50+ Leftover Halloween Candy Recipes - Decadent Dessert Ideas! (2024)

4 comments

Oct 31, 2019 Oct 4, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Wondering what to do with all of that leftover candy? Why not transform it into even more decadent desserts?! You’ll find so many indulgent ideas in this collection of 50+ Leftover Halloween Candy Recipes! This list includes gluten free treats too!

50+ Leftover Halloween Candy Recipes - Decadent Dessert Ideas! (3)

What To Do With Leftover Candy

Food bloggers have a certain superpower. We can take something already delicious, like our favorite candy, and turn it into something even more irresistible.

This is all so we can tempt out readers with amazing dessert recipes made from leftover candy bars. Because we know you raided your kids’ Halloween stash and maybe there are still a few that haven’t been eaten. Or it’s possible you just want to take some items you have lying around and turn them into a dessert you can bring to a party or serve to your family and friends.

The desserts you can make with leftover candy bars and other chocolate and candies are endless. But let’s break it down to the basics.

  • Use candy to decorate cakes or top cupcakes.
  • Stir chopped candy bars into homemade ice cream.
  • Stuff some into cookies
  • Sprinkle them in brownies

CLICK ON THE BUTTONS TO GET THE RECIPES

Key to finding gluten free recipes:

GF – gluten free recipe
GFO – recipe with gluten free option

50+ Leftover Halloween Candy Recipes

Just try to resist taking your favorite candies and turning them into something even more decadent. You’ll never wonder what to do with leftover candy again.

Reese’s Recipes

Reese’s might be the first to disappear, but make sure to save some because these desserts will tempt any chocolate and peanut butter love

Flourless Reese’s Chocolate Cake Roll

This might just be the ultimate treaty for the peanut butter cup lovers in your life. Delicate chocolate sponge is rolled up with a Reese's-studded peanut butter filling, and then it's slathered with choclate ganache and topped with more Reese's.

GF

Get The Recipe

Gluten Free Reese’s Brownies

Fudgy flourless brownies are so rich and chocolaty. The only way to make them better id to add a swirl of peanut butter and chunks of peanut butter cups for that slaty-sweet combo nobody can resist.

GF

Get The Recipe

No-Churn Reese’s Ice Cream

A simple no-churn ice cream base has a ribbon of peanut butter and plenty of peanut butter cups. It's a rich and creamy frozen dessert made even better with your favorite Reese's candies.

GF

Get The Recipe

Flourless Reese’s Cookies

Flourless, super peanut buttery cookies topped with Reese's for a double dose of peanut butter goodness. It's a new twist on the classic peanut butter blossom cookie recipe.

GF

Get The Recipe

Reese’s Poke Cake

This gooey dessert is perfect to bring to a potluck of party. It's so easy to make, and every layer of chocolate and peanut butter deliciousness makes it even more irresistible.

GFO – use a gluten free cake recipe or mix.

Get The Recipe

No-Churn Reese’e Ice Cream Cake

Now we are turning that no-churn ice cream into an indulgent ice cream cake. Rich dark chocolate ganache and fresh whipped cream add yet another layer of depth to the flavors in this decadent dessert.

GF

Get The Recipe

More Reese’s Recipes

Leftover M&M’s Recipes

They may melt in your mouth and not in your hand, but they are totally mouthwatering when added to cookies, bars, and so much more.

Monster Cookie Bars

A fully-loaded bar cookie you can make in one bowl in no time. Crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside, and filled with peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and M&M's.

GFO – use certified gluten free oats

Get The Recipe

These chewy delights only have three ingredients. Start with a simple one-bowl 2-ingredient coconut macaroon recipeand make it more fun and colorful by adding M&M chocolate candies.

GF

Get The Recipe

Flourless Monster Cookie Dough Dip

Just like the classic cookies,this sweet dessert dip is fully-loaded with chocolate and peanut butter goodness. But it's flourless, eggless, and perfect for scooping up with fruit or cookies.

