Here’s When You Should Toss Your Extra Halloween Candy (2024)

Edible ArachnidsI like to bring cake pops to movie nights. This year for Halloween, I used my go-to recipe to make these not-so-scary spiders. They're such a fun Halloween dessert!—Nicole Rae Paoli, Newark, DelawareGo to Recipe

Jack-o'-Lantern Cream PuffsThese jack-o'-lanterns may look spooky on the outside, but inside is a creamy, sweet treat. The classic flavor of pumpkin pie spice will have all your ghosts and goblins screaming for more!Karalee Helminak, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Witches' BroomsPair these edible mini brooms with Witches’ Brew for a spellbinding combination. The only ingredients you need here are pretzel rods and licorice. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Candy Corn CookiesGet a head start on these buttery cookies by shaping and chilling the homemade dough ahead of time. When you're ready, just slice and bake this Halloween dessert. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Black-Hearted Candy ApplesThe glossy coating of these old-fashioned candy apples is hard, not soft like the more common caramel variety. It's best to lick them like a lollipop. You can also cut into wedges with a sharp knife, but the candy coating may crack. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario

Tombstone TreatsMy brother loves Rice Krispies squares, and my mom loves sugar cookies. I came up with a cute Halloween dessert they'd both like.

Halloween Peanut Spider CookiesThese cute spider cookies are so easy. They'll be the star at your next Halloween party! —Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Halloween Witch CakeIf you're looking for an extra-special Halloween dessert, this witch cake will delight all the ghouls and goblins at your party. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Cake EyeballsCustomize these cake balls to your liking with the flavors of your choice. — Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Jack-o'-Lantern CakeI pieced two fluted tube pan cakes together to make this gap-toothed grinner that will make the best-ever centerpiece at your Halloween party. —Julianne Johnson, Grove City, Minnesota

Candy Corn Pudding PopsBring on the fall fun with these easy-peasy Halloween desserts. A few drops of food coloring make each pop look just like candy corn, but feel free to switch up the colors to match your event. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Spiced Chocolate TrufflesI make truffles for family events and gift-giving. Someone once asked me to add pumpkin spice, and now my recipe is legendary. —Gerry Cofta, Milwaukee, WI

Spooky Gelatin Bubble CupcakesIt's so much fun to make these Halloween desserts! Bubbles can be made weeks ahead. Turn them into orange pumpkins, multi-colored balloons -- whatever! —Sarah Farmer, Taste of Home Culinary Director

So-Easy-It's-Spooky Bat CakeThis gorgeous dessert starts with a boxed cake mix. Then it’s an easy and magical trick to make the bat silhouette with cocoa. —Crystal Schlueter, Babbitt, Minnesota

Witches’ FingersYou don't need a cauldron to conjure these frightening fingers. They're a sweet-and-salty treat that's spooky easy to make. —Beth Tomkiw, Chief Content Officer, Taste of Home

Meringue BonesThis unique treatment for meringue travels well, too! You will certainly get requests for the recipe, and folks will be surprised at how simple it is! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Jack-o'-Lantern PiePumpkin pie does not have to be difficult to make. This recipe has wonderful maple flavor and is sure to be a hit at your fall get-togethers. —Marty Rummel, Trout Lake, Washington

Day of the Dead CookiesI love making this intricate Halloween dessert. Using candies, food coloring and a wild imagination, try your hand at this Day of the Dead cookie decoration. —Kristine Fossmeyer, Huntley, Illinois

Marshmallow GhostsKids of all ages can help prepare these easy-to-make treats. With just three ingredients that I often keep on hand, they can be put together at a moment's notice.—Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania

Owl CookiesI came up with these cookies as a treat for my kids’ class parties. Not only do they look cute, but they are also delicious.—Starrlette Howard, Ogden, Utah

Brownie Haunted HouseYou don’t have to worry about getting this spooky Halloween dessert to stand upright. These fudgy brownies are the perfect canvas for creating a silly haunted house. Trick-or-treaters beware! —Sarah Farmer, Greenfield, Wisconsin

Scary EyeballsKids will squeal with delight at the sight of these eyeball treats. But the peanut butter flavor is the best part! —Shannon Blatchley, Ludlow, Massachusetts. Looking for more ideas? Check out our collection of spooky Halloween cakes.

