100 Dessert Recipes Using Candy

If you’ve got a bevy of leftover Halloween candy to use up, we’ve got you covered with 100 Dessert Recipes Using Candy in them! From No-Bake Recipes Using Candy to delicious cakes, cookies, and more!

I attended the NCA briefing as a participant of Mom Blog Tour Sweets & Snacks Expo (#MomBlogTourFF) on behalf of Wendy’s Bloggers. 

We just got back from a whirlwind week in Chicago where we attended the National Confectioners Association‘s Sweets & Snacks Expo.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn about how the industry is largely made up of small business and family-run businesses with a rich heritage of family traditions making up two thirds of the industry, and when walking the show floor I was able to meet many of the CEOs of these candy and snack companies.

I also was surprised to hear that the average American only consumes one teaspoon of sugar a day in confectionary items, which is basically a fun size candy bar. The majority of sugar consumption is all of those hidden sources of sugar – not incorporating treats into a healthy balanced lifestyle.

As part of the Partnership for a Healthier America (which is affiliated with Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative), the NCA has put a lot of effort into it’s “Always a Treat” initiative which has brought America’s leading chocolate and candy companies together to make two really important commitments towards consumer education:

• by 2022, half of the individually wrapped products will be 200 calories or less
• and by that same year, 90% of the best-selling treats will have calorie information on the front of the pack

Candy, sweets, and snacks are treats that most of us look forward to indulging in as part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle and I think many of us also have special treats that we look forward to as part of our holiday and family traditions.

For our family, eating healthy 90% of the time makes indulging in a treat much more enjoyable and we’re also less likely to overindulge because we try to pick really satisfying and indulgent treats when we do partake. We actually always have treats available and accessible, and that lack of hard limits has encouraged my daughter to not overindulge in treats when they are offered. She knows she can have them whenever she wants, but she has learned that she enjoys them more when they are a “special treat” and has learned to self-regulate and listen to what her body wants and needs.

Leftover Candy Recipes

However, the flip side to my daughter’s super casual relationship with candy is that we often have to come up with creative ways to use up chocolates and candy because she never eats it all!

If you’re also faced with a bounty of leftover candy – or you just want something unique for a special occasion, this collection of 100 Recipes Using Candy has got you covered! We have everything from cookies and cakes to no-bake recipes and homemade ice creams!

(You can also always use leftover Starburst to make Candy Slime or Gummy Bears to Make Gummy Bear Slime!)

(Clockwise from top left corner)

Red Hot Candy Apples | Nerdy Mama

No-Bake Reese’s PB Cheesecake | Cincy Shopper

Sweet and Salty Cupcake Recipe | Ottawa Mommy Club

Mini Finger Pies with Butterfinger Candy | Organized 31

No-Churn Reese’s PB Ice Cream | Cincy Shopper

Butterfinger Ice Cream Sandwiches | Amanda’s Cookin’

Peanut Butter Lush | Sugar, Spice & Glitter

Snickers Surprise Cookies | Pint-Sized Treasures (not pictured)

Forth of July Firecracker Popcorn | Mom Foodie (not pictured)

Rainbow Candy Crush Cookies | Rainy Day Mum (not pictured)

Halloween Candy Slow Cooker Hot Cocoa | Nerdy Mama (not pictured)

Milky Way Poke Cake Recipe | A Day in Candiland (not pictured)

(Clockwise from top left corner)

Rolo Caramel Apple Muffins | Carolines Cooking

Twix Cheesecake Pie | The Kitchen is my Playground

Chocolate Reese’s Pieces Cookies | My Organized Chaos

Hershey’s Chocolate Cupcake Recipe | 3 Boys and a Dog

White Chocolate Candy Bark | Stylish Cravings

Campfire Cookies | Natural Beach Living

S’mores cupcake Recipe | Ottawa Mommy Club

No-Bake Whoppers Truffles |Dancing Through the Rain

DIY Candy Agate Slices | Sugar, Spice & Glitter

Reese’s PB Cup Cookies | Homemade Food Junkie (not pictured)

Gluten-free Butterfinger Parfaits | Blessed Beyond Crazy (not pictured)

Decadent Candy Bar Frappe | 4 the Love of Food Blog (not pictured)

Mickey Sugar Cookies | In the Kids Kitchen (not pictured)

(Clockwise from top left corner)

Mini Chocolate Pie Parfaits | Everyday Southwest

S’mores Cookie Bars | In the Kids Kitchen

Butterfinger Cookies | Half Scratched

Rocky Road Popcorn | Strawberry Blondie Kitchen

School Books Rice Krispie Treats | In the Kids Kitchen

No-Churn Snickers Ice Cream | Sugar, Spice & Glitter

Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats | Trish Sutton (not pictured)

Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies | My Organized Chaos (not pictured)

Poptart Train | Ann’s Entitled Life (not pictured)

Cotton Candy Milkshake | Janine Huldie (not pictured)

(Clockwise from top left corner)

