It’s the day after Halloween and trick-or-treaters didn’t turn out as you anticipated. You have more sugary treats in your house than you know what to do with. Sound familiar? 

There it sits and it’s calling your name. A bowl full of chocolate-covered, nutty, caramel goodness is staring at you from the corner. Or maybe it’s you staring at it! You’ve been well taught about being wasteful so you can’t throw it out. You spent precious time searching for deals and going to sales to accumulate a candy collection you could be proud of! Tossing it in the trash is absolutely not an option!

So, what are you to do that doesn’t include eating it yourself? Here are 8 ideas to get your mind rolling!


At our house, we have a Thanksgiving tradition of making turkey cookies. Use your candy corn and Hershey kisses for this one! You can melt chocolate bars to use as your glue to hold them together. Your leftover candy will become a special treat that will be quickly gobbled up! Start with an Oreo cookie and “glue” on the rest with chocolate frosting or other melted chocolate. Use half of a Fudge Stripe cookie for the tail, add a Hershey kiss and candy corn for the finish!


If we do what the word Thanksgiving says, we will be thankful and giving. Frequently there are people so much less fortunate than we are right under our noses. Go to the Dollar Tree. Get some zip-lock bags. Pick up packages of wet wipes, small hairbrushes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, chapstick type lip protection and other items that your heart conveys. Fill up your baggies and top it off with several pieces of Halloween candy. Those leftovers might just turn into the best treat imaginable for someone. The baggies make giving easy and simple. You can even hand them out from your car window to avoid any awkwardness or shyness. Just give it with a smile and go. Now get out there and do some giving!

Related: DIY Decor To Make Your Home Feel Like Fall

Do you have any birthdays coming up? Use your candy to stuff a piñata. Sure, the participants probably have a load of sweets at home but it doesn’t compare to the excitement of candy raining down from a busted piñata!


Smores are great but brownie pizzas are better! Mix up a box of brownie mix and spread it on a slightly sprayed pizza pan. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until done. Top with chopped Reese’s, M&M‘s, Snicker bars or whatever sounds good! Sprinkle with mini marshmallows and return to the oven. Bake until marshmallows are melted and slightly browned. Let cool. Slice like a pizza and serve it at your next campfire or get together!


Christmas is coming and many soldiers are away from home. No one will appreciate the taste of their childhood like the men and women stationed far from home! If you want to send it personally, check out this link for addresses of where to ship and be sure to enclose a personal note of thanks, appreciation and prayers!


Take it to your dentist. Yes, you read that right. That’s the last place that one would normally think to take sugary candy. And they aren’t trying to drum up future business! Through November 8th, many dentists, orthodontist and other businesses collect candy to send to our troops stationed all over the world. To make drop off easy, many collect in their offices. Check here to see if there is a participant near you.


Save the candy for a kid, family or even a neighborhood gingerbread decorating contest! Those kits never have enough candy decor anyway, so use your leftovers to go for the win! Tell other participants to bring theirs along as well. Kit Kats and other candy bars make great stairs, walkways, bricks, and siding. M&Ms, Reese’s Pieces, Spree, Smarties and so many others will bring your masterpiece to life!


To make room for Christmas candy, the elf makes one secret visit before his official arrival. If he sees too much Halloween candy, he will strike the candy canes, swirly twirly gum drops and chocolate Santa’s off the Christmas list. But he is willing to make a trade.

Have your child select a special container and decorate it. Pick a date for your new tradition. Fill it with all the candy your children are willing to let go of. The Christmas elf will evaluate the donation and leave a small toy, Christmas T-shirt or book, etc. to begin the excitement of the season ahead! Meanwhile, he drops the candy off at local offices for others to enjoy. He is not a wasteful elf!


With one or two of these ideas put into action, you’ll be candy and temptation free in no time!