Whether you need a great treat to bring to a party, or you want to use up some of the leftover Halloween candy your kids scored from trick-or-treating, it's fun to try some new Halloween candy recipes. These creative desserts are easy and delicious, and they'll be a hit with any crowd.
Candy Corn-Stuffed Cupcakes
If you love candy corn or simply have some left over from Halloween, you can use it to make some tasty cupcakes. Add candy corn inside the cupcakes for a sweet surprise, as well as using this colorful fall candy to decorate the frosting. This recipe makes 24 cupcakes.
Ingredients
- Chocolate cake mix
- Eggs, oil, and water as required by the mix you choose
- 1 cup of candy corn
- Can of chocolate frosting
Instructions
- Mix up the cake mix according to the package instructions.
- Line two cupcake pans with paper cupcake liners.
- Pour batter into the cupcake liners until they are about 1/3 full.
- Sprinkle about four to six pieces of candy corn in each liner.
- Top with more batter until they about about 2/3 full.
- Bake according to the cake mix instructions. Allow to cool.
- When they are cool, frost the cupcakes with chocolate frosting.
- Top with more candy corn.
Halloween Bark
All you need is your choice of milk chocolate or white chocolate and some leftover Halloween candy to make some delicious candy bark. This recipe makes about 12-24 pieces, depending on how large you make them.
Ingredients
- 24 ounces milk chocolate or white chocolate
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 2 cups chopped leftover candy
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray it with a non-stick cooking spray.
- Break the chocolate into pieces and melt in a double boiler or the microwave, watching carefully to make sure it doesn't burn. Stir frequently.
- Once the chocolate is melted, stir in the vegetable oil.
- Mix about 1 1/2 cups of the chopped candy into the chocolate mixture.
- Pour the chocolate and candy mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it evenly with a spatula.
- Top with the remaining chopped candy.
- Chill for about two hours and then break into serving-sized pieces.
Haunted Gingerbread House
Christmas isn't the only time to make a gingerbread house. In fact, you can use Halloween candy to decorate a creepy and delicious treat everyone will love.
Ingredients
- Gingerbread house pieces
- Royal icing
- Halloween candy
Instructions
- You can purchase a pre-made gingerbread house or make your own gingerbread house from scratch.
- Assemble the gingerbread house using royal icing.
- Decorate the gingerbread house with Halloween candy. You can use royal icing to apply the candy. Get creative and make it spooky!
Critter Cookies
Critter cookies are a wonderful way to use up leftover candy, and they look adorable. These Halloween candy cookies are super easy too. You can use your favorite cookie recipe to make any kind of drop cookie. Fudgy chocolate cookies are a great option. Refer to the cookie recipe you choose for the final yield; you'll use two drop cookies for every critter cookie.
Ingredients
- Cookie batter, made from the drop cookie recipe of your choice
- 10 ounces of chocolate chips
- Slivered almonds
- Leftover colored candy pieces, such as M&Ms or Skittles
- Royal icing
- Sprinkles
- Black icing for decorating
Instructions
- Bake the drop cookies according to the instructions. Allow them to cool.
- In a double boiler or the microwave, melt the chocolate chips, stirring frequently.
- Apply a dollop of melted chocolate to the top of half of the drop cookies. Press a second drop cookie on top.
- Stick two almond "teeth" in the melted chocolate for each cookie.
- Chill for half an hour.
- Drizzle royal icing over the top of each critter cookie. Top with two colored candy pieces and lots of sprinkles.
- When the royal icing is dry, use black icing to turn the colored candy pieces into eyes.
Candy Bar Topped Shortbread
Create a taste sensation with leftover candy bars and a simple shortbread recipe. This is an easy treat that everyone will love, and you can shake things up by changing the candy bars you use. This recipe makes about a dozen bars.
Ingredients
- Baked shortbread
- 10 ounces chocolate chips
- Six to eight fun-size candy bars, chopped into small pieces
Instructions
- Make the shortbread according to the recipe of your choice. Allow it to cool completely.
- Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave. Stir frequently to make sure they don't burn.
- Spread the melted chocolate over the cooled shortbread, coating it evenly.
- Sprinkle the chopped-up candy bars over the top.
- Chill for two hours and then cut into serving-sized pieces.
Candy-Studded Caramel Apples
Caramel apples make a great vehicle for getting leftover Halloween candy to your mouth in a creative and somewhat healthy way. This simple recipe makes six caramel apples, but it's easy to make more if you're hosting a crowd.
Ingredients
- One package of caramels
- 2-4 teaspoons heavy cream
- Halloween candy, chopped into small pieces
- Six Granny Smith apples washed and thoroughly dried
- Six sticks
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
- Drive the sticks into the apples. They should feel secure.
- Unwrap all of the caramels and place them in a saucepan.
