What to do with all that leftover Halloween candy?
Too much candy corn? Try making candy corn truffles.
Photo by Flickr user jamalfanaian
What we usually do every year is put it in a grocery bag, shove it in the pantry, and throw it away after about six months, but that seems unnecessarily wasteful. So this time, I'm investigating my options.
Where to drop off your leftover candy
There are several options available for those looking to donate unopened Halloween candy. Food Gatherers is happy to receive your leftover Halloween candy at their 1 Carrot Way warehouse. Bring along some canned goods or other non-perishables too, and they will weigh it all on the spot and let you know how many people you will be feeding with your donation.
Two local dental practices are participating in Operation Gratitude's Candy Buy-Back Program. Arbor Dental and Urquiola Dental Center will buy back your child's Halloween candy and donate it to military support groups.
Bake with it:
I recently ran across a few intriguing recipes dreamed up by thrifty gourmands. Food Bloggers who write under the moniker Two Chicks From The Sticks have a recipe up for Trick and Treat Brownies. The brownies call for a cup of chopped, mixed chocolate bars.
You might want to try this Halloween Bark recipe, that makes good use of the candy corn your kids will never eat. But by far the most appetizing use of leftover candy corn comes in this Easy Chocolate Truffles recipe that calls for a cup of candy corn or Indian corn and looks remarkably... well... easy.
What's your favorite use for leftover Halloween candy? Post it in the comments section below.
Jessica Webster leads the Food & Grocery for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at JessicaWebster@AnnArbor.com.
Comments
Jessica Webster
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 7:11 p.m.
This just in from the First United Methodist Church at State and Huron in Ann Arbor: Got Candy? If you have leftover Halloween candy and don't wish to keep the tempting treats, you can share your surplus Halloween candy with our hungry and homeless neighbors via the LOVE Thy Neighbor Lunch Program. Candy will be collected through Nov. 14. A collection box is outside the church office downtown.
Hmm
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 1:34 p.m.
Mmmm candy corn
Sarah Rigg
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 1:23 p.m.
There was a great community contributor post last year about using candy in experiments with your kids: <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/parenting/mixing-halloween-candy-which-we-all-have-plenty-of-right-now-and-science-together/">http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/parenting/mixing-halloween-candy-which-we-all-have-plenty-of-right-now-and-science-together/</a>
grimmk
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 3:17 a.m.
When I was a kid I made my last all year. Yeah, you heard me. A year. I only ate one piece a day, if that. Besides the binging on Halloween night of course. :)
aareader
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 1:50 a.m.
Umm.... its only been two days, and you are already talking about recycling or giving the candy away??? Boy, I'm glad I don't live at your house :-)
Jessica Webster
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 7:13 p.m.
Ha! I've just learned from experience. We always end up with a ton of candy 4 months later, when there's Christmas stocking candy on top of it all and Easter candy coming down the pike. Might as well be practical.
Terri
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 6:50 p.m.
Our kids are 9.5 and 5. The first few days, they were VERY into their candy. Last night, neither of them wanted anything to do with it. It's time for this in our house, too!
Tesla
Wed, Nov 2, 2011 : 11:33 p.m.
How about eating it? What are you all afraid of?
Jessica Webster
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 7:14 p.m.
Candy doesn't scare me, but candy corn does. ;-)
bunnyabbot
Wed, Nov 2, 2011 : 9:30 p.m.
First I would suggest buying Halloween candy that doesn't have Halloween decorated wraps and buying candy that you know you can repurpose if you get stuck with leftovers. Chocolate has a six month self life. It can also be frozen, just double bag it. YOu will then have it on hand for baking or if the urge for a snickers bar becomes great. For dinner parties you can put out a bowl of mints/hard candies for after dinner that were leftover from Halloween. Giving gifts, tie a candy bar in the bow. For Christmas use as stocking stuffers/decoratations for the tree. My mail carrier leaves dog biscuits for my dog, so I leave her candy (or cookies). Take it to work and put it in a basket for customers or employees. Tootsie rolls have a near indefinate shelf life, that is it won't kill you to eat a five year old tootsie-roll. to get candy out of your house without the kids throwing a fit, try telling them (early) that there is a candy fairy, the night before Thanksgiving she makes rounds to collect candy which she uses to build her house with. This fairy can leave some money or toy or book in its place.
DBH
Thu, Nov 3, 2011 : 12:23 a.m.
I agree with @Tesla. Lying to your children should be done only under the most extraordinary circumstances. This certainly is not one of them.
Tesla
Wed, Nov 2, 2011 : 11:34 p.m.
Good grief. Lie to your kids instead of allowing them some candy? What is this world coming too.
GirlNextDoor
Wed, Nov 2, 2011 : 9:27 p.m.
Noodles & Co. will exchange your Halloween candy for 1 FREE small bowl of pasta on Sunday Nov. 6th. Limit one bowl per child, the email said.
spm
Wed, Nov 2, 2011 : 8:30 p.m.
Thanks for the tips. We use to be able to return it to the grocery store with our receipt but they stopped allowing returns a few years ago.