It’s the sweetest time of year! Use holiday leftovers to make decadent, delectable Dessert Nachos! Whether you’re creating a special dessert for the family or entertaining this season, Dessert Nachos are a sweet treat to serve!
Confession time: Candy normally isn’t my jam. (I’m more of a baked good girl, so give me cake, hand pies, cookies and I’m happy as a clam.)
That said, there are a few times of year that I willingly and happily dive into the candy bucket.
Halloween is one of those times. (Easter is the other… because Easter candy makes my soul so very happy.)
Today, I’m sharing a recipe that’s a bit different for The Speckled Palate. While there are some scratch-made elements, there are a lot of store-bought ones.
And I think that’s A-OK, as balance is key in whatever we’re eating, right? RIGHT.
Halloween Dessert Nachos call for some of my favorite Halloween candy flavors and combine them into a decadent bite that’s perfect for kids, adults and entertaining!
Other Halloween recipes you should check out: Melting Monster Halloween Punch / Halloween Caramel Corn / Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies / Halloween Trail Mix / Pumpkin Spice Kombucha Cocktail / Caramel Corn Cookies
Want a Halloween dish, but you’re not sure where to begin? Check out my Halloween Recipes landing page.
What do I need to make these Leftover Candy Dessert Nachos?
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- Sheet pan
- Parchment paper
- Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush
- Glass bowls
- Liquid measuring cup
- Hand mixer to make the whipped cream
How to make Dessert Nachos with Candy
Make The Cinnamon-Sugar Wonton Chips
Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use a sharp knife to cut the wonton wrappers into halves. They should look like little triangles.
Combine cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl, then set aside.
Place the wonton triangles on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle (or use a pastry brush to brush butter over the wontons, then sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Bake until golden brown and crispy, and repeat the process for the entire package of wontons.
Once baked, let the wonton chips cool completely.
Make The Dessert Nachos
Before you begin making the nachos, get out your candies. Place them into small bowls if you’re going to have little helpers assisting you make them. (I highly recommend letting your kids with this part because they will have SO much fun!)
Make the sweetened whipped cream, too. In another bowl, combine the heavy whipping cream with the powdered sugar. Beat with the hand mixer on high until the it reaches the desired consistency.
Get out your wonton chips, and choose your own adventure below…
To make individual nachos: Offer several plates for your children, family members or guests to build their own nachos on. Let them dollop the whipped cream, sprinkle candies, etc., on their wonton chips.
To make a nacho platter: Spread a layer of wonton chips on a large platter. Dollop a few spots of whipped cream on top of them, then top those with candy. Add another layer of wonton chips, then dollop additional whipped cream. Top with more candy, and serve immediately.
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips and Tricks
When I developed this recipe, the idea behind them was that they would make a fabulous dessert for a Halloween gathering.
You can double the recipe, too, if you’re feeding a bunch of folks! Either serve them up on a platter or let guests create their own individual nachos on their own plates. (More information on this in the recipe card below.)
Also, this would be a great way to utilize leftover Halloween candy in the days after Halloween…
Make the wonton chips in advance. Store them at room temperature in a food storage container for up to a day in advance. Do not refrigerate, as they will get soft and mushy.
Whip the sweetened whipped cream in advance, too. You can refrigerate it for 1-2 days before your gathering.
Prep the candy in advance, as well. If you need to chop Butterfinger (or another bar candy), do it, and place it in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and store at room temperature. Pour all the individual candies into bowls, too, so they’re ready to go when it’s party time.
Have fun with it! The process of these dessert nachos takes some time, but it’s especially fun to do with children. Keep in mind that if you’re making these with your kids, the prep time will inevitably be longer, but it’s a fun memory to make with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I try this recipe? Dessert nachos are really versatile. You can use candy from any holiday or from any time of the year, not just Halloween! (Lookin’ at you, Christmas and Easter candies…)
You can use whatever candy you’re into, so if my selections don’t suit your fancy, change ’em up. Just keep in mind that you want the different candies used to actually go together, flavor-wise, so gummy worms paired with chocolate bars, etc., might not be the best choice…
You can also offer these as a platter of nachos for people to graze on OR let folks make their own in a choose their own adventure type of situation!