Andes Mint Grasshopper Cookies | Crayons and Cravings

Gender Reveal Pinata Cake | the Baking Fairy

Andes Mint Chocolate Cookies | Small Town Woman

Penguin Cookies | In the Kids Kitchen

Deep Dish Milky Way Brown Butter Cookies | Smells Like Home

OREO Polar Bear Cookies | In the Kids Kitchen

10-Minute S’mores Refrigerator Cake | Sugar, Spice & Glitter

Candy Cane Chewy Cookies | My Turn for Us (not pictured)

Candy Bar Carmelitas | The Brunette Baker (not pictured)

Candy Cane Lollipops | Mission to Save (not pictured)

No Bake Acorn Cookies | Mission to Save (not pictured)

(Clockwise from top left corner)

Mini PB Cheesecakes | Small Town Woman

Grill Cupcakes | In the Kids Kitchen

Butterfinger Biscotti Bites | Foodie Chicks Rule

Chocolate PB Bark | Growing Up Gabel

Extreme Freakshake Smores Milkshake | A Side of Sweet

Ferraro Rocher Cupcakes with Nutella Frosting | Sugar, Spice & Glitter

Butterfinger Overload Brownies | Confessions of a Baking Queen (not pictured)

Chewy Gooey Candy Blondies | Confessions of a Baking Queen (not pictured)

Reese’s Magic Bar Recipe | Savings Lifestyle (not pictured)

Caramel Popcorn Cupcakes | In the Kids Kitchen (not pictured)

(Clockwise from top left corner)

Surprise Inside Candy Bar Cupcake | 3 Boys and a Dog

Rolo Poke Cake | My Organized Chaos

Brownie Bottom Cheesecake | Confessions of a Baking Queen

LEGO Brownies | In the Kids Kitchen

Decadent Snickers Cupcake Recipe | Homemade Food Junkie

CARS Rice Krispie Treats | In the Kids Kitchen

Cinnamon Heart Chocolate Bark | Sugar, Spice & Glitter

Candy Bar Brownies recipe | Saving You Dinero (not pictured)

Snickers Caramel Apple Pie | Mom Foodie (not pictured)

Leftover Candy Brownies | Just a Taste (not pictured)

Butter Pecan M&M Magic Bars | Cupcakes and Kale Chips (not pictured)

(Clockwise from top left corner)

Butterfinger Caramel Cookie Bars | the Baking Chocolatess

Andy’s Mint Chocolate Fudge | Savings Lifestyle

Back to School Chalkboard Cupcakes | In the Kids Kitchen

Rocky Road Bars | The Brunette Baker

Overloaded Candy Bar Brownies | My Turn For Us or this

No Bake Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Pie | The Kitchen is My Playground

Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies | Sugar, Spice & Glitter

Flourless Monster Cookie Dough Dip | Cupcakes and Kale Chips (not pictured)

Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Sandwiches | the Gunny Sack (not pictured)

Peanut Butter Cup Flourless Cake Roll | Cupcakes and Kale Chips (not pictured)

Celebration Kit Kat Cake | Kylee Cooks (not pictured)

(Clockwise from top left corner)

Rainbow Dragonfly Pretzels | In the Kids Kitchen

Butterfinger Cake Recipe | Living Sweet Moments

Mickey Mouse Party Fudge | In the Kids Kitchen

Caramel Apples Snickers Salad | Dancing Through the Rain

Reese’s Candy Bar Cupcake | 3 Boys and a Dog

Butterfinger Cheesecake | the Baking Fairy

Disney Lady & the Tramp Cookies | Sugar, Spice & Glitter

Apple Snickers Cake | Inside Bru Crew Life (not pictured)

Almond Joy Cupcakes | the NY Melrose Family (not pictured)

Almond Joy-filled Bundt Cake | Taste and Tell Blog (not pictured)

M&M Caramel Cheese Ball | Will Cook for Smiles (not pictured)

(Clockwise from top left corner)

M&M Cake Brownies | In the Kids Kitchen

Malted Milk Bar Squares | The Brunette Baker

Snickers Chocolate Cheesecake | Blessed Beyond Crazy

No-Bake Snickers Bar Pie | The Kitchen is my Playground

Chocolate Caramel Pie Bars | Soup Addict

Turkey Candies | Sugar, Spice & Glitter

Halloween Candy Krispy Treats | Little Dairy on the Prairie (not pictured)

Leftover Candy Halloween Bark | Brown Eyed Baker (not pictured)

Leftover Candy Pie Recipe | Serious Eats (not pictured)

Candy Brownie Trifle | the Kitchen Magpie (not pictured)

(Clockwise from top left corner)

Bite-sized PB Kiss Cookies | The Anthony Kitchen

Lawn Mower Rice Krispie Treats | In the Kids Kitchen

Girl Guide Thin Mint Cupcakes | In the Kids Kitchen

Peanut Butter M&M Bars | Blessed Beyond Crazy

Thin Mint Popcorn Recipe | Sweet T Makes Three

 

Pin this collection of 100 Fun Recipes Using Leftover Candy:

Did we leave off a favorite recipe that you like to use candy or candy bars to make? Leave us a comment to let us know!

And for a bit of balance, check out our Collection of Mason Jar Salads or our Copycat Chinois Salad recipe.