It seems like just yesterday when Halloween was something to look forward to all year. You started planning your Halloween costume come November 1st and trick-or-treating was the single greatest tradition of all time.

In college, Halloween is certainly different, but no less fun. You trade in your childhood costumes for something a little less weather appropriate and would rather indulge in a 30-rack of cheap beer than a pillowcase full of candy.

But what if there was a way to rekindle your childhood memories of Halloween, without sacrificing the 21-year-old and up college experience? The answer to this dilemma is to add some sweet nostalgia into the mix this year: candy inspired cocktails.

So in spirit of the season of ghouls, ghosts, witches, warlocks and bringing you back to the days of candy galore, here are a few candy inspired drink recipes, created by American Bartender’s School, to keep the tradition alive:

Butterfinger cocktail

• 1½ ounces of butterscotch schnapps
• 1½ ounces of Bailey’s Irish cream
• 2 parts milk

Serve cold for the best result.

Reese’s cocktail

• ½ an ounce of Vodka
• ½ an ounce of Frangelico (hazelnut and herb-flavored liquor)
• ½ an ounce of crème de cacao
• 2 ounces of light cream

Shake over ice.

Almond Joy cocktail

• ½ an ounce of amaretto
• ½ an ounce of white crème de cacao
• 2 ounces of cream

Mix together and pour over ice.

There are also several other candy cocktail recipes inspired by the non-chocolate favorites:

Twizzlers cocktail

• 2 ounces of Vodka
• 1 ounce of strawberry liqueur
• Add a splash of grenadine

Shake over ice, and garnish with a Twizzler.

Sour Patch Kids Cocktail

• 1 ounce of strawberry Vodka
• 1 ounce of sour apple pucker
• 1 ounce of watermelon pucker
• 1 ounce of sweet and sour mix

You can make it your own and vary the flavors of pucker to your liking.

If you’re not really a cocktail person and prefer a quick-fix for drinking, there are also many candy inspired shot recipes. The shot recipes are simpler to make than the cocktail recipes, requiring fewer ingredients and smaller portions.

Junior Mints shot

• 1 ounce of peppermint schnapps
• ½ an ounce of crème de cacao

Shake over ice for best results.

Mounds shot

• 1 ounce of crème de cacao
• 1 ounce of coconut rum

Best served shaken over ice.

Kit Kat shot

Layer equal parts:

• crème de cacao
• Frangelico
• Baileys Irish cream

M&M’s shot

• ½ an ounce of Frangelico
• ½ an ounce of crème de cacao

Shaken over ice.

Tootsie Roll shot

• ½ an ounce of Vodka
• ½ an ounce of coffee liqueur
• ½ an ounce of orange juice

As strange as it sounds, this shot is a popular one.

These are just a few drink recipes to help you keep the Halloween sweets tradition alive, and maybe start a new tradition of your own.

Jessica Chaiken can be reached at [email protected].