It's easy to drown in a self-induced sugar coma after Easter but a little ingenuity will keep you and your loved ones from that terrible post-candy comedown. Instead of just eating your way through the basket, make it part of your pantry: Put those candies to use in other recipes and get creative.
Some alternatives might seem a little silly, such as this site that suggests stir-frying, grilling, and even using Peeps in salads, but there are recipes and techniques that keep Easter candy recipes well within your comfort zone. Throw small candies into other desserts; jellies or chocolates add zing to Rice Krispies treats and M&Ms amp up cookie dough. Re-melt and re-form whole chocolates into other shapes, make them part of your next chocolate cake or fondue or follow recipes like these for Leftover Easter Candy Cake or Easter Egg Chocolate Muffins. Our favorite? Seal those addictive Cadbury Mini Eggs into a sturdy ziplock bag and smash them into bits using a hammer or the bottom of a can. This sort of drama -- when practiced carefully and away from others, such on a cutting board in the middle of the floor -- is a surefire kid-pleaser. And no one will complain about the tasty resulting ice cream topping.
