It's Official: Halloween Is Over

The jack-o-lanterns and skeletons lining the shelves in stores have already been replaced with Christmas trees and snowmen. But there is one lingering reminder of Halloween in most homes, and that is a surplus of candy.

If all the treats haven’t been gobbled up in your home yet and you can’t stomach one more piece of candy, consider some ways to repurpose them. The most obvious might be to use them in baked goods. Spice up boxed brownie mix with peanut butter cups, or throw some M&Ms into some cookie batter.

If you want to get a little more creative, melt down chocolate bars to make fondues and syrups. You can make DIY Chex mix to pack in school lunches or for snacks. For a bit of fun at a birthday party or sleepover, use the candies as toppings on an ice cream sundae bar. Or if the thought of eating any more candy makes you sick, pop it in the freezer to enjoy later. The candy can come in handy in December as decorations for gingerbread houses.

Maybe candy isn’t your thing, and you only stocked up to delight the trick-or-treaters in your neighborhood. In that case, consider reaching out to your dentist to ask if they participate in buy-back programs. You can also contact nearby nursing homes and homeless shelters to ask if they are acceptable donations. Or, contact organizations like Operation Gratitude to donate the unused candy to troops overseas.

No matter what route you decide to take, there are plenty of ways to put leftover Halloween candy to good use!