GFO – use certified gluten free oats

Get The Recipe

These magical layered bars get an extra delicious twist with M&M's and toasted pecans. They are baked intoin a gooey layer atop a buttery graham cracker crust.

GFO – use gluten free graham crackers

Get The Recipe

More M&M Recipes

Leftover Heath Bars and Toffee Recipes

That buttery candy adds something salty-sweet to your treats. And there’s just something so good about that crunch.

Double Chocolate Toffee Caramel Fudge

This easy microwave fudge recipe has layers of white and dark chocolate. But what makes it even better are the bits of toffee and gooey caramel.

GF

Get The Recipe

Toffee White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Enjoy an extra tasty twist on classic flourless monster cookies with. These chewy and crisp cookies have almond butter, almonds, and toffee for a deliciously nutty flavor and extra texture.

GFO – use certified gluten free oats

Get The Recipe

No-Churn Toffee Caramel Ice Cream

You'll fall in love with this super simple cheesecake-flavored ice cream filled with caramel, toffee and chocolate chips. Only seven ingredients and no ice cream machine needed.

GF

Get The Recipe

Toffee Almond Snowball Cookies

The classic nutty, buttery, powdered sugar-coated cookies get a flavor upgrade. The combination of toffee bits and almonds add a little bit of extra decadence.

Get The Recipe

Toffee Pumpkin Spice White Chocolate Bark

This easy chocolate candy recipe with bits of buttery toffee and pumpkin pie spice. It's the essence of fall in a creamy treat that's so simple to make and great to give as gifts.

GF

Get The Recipe

No-ChurnNutella Toffee Ice Cream

Ultra creamy ice cream has over-the-top deliousness when you addh a swirl of chocolate hazelnut spread and crunchy bits of Heath Bar candy. The hardest part will be waiting for it to freeze before you enjoy a scoop of this heavenly frozen dessert.

GF

Get The Recipe

More Toffee Recipes

Leftover Hershey Bar, Mounds, and Almond Joy Recipes

From classic chocolate to coconutty treats, you can’t go wrong with desserts made with these classic bars from Hershey’s.

S’Mores Pudding Pie

Combine the classic campfire treat and a chocolate cream pie into one amazing dessert made with Hershey Bar pudding. Don't forget to toasted marshmallow meringue.

GFO – use gluten free graham crackers or the almond flour crust alternative

Get The Recipe

Gluten Free S’Mores Bars

Combine two favorites into one gooey chocolate-and-marshmallow-filled treat with an easy flourless graham cracker crust. This twist on class magic bars is a guaranteed hit!

GF

Get The Recipe

Cookie Butter S’Mores Dip

You don't need a campfire when you have this smooth and gooey dessert dip. It's swirled with marshmallow and topped with chopped milk chocolate, plus the cookie butter gives a hint of spiced cookie goodness.

Get The Recipe

More Hershey, Almond Joy, and Mounds Recipes

Leftover Snickers and Milky Way Recipes

These nutty, caramelly, and chocolaty candies make desserts extra gooey and delicious. They are finger-licking good.

Double Chocolate Snickers Fudge

Stuffed with your favorite candy bar, this melt-in-your-mouthtreat has both dark and white chocolate. To make it even better, it has only five ingredients and you can make it on the stove or in the microwave – no candy thermometer needed!

GF

Get The Recipe

Milky Way Flourless Chocolate Cake Roll

Roll up a tender sponge cake with fluffy whipped cream is studded with Milky Way candy bars and drizzled with caramel for a rich and impressive desseert. Covered with a chocolate ganache frosting, and drizzled with more caramel, it's impossible to resist.

GF

Get The Recipe

More Snickers and Milky Way Recipes

    50+ Leftover Halloween Candy Recipes - Decadent Dessert Ideas! (2024)

    FAQs

    Can I keep leftover Halloween candy for next year? ›

    Hard candy - hard candies can last up to a year when stored at room temperature or in a cool, dry location. Jellied candies - if the packaging has been opened, soft candies should be stored away from heat and light at room temperature of about 70 degrees. Stored in this manner, the candy should last 6-9 months.

    Where can I donate leftover Halloween candy near me? ›

    Feeding America and FoodPantries.org are other organizations that you can give your leftover candy stash to. Find your local food bank through Feeding America and your nearest food pantry via FoodPantries.org.

    What does Walmart do with their leftover Halloween candy? ›

    Right after the holiday they will have sales to try to get some profit out of the leftover candy after a month or so those stores will either donate it to food pantries or sell it to discount grocery stores. Discount the price to 50% off then 70% then 90% until it's all gone.

    When should I stop eating my Halloween candy? ›

    Pure chocolate can last for two years or more without presenting any acute health risks, but it's likely to change in texture and become less appetizing after about 12 months. Hard candy will eventually become sticky/gluey especially if left unwrapped, but again, this will take months and will depend on the humidity.

    Do candy ever expire? ›

    Do they expire? “Yes, candy does expire, but the good news is that most types of candy are good to eat for six to 12 months,” says registered oncology dietician, Kaitlin Mckenzie. The shelf life of a candy also depends on the type of candy and where you store it.

    What do dentists do with Halloween candy? ›

    By hopping onto the Halloween candy buy-back broomstick, dental practices not only champion oral health but also conjure up fun incentives for kids to exchange their candy overload.

    What do stores do with leftover candy? ›

    Donations: Some stores donate unsold Halloween candy to food banks, homeless shelters, or other charitable organizations. This is a way to give back to the community and reduce waste.

    Does Walmart return Halloween candy? ›

    Walmart has a 90-day return policy, including seasonal items. Items must be in original packaging.

    What candy do kids hate the most? ›

    The 'Worst' Halloween Candies
    CandyPercent of American's who hate receiving that candy
    Candy Corn36%
    Hot Tamales26.1%
    Atomic Fireball23.9%
    Jawbreaker21.7%
    16 more rows
    Oct 9, 2023

    Is it OK to have a piece of candy everyday? ›

    If you're a cookie-and-candy-craver, don't despair. Sweets can be part of a healthy, lifelong eating pattern. But for the least harm and -- don't forget this -- the fullest enjoyment, they should be eaten in moderation. That means in small amounts, or only a couple of times a week.

    What can I put in a candy dish besides candy? ›

    Great Alternatives for the Candy Bowl

    Individually-wrapped snacks – Think crackers, pretzels, even pureed fruit pouches. You can usually find these in bulk. If you don't get too many trick-or-treaters this year, at least you'll have some snacks stocked up!

    How much do Americans waste on uneaten Halloween candy? ›

    "Every year, Americans throw away about $400 million worth of uneaten sweets from trick-or-treating. That's a lot of food waste. But the fix is simple: stop giving away candies that kids don't like (candy corn, anyone?) and give away treats that they do enjoy.

    Should you let your kids eat all their Halloween candy? ›

    Older children should get less than 10% of their calories from added sugar. By that logic, it would make sense to spread out a bagful of candy over several weeks. But on Halloween, it's OK for older children to eat a lot all at once—if they want, said Barnes, an assistant professor of nutrition at La Salle.

    Should I eat all my Halloween candy? ›

    Do parents need to ration the candy? According to one expert, the answer is no. Let them eat candy. “The goal is to trust them to trust themselves,” says registered dietitian Emily Fonnesbeck, “It's very normal for them to eat more than necessary on Halloween night and maybe even the day after.”

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Nicola Considine CPA

    Last Updated:

    Views: 5413

    Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

    Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Nicola Considine CPA

    Birthday: 1993-02-26

    Address: 3809 Clinton Inlet, East Aleisha, UT 46318-2392

    Phone: +2681424145499

    Job: Government Technician

    Hobby: Calligraphy, Lego building, Worldbuilding, Shooting, Bird watching, Shopping, Cooking

    Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.