Treats to make with leftover Halloween candy

It’s probably safe to say a few kids are having candy “hangovers” today after trick-or-treating last night. If you want to reduce your child’s candy stash, or if you have leftover candy from the giveaway bowl, you can find inspiration for using it to make some decidedly grown-up treats.

Paste Magazine starts us off with five ways to use leftover Halloween candy. The first idea makes sure your kids can’t eat the candy – use it to infuse alcohol. Amy McCarthy, Paste’s Assistant Food Editors, explains: “Skittles, Starbursts, gummy bears, Jolly Ranchers, and other hard candies are perfect candidates for spending a couple of days in your favorite neutral-spirit. You basically just mix the candies with the spirit, wait for it to dissolve and fully infuse the booze with flavor, and strain the non-dissolved remnants away.”

Candy bar fondue is another suggestion from the site, as are candy and chocolate covered banana pops (making the candy at least somewhat healthier). The EYB Library features a few ideas, too, like the Leftover Halloween candy bark from Leite’s Culinaria by Jamie Geller, pictured above. Girlichef blogger Heather Schmitt-González offers “Leftover” Halloween candy bundt cake, similar to the Halloween candy lava cakes from Baking Bites by Nicole Weston. If you want to double down on the decadence, try Deep-fried Halloween candy (Cakespy) from Serious Eats. But don’t blame us if your pants are too tight next week.