Like all good parents, we check our kids' Halloween candy after a fun night of trick-or-treating and separate them into appropriate piles: for mom and dad only (you know you do it too!), throw away (if there's something suspicious) and safe to eat. 

We LOVE candy! But at some point, even us candy lovers are looking for other fun things to do with all the leftover Halloween candy. So, we're sharing some of the sweetest ideas with you!

Candy Buyback Locations

The following dentist's offices across Northeast Ohio are participating in Candy Buy Back this year. The candy they collect will be donated to our troops or first responders through either Operation Gratitude or Halloween Candy Buy Back. Operation Gratitude includes a handful of candy in every Care Package we send.

Know of any other local offices that are offering Candy Buyback? Submit the details here. Thanks!

Berea Family Dental
November 2-5, 2020. Will be buying back candy at $1 per pound. (5 lb. limit) This is part of the Operation Gratitude: Halloween Candy Buy Back. {Find Out More}
359 Front Street, Berea, OH 44017
(440) 234-2813

5 More Ideas for Leftover Halloween Candy

Bake it in, Mix it in or use it to Garnish Desserts and Baked Goods

Store your leftover Halloween candy in the freezer for Kit-Kat Smore's bars, Milky Way caramel apple dip, Twix caramel popcorn or Butterfinger cake down the road. Recipes for these tasty treats and more can be found here. 

Or, you could create your own, new recipe to try now or later! Crush candy to make a candy apple topping, create a chocolate candy bark concoction, add it to a milkshake or smoothie, create a fun trail mix, bake it into cookies, add a piece to your coffee or hot chocolate, use it as an ice cream topping, fill a pinata with it and so much more!

Use the Leftover Candy for Science Experiments or Crafts

All that leftover Halloween candy gives the perfect opportunity to experiment and get crafty.

• Ever try painting with candy?
• What about doing some candy math?
• See what candy sinks or floats with this fun experiment. Or learn about science using candy: Balloon Experiments with Candy | Balancing with M&M's | Candy Corn Catapults | Exploding Peep Geysers

Explore the Switchcraft Story or Introduce the Candy Fairy

In Switchcrafted: The Story of the Switch Witches of Halloween, families can explore the made up story of why witches get out so often on Halloween. Then, make the story come alive by playing with your very own witch doll. She moves around the house (like Elf on a Shelf) to keep an eye on all of your pre-Halloween activities. Legend has it in order for the witches to whip up a potion, they need lots of candy. In exchange, when the time is right, your kids get a game, get to do an activity, are awarded a small gift or healthy treat for giving up their candy for the magic potion!

If you don't love the Switchcraft idea, you could create a sense of magic for your kids by having them leave sweet treats out at night – in a secret spot only you, your child and the Candy Fairy know about – so the Candy Fairy can swap out the sweet treats for a small toy or gift!

Use the Candy During Christmas for an Advent Calendar or to Decorate a Gingerbread House

Since I was a little girl, my grandparents bought me an Advent calendar to countdown to Christmas. They still buy one every year for each grandchild in our family. If you're new to the Advent calendar, pick your favorite Halloween candy to save for December and create your own Christmas countdown.

You can also save your leftover Halloween candy, like Runts, SweetTarts, Skittles, Nerds, Bottle Caps and others – for Christmas time to create and decorate a gingerbread house.

Select Your Favorites and Give the Rest to Others

Let your kids divvy up their candy into two piles: one of candy they love and one of candy they don't. This will teach them the importance of only indulging in the things that are worth it to them.

After you've chosen the worthy pieces, give the other pile to someone else. Someone in your neighborhood, at an assisted living facility, your area police and EMS station or a perfect stranger could maybe use the treats to brighten their day!