13 Genius Ways to Turn Leftover Halloween Candy Into Desserts

Every year it happens. The trick or treat buckets come home overflowing, the kids eat their favorites, and you are left with a big bowl of leftover Halloween candy that nobody wants to look at anymore. Do not throw it away. Chop it, melt it and bake it into something new. These ideas turn leftover Halloween candy into brownies, cookies, bark and more, and they are so fun that the kids will want to help. Save this list for November 1..

Leftover Halloween Candy Trail Mix Cookies

Start with the easiest trick of all: chop up a mix of leftover Halloween candy and fold it into a basic cookie dough. Chocolate bars, peanut butter cups, chewy fruit candies and caramels all work. Every cookie comes out a little different, which is half the fun. Which candy is always left at the bottom of your bowl?

You will need: Ingredients: 1 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla, 2.75 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 cups chopped candy.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350F. 2. Beat butter and sugars until light. 3. Add eggs and vanilla. 4. Mix in flour, soda and salt. 5. Fold in the chopped candy. 6. Bake scoops for 11 minutes and press extra candy on top while warm.

Candy Topped Brownies Made With Leftover Halloween Candy

Brownies are the best home for leftover Halloween candy. Stir chopped chocolate bars into the batter, then press candy coated chocolates on top before baking so they stay bright. A few strawberries on the side make it look like a party plate. Fudgy or cakey brownies: which side are you on?

You will need: Ingredients: 1 box or batch brownie batter, 1.5 cups chopped chocolate candy, 1/2 cup candy coated chocolates.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350F. 2. Mix the brownie batter. 3. Fold in the chopped candy. 4. Spread in a lined 9×13 pan. 5. Press candy coated chocolates on top. 6. Bake 25 minutes and cool before cutting.

Chocolate Bar Chunk Cookies

Instead of chocolate chips, chop up full size and fun size chocolate bars into big chunks. The caramel, nougat and wafer bits melt into pockets of gooey goodness. These look like they came from a fancy cookie shop. Quick poll: best candy bar for cookies? A) caramel bars B) peanut bars C) crispy wafer bars D) plain milk chocolate.

You will need: Ingredients: 1 batch chocolate chip cookie dough without chips, 2 cups chopped chocolate bars.

How to make it: 1. Make your favorite cookie dough. 2. Chop the bars into large chunks. 3. Fold in most of them. 4. Scoop large balls. 5. Press extra chunks on top. 6. Bake at 350F for 12 minutes.

Leftover Halloween Candy Bark

Candy bark is the fastest no bake fix for leftover Halloween candy. Melt chocolate, spread it thin and scatter candy, pretzels and nuts on top. Once it sets, break it into pieces. It is a great gift for teachers and neighbors in a cellophane bag.

You will need: Ingredients: 12 oz milk or dark chocolate, 4 oz white chocolate, 1.5 cups chopped candy, 1/2 cup pretzels, 1/4 cup nuts.

How to make it: 1. Line a sheet pan with parchment. 2. Melt the dark chocolate and spread thin. 3. Drizzle melted white chocolate and swirl. 4. Scatter candy, pretzels and nuts. 5. Chill 30 minutes. 6. Break into pieces.

Giant Peanut Butter Cup Bites

If peanut butter cups are the most popular treat in your house, they probably will not be left over. But if they are, chop them into these easy no bake bites. A crunchy graham and peanut butter base gets a layer of melted chocolate and chopped cups on top.

You will need: Ingredients: 1 cup graham crumbs, 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 cup chocolate chips, 1 cup chopped peanut butter cups.

How to make it: 1. Mix crumbs, peanut butter, sugar and butter. 2. Press into mini muffin liners. 3. Melt the chocolate chips. 4. Spoon over each cup. 5. Top with chopped peanut butter cups. 6. Chill 1 hour.

Over the Top Candy Milkshakes

Freakshakes are those wild milkshakes with candy, sauce and whipped cream piled sky high. Blend leftover Halloween candy right into the shake and use the rest to decorate the glass. It is a fun weekend treat for the whole family. Who in your house would finish one first?

You will need: Ingredients: 3 cups vanilla ice cream, 1 cup milk, 1 cup chopped candy, chocolate sauce, whipped cream.

How to make it: 1. Drizzle chocolate sauce inside tall glasses. 2. Blend ice cream, milk and half the candy. 3. Pour into the glasses. 4. Top with whipped cream. 5. Pile on the rest of the candy. 6. Serve with wide straws.

