Not sure what to do with leftover Halloween candy? Check out our article with places to donate, activities, and more.

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays here at Sawyer. We love the creativity that comes out in DIY Halloween costumes and decorations as well as the joy on our children’s faces when they receive their favorite treat in their candy bag. But, as parents we know that there is no way our children can (or should!) consume all of that sugar. By mid-November, you are probably wondering what to do with leftover Halloween candy without being wasteful. Lucky for you, we have lots of ideas for you to make use of your extra treats!

What to do with leftover Halloween candy

• Donate to troops, essential workers, and families in need
• Freeze the candy for a sweet treat in the future
• Fill a piñata
• Use candy to make learning fun
• Top caramel apples
• Decorate gingerbread houses

1. Do something good - Donate it

Not sure where to donate leftover Halloween candy? Keep reading!

We love any opportunity to showcase empathy to our children. Volunteering and donating is a great way to do this. With something special to your child, like Halloween candy, it is important to fully explain why you are giving it away and how it will help the people to whom you are donating. Start by getting them involved in the decision-making process. Explain the options, like Treats for Troops and Operation Gratitude, which send the candy to soldiers and essential workers, or Ronald McDonald House, which gives the candy to families with children undergoing medical treatment who cannot trick-or-treat. You want your child to see that they are giving their candy to someone who needs it more than them and they should feel good about doing it! This will help make the long goodbye easier and set them up for a lifetime of good deeds.

2. Stay cool - Freeze it

Frozen candy? Sign me up!

If you want the candy out of sight and out of mind for yourself and your child, try freezing it! Frozen chocolate is a delicious treat, especially in the warmer months and it can definitely last that long in the freezer. You can also use the frozen candy for milkshakes, hot chocolate, smoothies, ice cream sundaes, and more.

3. Have a party - Piñata it!

While the weather is certainly cooling down, November is still warm enough to do an outdoor event with friends and family. If you are not sure what to do with leftover Halloween candy, you can fill up a piñata and have your children’s friends take turns collecting what falls. Think of this idea as candy recycling: you are giving the Halloween candy a new life!

4. Make knowledge sweet - Learn with it

Finally, you can make learning fun!

There are so many fun activities that you can do with your children to make learning more fun. Why not incorporate some candy in your at-home classroom? You can teach them about weight and density by balancing M&Ms, practice sorting with your little ones, and build simple structures with gumdrops (or gummy bears, Swedish fish, and any other solid candy). 

5. Double the sugar - Caramel apple it!

Since it is fall, we might venture a guess that you have gone apple picking with your family. (If you haven’t yet, check out our NYC apple and pumpkin picking guide to help you decide where to go!). Once you have your delicious apples, chop up some of your leftover Halloween candy and offer it as one of the many topping options for caramel apples with your family. You can also check out this online caramel apple workshop with Sawyer educator The Dynamite Shop for a professional’s take on the classic treat.

6. Get creative - Build with it

Now, this is how to decorate a gingerbread house!

Mini chocolate candies like Snickers, Twix, and Kit Kats make perfect roof lining material for gingerbread houses, so you can save your leftover candy until Christmas to make epic houses with your whole family. Gumdrops, Dots, and Twizzlers make great decorations and additional elements to bring your houses to life. Can’t wait until winter to make an awesome gingerbread house? Try this online class where you can make a haunted house out of candy and cookies with Sawyer educator, Sweetology!

At Sawyer, we are passionate about connecting children with enriching activities that are happening online and in their neighborhoods. We hope these ideas help you figure out what to do with leftover Halloween candy, but let’s be honest, you can always just dole it out to yourself and your children as treats for the next few months. Whatever you do, we hope you have a safe and sweet fall with your family!