The Nanny Tribe
Post-Halloween Wonders: Embracing the Holiday Season with Simple, Cheap, and Sneaky Tricks!
Can you believe Halloween is over already? It feels like we just blinked, and suddenly, we find ourselves in the thick of the bustling holiday season with a seemingly never-ending list of things to do before the new year.
Don’t worry! Over the next few months, we’ll be your trusted guide, providing you with simple, cheap, and sneaky tricks to navigate this busy season without feeling overwhelmed. Our goal is to help busy families like yours, enjoy the festivities, revel in the decorations, and soak in the joy that this time of year brings without feeling like you’re lost in a sea of holiday chaos.
First things first, let’s tackle that massive pile of Halloween candy. Don’t let it linger and become a tempting nuisance! We have some fantastic ideas for quickly and slyly diminishing that sweet mountain.
Transforming your leftover Halloween candy by melting it down can lead to a world of delicious creations! Here’s a basic recipe that can serve as a base for various fun treats.
Melted Halloween Candy Creations
Ingredients:
- Assorted Halloween candy (chocolates, candy bars, gummy candy, etc.)
- Optional additions: pretzels, nuts, dried fruits, cereal, marshmallows
Directions:
Preparation:
- Sort your candy into categories: chocolates and candy bars, gummy and chewy candy, and hard candy.
- Unwrap all ingredients
- If using, chop nuts, prepare dried fruits, and break pretzels into smaller pieces.
Melting Chocolate and Candy Bars:
- In a microwave-safe bowl, place your chocolates and candy bars.
- Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval until completely melted. Watch carefully to ensure the chocolate doesn’t burn.
Melting Hard Candy:
- Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Place pieces of hard candy in a parchment-lined baking dish without overlapping.
- Bake until candies are melted, about 10-15 minutes.
- Once melted, you can use them as a colorful syrup or let it cool to create hard candy sheets that can be broken into shards.
Creating Chocolate Bark:
- Once melted, pour the chocolate onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- While still warm, sprinkle over or mix in any desired toppings like pretzels, nuts, dried fruits, or even pieces of gummy candy.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours until set. Once set, break into pieces.
Melting Gummy and Chewy Candy:
- In a saucepan over low heat, add gummy or chewy candies. Stir continuously until candies are melted into a thick syrup.
- This syrup can be drizzled over desserts or combined with cereal to make gummy candy cereal bars.
Putting It All Together:
- Dip pretzel rods into melted chocolate and then into crushed candy for a delightful treat.
- Swirl melted gummy candy into brownie batter before baking for a fruity twist.
- Use melted hard candy shards as decorative pieces for cakes and cupcakes.
Other Options
If cooking down your Halloween candy or tossing it in the trash isn’t your style, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered with some helpful safety tips and alternatives!
Candy Shelf Life: Did you know that most candies have a surprisingly long shelf life? Here are some general guidelines to consider:
- Chocolate: 8-10 months for milk chocolate and 1-2 years for dark chocolate.
- Hard candies and gummies: Up to 1 year.
- Candy corn: 9 months.
- Taffy: 6 months.
- Gum: 6 months to 1 year.
Please note that these are general guidelines. Some candies may last longer or shorter depending on factors such as storage conditions and ingredients.
Unhealthy Candy to Consider Avoiding: While candy is generally not the healthiest snack option, some types are worse than others. Here are a few types of candy you might want to think twice about due to their high sugar, fat, or artificial ingredient content:
- Candy bars loaded with high-fat content and artificial ingredients.
- Gummy candies made with artificial colors and flavors.
- Sour candies, which can be damaging to tooth enamel.
- Hard candies, which can contribute to dental issues.
Donate It: A wonderful alternative to letting your candy go to waste is to donate it! Many organizations, such as Operation Gratitude, gladly accept candy donations to send to troops overseas. You can also check with local schools, hospitals, and homeless shelters to see if they are accepting candy donations. By doing so, not only will you be clearing out your candy stash, but you’ll also be bringing a little sweetness to someone’s day!