Can I make these dessert nachos gluten free? You absolutely can! Instead of using wonton shells, you can use baked apple chips as the chips. Be sure to check your candies to ensure they’re gluten free, as well.
Are dessert nachos easy to make? Yes, they are! You can bake the wonton chips in advance and store them in an airtight storage container until it’s time to layer the nachos together.
When you layer the nachos (or make them individually), they will only last for a certain amount of time because the chips will soften, thanks to the sweetened whipped cream. So don’t put together your final nacho platter until it’s time to serve!
Can I make dessert nachos in advance? Partially. The cinnamon-sugar wonton chips can be baked a day or two in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. (They’ll get soggy if you keep ’em in the fridge.)
Don’t assemble the nachos until the day of. Preferably right before people are coming over and/or right before you plan to serve them because the sweetened whipped cream on top of the chips will make them get a little soggy the longer they sit out.
Quick Tips and Tricks for the Best Candy Nachos
- Make ’em gluten free by using apple chips instead of wonton wrappers.
- Customize them to your tastebuds! Whatever candy you love, use here! I used my favorites, and you should, too.
- Don’t be shy with the whipped cream. It’s so good and holds them together wonderfully.
- Drizzle ’em with hot fudge or caramel sauce if you’re feeling super fancy!
Other recipes that call for candy:
- M&M’s® Red Velvet Brownie Pops
- Leftover Halloween Candy Cake
- M&M Cookies
- Butterfinger Brownies
- Candy Corn Martini
- Rum Gummy Bears
Now who’s ready to make some of these dessert nachos to serve up to your people this Halloween?
Scroll on down to learn how to make this easy peasy candy-centric dessert!
Halloween Dessert Nachos
It's the sweetest time of year! Use Halloween leftovers to make decadent, delectable Halloween Dessert Nachos! These dessert nachos begin with cinnamon-sugar wonton chips. When these chips have baked, layer them with sweetened whipped cream, chocolate bars, peanut butter cups, sprinkles and other candies. Whether you're creating a special dessert for the family or entertaining this Halloween, Halloween Dessert Nachos are a sweet treat to serve!
Ingredients
Cinnamon-Sugar Wonton Chips
- 12 oz. wonton wrappers, halved
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 5 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
Dessert Nachos
- Cinnamon-Sugar Wontons, recipe above
- 3 oz. milk chocolate bars, chopped
- 1 Butterfinger Candy Bar
- 4 oz. milk chocolate peanut butter cups
- ½ cup M&M Chocolate Candies
- ¼ cup rainbow sprinkles
- ½ pint heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
Make the Cinnamon-Sugar Wonton Chips
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.
- Cut the wonton wrappers in halves so they are in triangular shapes.
- In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and sugar, then set aside.
- Line the prepared baking sheet with the wontons, carefully spacing them out so they do not touch.
- Drizzle butter over the wontons, then sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 5-6 minutes, or until the wontons are golden brown and crisp.
- Remove from the oven, then transfer to a cooling rack.
- Repeat the process as many times as necessary until all the wonton chips are baked.
- Let cool completely once out of the oven.
Make the Dessert Nachos
- In small bowls, measure out all the individual candies.
- Place the wonton chips in a bowl or on a platter.
- In another glass bowl, pour in the whipping cream. Add the powdered sugar, and beat with the hand mixer until the consistency of whipped cream. Either store in the refrigerator or serve immediately.
- To make individual nachos: Offer several plates for guests to build their own nachos on, and let them dollop the whipped cream, sprinkle candies, etc., on their wonton chips.
- To make a platter of nachos: On a large platter, spread a layer of wonton chips. Dollop a few spots of whipped cream on top of them, then top with candy. Add another layer of wonton chips, then dollop additional whipped cream. Top with more candy, and serve immediately.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 406Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 216mgCarbohydrates: 57gFiber: 3gSugar: 34gProtein: 6g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.
Halloween candy: Yay or nay?
Could I interest you in a bite of these Halloween Dessert Nachos today?
This Dessert Nachos post was originally published on October 22, 2018. The text and imagery of this blog post was updated on October 23, 2019.
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LeAndra says
Oh my goodness, you have outdone yourself. Even though it’s not what you normally post, this recipe is definitely a fun treat!
Erin says
Thank you so much, LeAndra! I’m glad you think this is a super fun treat, too!