Taking candy from a baby? Creative solutions for a surplus of sugary treats

There comes a point shortly after the trick-or-treating is done when the Halloween sugar-packed booty needs to be dealt with before cavities, sugar rushes or sick stomachs set in.

(Flickr: Bunches and Bits)

Many parents enjoy watching as their children unwrap tasty chocolate after chocolate after gumball after sour goodies.

“We let the kids have fun when we return from making the rounds,” local parent Cindy Garcia said. “They like to put the candy in groups and barter and trade.”

Garcia added while its fun to watch her little costumed children’s eyes sparkle when it comes to sacks or buckets of candy, the stress that comes with sugar meltdowns and sour stomachs is tiring.

Another local parent said she likes the idea of donating their overflowing candy to local hospitals.

“We usually hide the leftovers in a dark cupboard where it tends to go bad,” Gypsy Denison said.

SWRNN has a list of creative things to do with all those colorful crunchy and chewy morsels:

• Save it for Christmas stockings. Who says candy wrappers have to be red or green?
• Bake with it. Use chopped-up candy bar pieces instead of chips in cookies and brownies. Mix Butterfinger and other candy bar pieces into your cake batter.
• Bring your leftovers to a dentist. Some have candy ‘buyback programs.’
• Make miniature (and edible) cornucopia place-markers for Thanksgiving by filling sugar cones with a mix of candy corn, M&Ms, Runts, etc., and then lay them on their side next to each table setting.
• Top your ice cream or frozen yogurt with candy. Or chop up chocolates and sprinkle them atop a frosted cake, cupcakes or cheesecake.
• The poker chips: Bet with candy at your next card game.
• Replace the marbles in your Mancala game with candy pieces. Winners and losers can eat the spoils.
• Try dissolving some candies in vodka and creating an infused booze, suggests www.wisebread.com.
• Turn your candy into a holiday wreath — any holiday. Spray shellac is recommended for the final product.

Stephanie D. Schulte is a writer/photographer with SWRNN.  he can be reached at stephanie.schulte@swrnn.com.