Candy Cookie Pizza

A cookie pizza is a giant cookie baked in a pizza pan and topped with chocolate spread and candy. Kids love to choose their own toppings, so set out bowls of leftover Halloween candy and let them decorate their own slice. Cut it with a pizza wheel for the full effect.

You will need: Ingredients: 1 roll or batch cookie dough, 1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread or frosting, 1.5 cups chopped candy.

How to make it: 1. Press the dough into a greased pizza pan. 2. Bake at 350F for 15 minutes. 3. Cool for 10 minutes. 4. Spread with chocolate. 5. Top with candy. 6. Slice into wedges.

Skillet Candy Cookie

A skillet cookie is crispy around the edges and gooey in the middle. Bake it in cast iron, then top it with scoops of ice cream while it is still warm and let everyone dig in with spoons. Chopped caramel candy bars make it extra gooey. Would you share it, or keep the skillet for yourself?

You will need: Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1.25 cups flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 cup chopped candy.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350F. 2. Melt the butter in a 10 inch skillet and cool slightly. 3. Stir in sugars, egg and vanilla. 4. Add flour, soda and candy. 5. Bake 20 minutes. 6. Serve warm with ice cream.

Rocky Road Squares, a No Bake Fix for Leftover Halloween Candy

Rocky road is a no bake slice of melted chocolate, marshmallows, cookies and nuts. Add chopped leftover candy and it becomes even better. Cut into squares and stack them on a cake stand for a party. They keep in the fridge for a week.

You will need: Ingredients: 12 oz chocolate, 3 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp golden syrup, 2 cups mini marshmallows, 1 cup broken cookies, 1 cup chopped candy.

How to make it: 1. Line an 8 inch pan. 2. Melt chocolate, butter and syrup together. 3. Cool for 5 minutes. 4. Stir in marshmallows, cookies and candy. 5. Press into the pan. 6. Chill 2 hours and cut into squares.

Candy Crusted Caramel Apples

Caramel apples are a fall must. Roll them in crushed leftover Halloween candy instead of nuts, and you get a crunchy, colorful coat. Unwrapped caramels melt into the perfect dip with a splash of cream. Quick poll: caramel apples or candy apples? A) caramel B) candy red C) chocolate dipped D) plain apple please.

You will need: Ingredients: 6 apples, 6 sticks, 1 bag soft caramels, 2 tbsp cream, 1.5 cups crushed candy.

How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the apples well. 2. Push in the sticks. 3. Melt caramels with cream on low. 4. Dip each apple and let the extra drip off. 5. Roll in crushed candy. 6. Set on parchment and chill.

Candy Corn Snack Mix

Candy corn is the treat people either love or leave behind. Mix it with salty popcorn, pretzels and peanuts and suddenly it tastes great. The sweet and salty combo is perfect for movie night. Love it or leave it: where do you stand on candy corn?

You will need: Ingredients: 6 cups popped popcorn, 2 cups pretzels, 1 cup peanuts, 1 cup candy corn, 1/2 cup melted white chocolate.

How to make it: 1. Spread popcorn, pretzels and peanuts on a sheet pan. 2. Drizzle with melted white chocolate. 3. Scatter the candy corn on top. 4. Let it set for 20 minutes. 5. Break into clusters. 6. Store in an airtight container.

Ice Cream Sundae Bar With Leftover Halloween Candy

Set up a sundae bar with bowls of chopped candy and let everyone build their own. It is a great way to use leftover Halloween candy at a sleepover or birthday. Add hot fudge, whipped cream and a waffle cone bowl for the full ice cream shop feel.

You will need: Ingredients: vanilla and chocolate ice cream, hot fudge, caramel sauce, whipped cream, waffle bowls, 2 cups chopped candy.

How to make it: 1. Chop the candy and place in small bowls. 2. Warm the fudge and caramel. 3. Scoop ice cream into waffle bowls. 4. Add sauces. 5. Top with candy and whipped cream. 6. Serve right away.

Candy Topped Cupcakes

Cupcakes are a blank canvas for candy. Hide a mini chocolate bar inside each one before baking, then top with frosting and more candy. They are a fun treat to bring to a post Halloween party at school or work. Which of these ideas will you try first? Hungry for more? Try our Halloween treats next.

You will need: Ingredients: 1 batch chocolate or vanilla cupcake batter, 12 mini candy bars, 2 cups frosting, 1 cup chopped candy, sprinkles.

How to make it: 1. Fill cupcake liners halfway. 2. Press a mini candy bar into each. 3. Cover with a little more batter. 4. Bake at 350F for 18 minutes. 5. Cool and frost. 6. Top with candy and sprinkles.