization and categorizing.
10. Find a Candy Donation Spot Near You
Wondering where to donate extra Halloween candy? Many local organizations welcome wrapped candy donations:
- Military Donations: Many organizations send care packages to military service members, and Halloween candy is often a welcome addition. Check for local drop-off spots or mailing addresses to donate extra Halloween candy, like Treats for Troops.
- Local Organizations: Some food pantries, shelters, and charities will accept unopened candy. Check to see whether local organizations near you accept Halloween candy donations.
- First Responders: Fire and police departments sometimes appreciate the thoughtfulness when their community members donate their extra Halloween candy. It’s a fun way to show gratitude to those who keep us safe, plus little ones will love seeing the firetrucks or police cards up close.
- Teachers: Many teachers use candy as prizes in their classrooms. Check with your childâs teacher to see if theyâd appreciate a candy donation. Or if your kids arenât in school yet, offer it in your local community Facebook group.
11. Bring it to Work
Before I had kids, I loved when the parents in the office brought in their excess Halloween candy to share with our team. Child-free adults like candy too!
Being thoughtful about Halloween candy consumption can also be an opportunity to talk to kids about why moderation is important for our health. Kids can pick which candies theyâd like to keep and which theyâd like to give away, swap, share, or repurpose using one of these ideas above! Hopefully, these ideas spark a little creativity, make that extra Halloween candy feel a little more manageable, and maybe even inspire some fun new traditions in your family!
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
A mom of two, Kathy is passionately committed to sharing the honest, helpfulâand often humorousâstories of motherhood, as she navigates her own everyday adventures of work, marriage, and parenting. She honed her creative and strategic skills at advertising agencies in Detroit and Chicago, before pivoting from marketing to editorial. Now instead of telling brand stories, sheâs sharing her own, with articles published across popular parenting sitesâincluding hundreds of stories on The Everymom.