15 Decadent Desserts to Make Using Leftover Halloween Candy (2024)

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Heath Bar Blondie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Browned butter is cooked until its milk solids turn golden, giving it a nutty, delicious flavor. In this recipe, the butter adds a richness to the blondies that pairs perfectly with shards of toffee and coffee ice cream.

Butterfinger Cheesecake Pie

Butterfinger fans will go mad for this creamy cheesecake pie. In addition to the crushed candy on top, there's a secret stash of crushed candy nestled in the graham cracker crust.

Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes

At first glance these pretty cupcakes look like any other—but peanut butter lovers will be delighted when a big bite reveals a buried treasure inside: leftover Halloween candy (specifically, peanut butter cups). Simple vanilla cupcakes are classic and delicious, but feel free to swap them for chocolate if you prefer.

Snickers Brownie Cake

This dense, fudgy chocolate cake needs no embellishment, but adding chopped Snickers bars from your leftover Halloween stash take it to another level. Another plus: extra cocoa powder sprinkled on at the end gives it an elegant look and even more chocolate flavor. If it's true decadence you're after, serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

M&M Popcorn Balls

These colorful popcorn balls are so simple to make that the whole family will love helping out. Don't worry if some of the M&Ms pop out when you're shaping the balls—you can easily push them back in. Just take care to remove all the unpopped kernels from your popped corn before proceeding with the recipe.

Caramel-Cookie Cheesecake Pie

Satisfy the kid in you with this quick twist on cheesecake, starring chopped Twix bars (assuming you managed to leave some leftover candy behind). Just five ingredients stand between you and the crunchy, creamy, chocolate-y dessert, which you can bake in a pie pan (no springform pan required). Though the recipe calls for "fun" size bars, you can substitute full-size—just keep in mind the total cup measurements listed in the recipe. Though a chocolate cookie pie crust tastes great in this dessert, feel free to use a graham cracker crust instead, which is easy to make and tastes incredible.

Skittles Meringues

This three-ingredient treat is genius: it's cute, it's colorful, and it will use up all of the kids' leftover Skittles. Have the kids help you make the meringues—they'll have fun watching the egg whites transform into stiff, glossy peaks. The key to a perfect meringue is baking low and slow—that is, keeping the oven temperature low, and baking for 1½ to 2 hours. This technique ensures that the meringues have a crisp outer coating and a slightly chewy center. Use this recipe throughout the year with whatever ingredients you want to use up, whether it's a handful of nuts or leftover chocolate chips.

Peppermint Patty Brownies

Using store-bought brownie mix ensures these decadent treats with leftover Halloween candy come together in a cinch, though more ambitious cooks can use their favorite homemade brownie recipe instead. To make sure the Peppermint Patties are perfectly centered within each brownie, spread half the batter into your pan, top with the Peppermint Patties (leaving a small space between each one), and spread the remaining batter on top. The refreshing mint flavor keeps the rich chocolate flavor from overpowering the treat, and is much more fun than simply flavoring brownies with mint extract. Add more chopped Peppermint Patties to the top of the brownies as an optional garnish.

Dulce De Leche Candy Bar Terrine

Don't be intimidated by the word "terrine." It simply refers to the shape of this mouth-watering dessert, which is an incredibly simple combination of dulce de leche ice cream and leftover Snickers, arranged in a rectangular loaf pan. Cutting the Snickers in thirds not only makes them easier to eat, but also makes each slice look decorative. Not a fan of dulce de leche? The Snickers can be paired with any number of ice cream flavors, from chocolate and vanilla to coffee or coconut. And though it might be tempting to slice into it early, let the terrine set in the freezer until firm, about 6 hours.

Candy Corn and Pretzel Bark

Chocolate bark is one of the best ways to use up leftover Halloween candy, as you can throw any number of things into the mix and it will undoubtedly taste delicious. We love this particular combination for its contrasting colors, flavors, and textures: chewy candy corn; crunchy, salty pretzels; and chewy, tart dried cranberries are a perfect blend. White chocolate makes the colors pop, but dark or milk chocolate would be delicious as well. To ensure your chocolate doesn't burn as it melts, be sure to stir often and turn the heat off while there are still a few solid pieces remaining.

Frozen Peanut Butter Cup Banana Pops

Not all leftover Halloween candy recipes need to be outrageously decadent. This tasty treat combines naturally-sweet bananas and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups for a fun, kid-friendly dessert that won't leave you with a stomach ache. If you don't have popsicle sticks, this treat can also be made into bite-sized pieces: simply cut the banana into slices, dip in the melted chocolate, then sprinkle with the chopped Reese's cups. For double the peanut butter flavor, dip the banana first in peanut butter, then in chocolate. We won't tell if you eat more than one (or two).

Kit Kat-Filled Angel Food Cake

We love this fun trick of stuffing an angel food cake, which can act as a blank canvas for any number of toppings or fillings. The Kit Kats work well for this Halloween-themed version—the crunch is a great contrast to the soft, fluffy cake. Homemade whipped cream (a simple mixture of heavy cream and sugar) envelops the Kit Kats, and keeps them hidden inside each slice. Don't forget to drizzle with chocolate sauce and dust with cocoa powder, then serve to unsuspecting guests who are sure to go wild for the Kit Kat surprise center.

SweeTarts Milk Shake

This three-ingredient treat is as tasty as it is pretty (it's such a fun color!), and is ideal for trick-or-treaters who prefer sour or tart candies to chocolate. You likely already have the ingredients on hand, and it's easy enough for the kids to make. If you have them on hand, serve the milkshakes in soda fountain glasses, which will give the dessert a whimsical, old-fashioned feel. As an alternative to milkshakes, the strawberry ice cream and SweeTarts candies could also be made into an ice cream float. Simply scoop ice cream into glasses, top with lemon-lime soda and sprinkle with the candy.

Twizzlers-Popcorn Snack Mix

While caramel corn is good on its own, it's even better when mixed with a salty component. Tossing it with chopped Twizzlers candy leftover from Halloween (which, because of its chewy texture, is not the best choice for mixing into a baked good), and chopped pecans makes for a sweet and salty treat that you won't be able to put down. Serve it during movie night for an upgrade on microwave popcorn, or surprise the kids with it as an after-school snack. Alternatively, save it for yourself as a midnight treat—after all, it's sure to satisfy any late-night sugar cravings.

Peanut M&Ms and Jelly Cookies

There are few things more satisfying than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which is why we took the flavor combination over to the sweet side. Though grape jelly definitely wins for pure nostalgia, any type of jelly or jam will work in this whimsical dessert. Peanut butter M&M's would also be delicious here, as would Reese's Pieces or even chopped up Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. To make this treat into an ice cream sandwich, stir the candy into vanilla ice cream, spread two cookies with jelly, then sandwich the ice cream in between the cookies. They'll be messy, sticky, and totally delicious.