Maybe you received multiple boxes of chocolate for Valentine’s Day, maybe you over-indulged on conversation hearts, or maybe you picked all your favorites out of the heart shaped box, leaving the mystery filled sweets for someone else. Whatever the reason, you find yourself with leftover treats come mid-February. 

No worries, with a little elbow grease and some creativity there are plenty of ways to finish off your sweet treats. Here are some clever options to help use up that Valentine’s candy:

1)   Candy Charades (from MentalFloss.com) 

This is a fun one! Take a classic from game night and apply it to those uncertainties in the candy box. Take turns having team members eat the mystery chocolate and describe it, while the other team tries to guess what flavor it is. 

2)   Trail Mix (from The Dairy Alliance)

Trail mix is really just an assortment of nuts and seeds and in the best cases, chocolate. So gather your favorites, peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds etc. then chop up your valentine’s candy into small pieces for a quick, delicious power snack! 

3)   Cookies for the Office (from Spoon University) 

Find your favorite cookie recipe, for example Toll House Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter Blossoms. Instead of semi-sweet morsels or Hershey Kisses, cut up those red & pink M & M’s or your toffee filled Russell Stover’s and use those instead. Don’t want to eat them all yourself? Take into the work place and watch them disappear in minutes!

4)   Chocolate Drizzled Popcorn  (from Food & Wine)

This one is super easy. Make popcorn, either the bagged microwaveable kind or on your stove top. Melt leftover valentine’s candy, again, either in the microwave or in a sauce pot on your stove top. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the popcorn and Voila! A gourmet snack. 

Whatever you do, don’t throw that leftover candy away! There are plenty of unique ways to use and enjoy it, even after the holiday!