Brownie SpidersI'm absolutely petrified of real spiders. But I can make an exception for these cute ones made from chocolate. They make perfect Halloween treats. —Ali Ebright, Kansas City, Missouri

Eyes On YouLook out! This crazy cupcake only has eyes for you. Don't worry though, this Halloween dessert is delicious! —Karen Tack, Riverside, Connecticut

Kiss from a Vampire CookiesRaspberry jam eerily oozes from these soft butter cookies. One bite, and you'll have a hard time stopping! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ghosts in the Graveyard CakeThis spooky cake is easy to make and fun to decorate. To save time, bake and freeze the brownies weeks in advance, then thaw at room temperature overnight before decorating.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Scary Hairy Caramel ApplesThis is a cute and tasty version of a caramel apple. It's a perfect Halloween dessert. —Sally Sibthorpe, Shelby Township, Michigan

Creepy Candied CornI couldn't stop eating this popcorn when I first tried it at a friend's party. My generous pal offered the recipe, and now I bring it to gatherings often. Color your corn an eerie green hue to add a spooky effect at Halloween. —Courtney D Wilson, Fresno, California

Crazy Halloween BlondiesI have a real sweet tooth, so Halloween is my favorite holiday. I came up with these bars for my kids, but I think I like them even more than they do! —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Halloween Monster CookiesDon't be surprised if all the monsters come out of hiding when you assemble this fun and easy Halloween dessert. My kids and I made them for their classroom Halloween party one year. Their classmates loved them, and it's now a tradition to make them every year. —Dina Crowell, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Ghost Shortbread CookiesPac-Man was my favorite video game when I was growing up. For a party, I decided to get creative and shape my go-to sugar cookies into the ghosts from the game. —Jamie S, Regina, Saskatchewan

Like a zombie, you'll be desperate for more of these bone-shaped cookies and dip. Fight nicely over them—no biting! —Taste of Home Food Styling Team

Brainy CakeMy Godson and I made this Halloween dessert after fun day at the science museum. We've made it several times now, and we get a kick out of experimenting with the frosting colors. —Faith Cromwell, San Francisco, California

Mummy BrowniesThe grave couldn't hold these mummified treats for long! Watch these fudgy brownies pull a disappearing act at your Halloween get-together. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Halloween Sugar CookiesI've been making these Halloween sugar cookies for about 40 years—first for my children and now my grandchildren and all their friends, too. I make about 20 trays a year to give away to trick-or-treaters. —Pamela Shank, Parkersburg, West Virginia

Martian MarshmallowsIf you have any leftovers of this Halloween dessert, wrap them in cellophane and hand them out as favors. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan

Halloween Layer CakeThere's nothing "scary" about this cake. I make it every Halloween for my husband, Mike, and our three children. —Karen Wirth, Tavistock, Ontario

Graveyard CakeUnderneath tasty tombstones, ghosts, pumpkins, worms and soil that make this dessert a conversation piece, you'll find a delectable chocolate cake made from scratch in a few simple steps. It's a recipe I use year-round with different frostings. —Vicki Schlechter, Davis, California

Frosted Pistachio BarsBar cookies are the best Halloween dessert-so fast and easy. Go as spooky as you dare when decorating this pan for Halloween. Shannon Sheehy, Chesterfield, Virginia

Halloween Chocolate Cookie PopsOur children look forward to making these cute cookies each year. They've become experts at making silly faces with little candies.

Ghostly Cupcake ConesTop peanut buttery cupcakes with your favorite frosting and spirited faces to make these frightfully ghostly treats. They’ll vanish into thin air before you know it! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin