Easter Candy Overload? 10 Delicious Ways to Use It Up!

Easter has come and gone, leaving behind a surplus of colorful candies. Instead of letting those sweets go to waste, transform them into delightful new creations that your whole family will enjoy.

Or if you didn’t get a lot of candy for Easter, and now it’s on clearance, here are some fun ways to use leftover Easter Candy.

While you are looking through these Easter candy recipes, make sure you’re keeping your candy and treats appropriately stored. Keeping a frugal grocery budget means using up everything we have.

To keep your stash of leftover Easter candy fresh and ready for all those creative recipes, proper storage is key. Start by sorting your candy—chocolates, gummies, and hard candies each do best with slightly different care. For chocolate, an airtight container works wonders to lock out moisture and prevent it from absorbing any weird pantry smells.

Gummies and soft candies can go into resealable bags to maintain their chewy texture, while hard candies should be stored in a cool, dry spot to keep them from getting sticky. If you’re serious about long-term storage (like stockpiling chocolates for summer baking), consider vacuum-sealed storage to keep everything super fresh.

Need a quick storage upgrade? Check out these favs.

1. Clear Plastic Airtight Candy Food Storage Containers – These are perfect for keeping candies fresh and organized. Available in various sizes, they are durable and food-safe.
2. OXO Good Grips POP Container – A compact, airtight container ideal for storing chocolates and other small treats.
3. Lasting Freshness 11-Piece Vacuum Seal Food Storage Set – This set includes a vacuum pump to keep your candy and other foods fresh for longer, making it a great investment for long-term storage.

Follow me on TikTok and Facebook for an inside peek at more fun recipes and tips!

1. Candy-Loaded Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chop up chocolate bunnies, marshmallow eggs, and pastel-colored candies to create the ultimate loaded chocolate chip cookies. The melted candy pieces create pockets of unexpected flavor and texture, turning a classic treat into a post-Easter surprise. This is always our go-to and my favorite.

Candy-Stuffed Cookies

Perfect for: Chocolate bars, mini eggs, or peanut butter cups.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups chopped Easter candy

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth. Add the egg, yolk, and vanilla extract.
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Fold in the chopped Easter candy.
5. Scoop dough onto the baking sheet and bake for 12-14 minutes or until golden.

Pro Tip: Freeze harder candies briefly before chopping to prevent them from becoming too sticky.

2. Candy Bark

Create a simple chocolate bark by melting chocolate and sprinkling crushed Easter candies on top. Layer milk chocolate with dark chocolate, and use jellybeans, robin’s eggs, and chocolate eggs as decorative and delicious toppings.

Candy Bark

Perfect for: Jellybeans, chocolate eggs, or marshmallow candies.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dark or milk chocolate chips
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup assorted Easter candy

Instructions:

1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper.
2. Melt the dark/milk chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Spread on the baking sheet.
3. Melt the white chocolate and drizzle over the dark chocolate.
4. Sprinkle the candy on top and lightly press to adhere.
5. Chill in the fridge for 1 hour before breaking into pieces.

3. Milkshake and Smoothie Mix-Ins

Crush chocolate eggs and candy-coated treats to use as mix-ins for milkshakes or smoothies. The added crunch and sweetness can transform an ordinary drink into a festive treat.

Milkshake and Smoothie Mix-Ins

Add crushed chocolate eggs and candy-coated treats to milkshakes or smoothies for a festive upgrade.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups vanilla or chocolate ice cream
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup crushed Easter candy (chocolate eggs, candy-coated chocolates)
• Whipped cream and candy for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Blend the ice cream, milk, and crushed candy until smooth.
2. Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream and a candy garnish if desired.
3. Serve immediately and enjoy!

4. No-Bake Candy Cheesecake Topping

Crush chocolate and fruit-flavored candies to create a unique topping for no-bake cheesecakes. The varied textures and flavors add depth to a classic dessert. Grab a box of No-bake cheesecake for an easy treat.

5. Easter Candy Trail Mix

Incorporate chopped chocolate and candy pieces into homemade trail mix. Combine with nuts, dried fruits, and seeds for a balanced and interesting snack that reduces food waste.

Easter Candy Trail Mix

Perfect for: Chocolate eggs, candy-coated chocolates, or gummy treats.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pretzels
• 1/2 cup nuts (almonds, peanuts, or walnuts)
• 1/2 cup Easter candy
• 1/4 cup dried fruit (raisins or cranberries)

Instructions:

Portion into snack-sized bags for a quick, sweet-and-salty treat.

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl.

Final Tip: Always chop candies into smaller pieces to distribute flavor evenly and prevent overwhelming sweetness.

6. Easter Candy Ice Cream Sundae

Top vanilla or chocolate ice cream with crushed candy eggs, caramel sauce, and sprinkles for a fun dessert.

7. Candy-Stuffed Pancakes

Fold chopped chocolate eggs and mini candies into your pancake batter. They’ll melt slightly as the pancakes cook, making breakfast extra special (and way more fun)!

8. Peeps Hot Cocoa

Melt a Peep into a mug of hot cocoa for a festive, colorful, and extra-sweet drink.

9. Easter Candy Brownies

Take your favorite brownie mix and fold in pieces of chocolate bunnies, caramel eggs, or peanut butter candies. Bake as usual and top with a drizzle of melted chocolate for a decadent treat. Grab a box to make this even easier!

10. Marshmallow Peep Krispie Treats

Swap out regular marshmallows with colorful Peeps to make Rice Krispie treats. The Peeps create fun pastel colors, and it’s a great way to use up those sugary chicks and bunnies. Or use pastel M&Ms to make it easy and sweet.

11. Easter Candy Crockpot

You may have seen this idea all over your Pinterest feed and it’s one of the easiest and tastiest ideas. The best part? Your slow cooker does most of the work! Just toss in your ingredients, stir occasionally, and watch as everything melts into candy-making magic. It’s a perfect recipe here to whip up with the kids or prep for a family gathering, and it’s guaranteed to satisfy every sweet tooth at the table. Plus, those pops of pastel colors? Totally Instagram-worthy. 

Repurposing Easter candy isn’t just about saving money—it’s about creativity in the kitchen and reducing food waste. Happy baking!