Possible Clues:

• Cook carrots, perhaps
• American confectionary
• Party munchies
• Brittle, say
• Sweet, or, read another way, a hint to five long puzzle answers
• Checkout counter staple ... or, when read as three words, what 20-, 31-, 47- and 55-Across have in common
• Sweet snack
• Kind of cane or apple
• Couple finishing off fancy sweets
• Sweet