- Cook, stirring, over low heat until the caramel is melted. Stir in heavy cream until the caramel reaches a dipping consistency.
- Carefully dip each apple in the caramel and allow the excess to run off.
- Sprinkle the chopped candy onto the caramel apple, pressing it in so it stays.
- Place the finished apple on the waxed paper. When all the apples are done, chill for half an hour.
Simple Leftover Candy Meringues
Candy meringues are a great choice for those looking to satisfy a sweet tooth. This is a wonderful way to use up leftovers of small candies like M&Ms, Skittles, Smarties, or anything else. The final recipe produces 12 meringues, or 12 servings.
Ingredients
- 2 large egg whites
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 36 plain M&M'S (or other small candies)
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Place egg whites in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer for one minute or until frothy.
- Gradually add sugar and continue to beat for five to eight minutes or until stiff, glossy peaks form.
- Place tablespoon-sized dollops of the mixture onto the parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Top each dollop with three M&M'S or Skittles.
- Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until meringues are dry to the touch. Be aware that M&M'S may melt a bit during the extended baking process.
Adjustments for High Altitude Baking
If you live in a high altitude area (3,000 feet or higher), add a third egg white to the ingredients and beat for approximately three to five minutes longer to reach the right consistency.
Frozen Banana Pops With Halloween Candy
Instead of reaching for the ice cream, consider making frozen banana pops with Halloween candy. You can use any kind of candy for this, as long as it pairs well with chocolate. Consider chopping up larger candy bars. This recipe makes six servings.
Ingredients
- 6 wooden popsicle sticks
- 3 bananas, peeled and cut in half cross-wise
- 8 ounces milk chocolate chips
- 6 fun-size chocolate candy bars, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces (Reese's, Milky Way, Snickers, or Kit Kat all work well)
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place a popsicle stick into the bottom of each banana half.
- Freeze bananas and chocolate candy bar pieces for two hours or until very firm.
- Place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat the chips in the microwave at medium heat for one minute, stirring after 30 seconds and 60 seconds. If chips are not completely melted after this time, continue to heat in microwave, stirring after every 15 seconds.
- Dip the frozen bananas into the melted chocolate mixture and coat well. Place the chocolate-covered bananas on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Sprinkle the chopped chocolate candies over the chocolate-covered bananas.
- Freeze the bananas for 10 to 15 minutes or until firm.
Super Easy Halloween Candy Trail Mix
Chewy candy trail mix is a healthier option that provides a sweet and savory crunch. You can use any kind of chewy candy for this, and it makes a great snacking option for movie night or get togethers. This recipe provides a yield of six servings.
Ingredients
- 4 cups commercially-made caramel corn
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 1 1/2 cups chewy candy of your choice (Twizzler Bites, Skittles, gummy worms, etc.)
Instructions
- Use a pair of kitchen shears to cut larger pieces of candy into one-inch pieces if needed.
- Toss candy with caramel corn and pecan halves.
Tasty Candy Bar Cookies
You can use any kind of candy bar to make these awesome cookies - from Reese's Peanut Butter Cups to Snickers. No matter your candy of choice, these cookies are a great way to get rid of leftovers in the most delicious way possible. The recipe produces a yield of four dozen cookies.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 4 tablespoons cream cheese
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups chopped chocolate candy bars, any variety
- Powdered sugar, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- With an electric mixer, beat butter, cream cheese, vanilla, egg yolk, and sugar in a large mixing bowl for three to five minutes or until light and fluffy.
- Combine flour and salt.
- Slowly combine flour and salt with creamed butter mixture.
- Roll dough into tablespoon-sized balls. Place dough balls onto parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Press three to five chunks of candy into the tops of each cookie ball.
- Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Dust cookies with powered sugar, if desired, once cooled.
Peppermint Patty Brownies
Shake up traditional brownies by adding peppermint patties. The recipe produces 16 servings.
Ingredients
- Butter, for greasing the baking pan
- 19-ounce boxed brownie mix, plus ingredients from back of the box
- 16 fun-size peppermint patties
Instructions
- Grease an eight-inch square baking pan.
- Prepare the brownie mix according to the directions on the box.
- Pour half of the brownie mix into the baking pan.
- Place the peppermint patties on top of the brownie mixture, leaving a half-inch border of brownie around the edge of the pan.
- Pour the remaining brownie mix over the top of the peppermint patties.
- Bake according to the directions on the box.
- Allow brownies to cool, then cut into 16 pieces.
Use Halloween Candy Recipes as a Party Activity
Making Halloween candy desserts can be a delightful activity for after the holiday, but it's also a great way to celebrate on the day. If you're having a Halloween party for older kids, it can be fun to make one of these recipes together, and then eat the dessert while watching movies. As with any great baking project, sometimes making the treats is as much fun as eating them.
