The obvious choice is to save it. That doesn’t mean hoarding it for years until it becomes stale and crumbly. Saving is a calculated waiting game. Around Halloween, candy is ubiquitous and undervalued, but after a few months, it’ll be a hot commodity. Clever savers can then use sweets as an incentive to spice up a game or even as currency for favors. Alternatively, if you have good self-control, ration your candy out or pack a few pieces for lunch to reward yourself after a particularly difficult test. As a last resort, you can always keep it to distribute next Halloween. Happily oblivious trick-or-treaters won’t be able to tell that it’s recycled candy . . . hopefully.

To turn something common into something unique, try baking dessert with your extra candy. You can even invite friends or family members to help out and have fun. Extra candy corn can become the nose of an Oreo snowman or the feathers of an Oreo turkey, right on time for the seasonal holidays. Transforming Oreos doesn’t require an oven at all—just melted chocolate chips and decorative candy. Stained glass cookies are another example of candy-based treats; they use crushed, melted hard candy to create a smooth, stained glass effect in the center of a cut-out cookie.

For those feeling generous, it’s always nice to share extra candy. If you have younger relatives attending a Thanksgiving dinner, keep in mind that candy means the world to most kids. Who knows? Candy handouts just might earn you a promotion to “Favorite Relative.” Other occasions like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day and birthdays are perfect opportunities to make a thoughtful gift out of someone’s favorite sweet.

Consider bringing your generosity to the school community. Distribute extra candy at your lunch club or among your friends. You can give candy to your teachers with a suggestion that they use it as a prize for a future class activity.