My son is SO excited to go trick-or-treating this year. He is almost 3, and it's the first year he really remembers what happens on Halloween- and he is stoked! However, I am not so stoked to figure out what to do with all the candy he'll have. My husband and I try to give your kids minimal sugar, so in the past we have traded his candy for goldfish, fruit snacks, and his other favorite snacks (not that these are super healthy options, but I feel a little better feeding him a pack of fruit snacks than a Twix bar!)

So what do you do with all the candy that doesn't get eaten on Halloween? Sometimes it's fun to let the kids snack on it for a couple days afterwards, but that can get a little boring. So here are some creative ways you can use up Halloween candy (and then it's easier to give away to neighbors! ;) ).

1. Candy Pizza- everyone loves pizza, and dessert pizzas are no exception! This would also be a lot of fun for kids to make. You could use a regular dough or use a cookie dough for extra sweetness! Spread some melted chocolate and cover with a variety of Halloween goodies; you could even do personal mini pizzas if someone wants gummy worms on their pizza but someone else wants Twix.

2. Cookies, Cookies, and more Cookies- I'm pretty sure you can throw just about anything in a cookie. Milky Way, Snickers, Kit Kats, even candy corn. You could also try a few different kinds with a few different varieties (Butterfinger with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or Twix with Whoppers… mmmm…).

3. Shakes and Ice Cream- there are quite a few different ice cream shops that have all sorts of mix-in options- why not recreate that at home? This could be another fun activity with kids or for a family night.

4. Popcorn- it goes with anything, right? You could mix popcorn in melted chocolate and throw in a few crushed candy bars (like Heath or Butterfingers) .

5. Caramel Apples- it's definitely caramel apple season, and instead of heading to the grocery store for some toppings, see what you can come up with from the leftover candy you already have! I imagine M&M's, Sixlets or crushed candy bars would all be good options:).

6. Chex Mix- It's definitely a thing right now, so experiment a little and try creating your own version! You could do a peanut buttery variety, a caramel version, a double chocolate chex, etc. depending on what leftover candy you have on hand- or you could combine more than one!

7. Cake/Brownies- These can be as basic or as loaded as you want to make them. You could sprinkle just a few crushed candies on top of the brownies, or you could mix them in the batter to make one loaded (and tasty) brownie (or cake)!

8. Fudge or Chocolate Bark- Even more delicious with a few extra toppings;).

9. Freeze it- if you feel like you can't eat it all right now, save some for later!

10. Donate your candy- did you know that you can mail your candy to our soldiers? Visit the first link listed under sources for mailing information. If you don't feel like using the candy, this could be a great way to use it- and a great way to support our troops!

11. Trade your candy- There are actually dentist's offices that will trade your candy for small prizes, coupons, or even cash. They in turn donate the candy to the military. A great option if you're not comfortable sending the candy by yourself. Look for participating locations by visiting the second link.

12. Get creative- you could use the candy in crafts or to help kids practice counting, etc. Brainstorm some ideas to use up that candy!

13. Christmas is right around the corner, and there are a lot of ways to use that candy- stocking stuffers, advent calendars, etc. One person suggested saving it for decorating your gingerbread house- you already have the candy, so use it!

How do you guys use your leftover Halloween candy? Share in the comments below!