If you're anything like me, you think of holidays solely in terms of candy. Clearly Halloween can't be beat in the sheer volume department and nothing cures a broken heart like discount Valentine's Day chocolates. Yet one holiday stands apart from the rest when it comes to the ultimate sugar rush. Easter in America is practically synonymous with marshmallow chicks, hollow chocolate rabbits, and eggs filled with anything from peanut butter to raspberry jam. For all its delicious treats, there's still the conundrum of finding things to do with leftover Easter candy.
Unlike other festivities where sweets are involved, there's a much higher chance you're going to be stuck with a bunch of uneaten goodies since Easter is the biggest day for candy and chocolate companies, according to CNBC. Yup, you read that correctly. Santa, Cupid, and even Mr. Jack-O-Lantern don't stand a chance against the Easter bunny, who rakes in more than $800 million in candy sales.
So if you're one of the many people who have purchased copious amounts of sugary goodness for Easter, you know you'll probably be finding Cadbury remnants and open packages of Peeps for days to come. Instead of tossing out uneaten treats or letting them go stale in the back of your pantry, check out these incredible recipes to transform your Easter candy leftovers into something new.
1Easter Egg Bark
As if this super simple Easter egg bark from A Pretty Life In The Suburbs couldn't get any better, you can easily swap out the Easter egg jelly beans for mini chocolate eggs, too.
2Chocolate Malt
What better thing to do with your leftover Whopper chocolate malt balls than use them for a frosty chocolate Whopper malt? This decadent dessert in a glass from My Baking Addiction is sure to be a hit with any chocoholic.
3Starburst Cookies
Not all Easter candy is chocolate, of course. So these fruity Starburst cookies from Ari's Menu are the perfect solution to what to do with leftover Starburst.
4Melt Away Mint Brownies
Who doesn't love a good brownie? This mint brownie recipe from Bake Love Give utilizes leftover mints, but you could also use Sno-Caps or any other kind of small candy.
5Mini Easter Egg Baskets
This one truly takes the cake (pun intended). These Easter basket cupcakes from Bakerella use sour straws for the handles and all kinds of assorted candies for the "basket filler."
6Protein Shake
Pastry chef and owner of Ava's Cupcakes, Michelle Spell, says one of her favorite ways to transform leftover Easter goodies is by sneaking them into her kids' protein shakes.
"My kids always get tons of those foil covered bunnies and we don't allow them to eat it so we do things with it," she tells Romper. "We make a peanut butter cup protein shake using the Reese's eggs and Whoppers, but we mix the chocolate with healthy things." To create the shake, Spell suggests mixing the two candies, along with fresh or frozen berries, with Greek Yogurt or Almond Milk. For a little green add spinach, as it "has a mild flavor and it loaded with tons of great vitamins and minerals."
7Bird's Nest Cupcakes
An unlikely combination of leftover chow mein noodles and mini chocolate eggs give Taste and Tell's citrus bird's nest cupcake a fun twist.
8Easter Overload Brownies
Using almost everything except the kitchen sink, these Easter candy brownies from Confessions Of A Cookbook Queen are packed with Oreos, Peeps, caramels, and more.
9Cadbury Egg Cake
Nothing goes hand in hand quite like Cadbury eggs and Easter. Cookies And Cups elevates an ordinary chocolate cake by adding creamy Cadbury eggs to the mix.
10Easter Peeps Banana Milkshake
If you're in the mood for something chill and smooth, try this Peeps and banana milkshake recipe from DIY Candy.
11Loaded Candy Cookie Bars
These loaded cookie bars combine the best of both worlds: cookies and brownies. My Baking Addiction has managed to pack even more yummy goodness into these treats by loading them up with an assortment of leftover Easter candies.
12Easter Pretzel Bites
In the mood for a salty and sweet snack? Look no further than Something Swanky's recipe for candy-topped pretzel bites. Using melted chocolate as an adhesive of sorts, you can pop any candy you like on top.
13Thin Mint Cake
It just so happens that Girl Scout cookies are on sale around the same time as Easter, so you probably have a box of Thin Mints stashed amongst your leftover sweets. This yummy Thin Mint cake recipe from Your Cup Of Cake makes the most out of your minty treats.
14Tropical Carrot Cupcakes
If you thought carrots were just for the Easter Bunny, think again. Chewsy Lovers mixes shredded coconut, leftover carrots, and candies to make this tropical carrot cupcakes.
15Nutella Rice Krispies Easter Candy Mashups
Few things on Earth are yummier than Nutella, but this hybrid dessert comes pretty close. Deliciously Yum's Nutella Rice Krispies recipe has layer upon layer of lovely leftover Easter candy goodness.
