According to a 2023 statistic, Americans throw away about $400 million worth of uneaten Halloween candy each year. Are you looking for things to do with your leftover Halloween candy that don’t involve eating it? Read this post before you toss your candy in the trash — here are 10 creative things to do with leftover Halloween candy in 2025!
Halloween night may be over soon, but the candy chaos is just beginning! If you’re a mom staring at piles of leftover treats, here are the best 2025 ways to use leftover Halloween candy — from fun baking projects to donation ideas that teach kids about giving back. Now that my oldest daughter is in middle school, I’m finding ways to get her involved in sorting, sharing, and creating sweet memories without the sugar overload.
10 Things to Do with Leftover Halloween Candy
- Freeze It – Don’t let your candy spoil – frozen Reese’s are so tasty!
- Add it to a Trail Mix like my favorite Scarecrow Crunch
- Use it to decorate a Gingerbread House (store it in the freezer until its time).
- Bake MONSTER COOKIES or other desserts (like Turkey Cupcakes or Candy Brownie Bars)
- Send it overseas with Operation Shoebox or email: [email protected]
- Stir crumbled pieces into Ice Cream, save your favorites for Ice Cream Sundae Toppings, OR blend candies into an ice cream milkshake.
- Donate leftover Halloween candy to Treats for Troops (see more ideas here).
- Participate in the Halloween Candy Buy Back (search the website for participating businesses near you). There is a dentist collecting candy just 5 miles from my house to ship to the troops!
- Call your local Ronald McDonald House to check for any donation opportunities.
- Bring it to your office at work – or post FREE CANDY for OFFICE WORKERS on social media !
READ MORE: 5 Sweet Ways to Donate Halloween Candy in 2025
Watching Annabelle start middle school this year has changed how we celebrate every little tradition — even Halloween. Instead of sneaking candy into lunchboxes, we talk about creative ways to share what we have and savor the fun together. If you missed it, read The Bittersweet Goodbye to Elementary School: A Mom’s Emotions as Her Daughter Starts Middle School to see how this new chapter has reshaped our family moments.
LOVE that you included Ronald McDonald House on here! We stayed at a Ronald McDonald House for TWO weeks when our youngest was born premature. It was a lifesaver to be so close. Their program and people are amazing. I gladly donate money, time (and, maybe now candy!) to them every year for almost SEVEN years now! 🙂