Fruit Jack-O'-Lanterns

More About This Recipe

• Wait a minute: Jack-o-Lanterns….with fruit?
  
  Oh heck yeah, with fruit! Unless you're Hulk Hogan and can lug 439 pumpkins around, I say go the lighter route and carve some fruit and veggies instead. Plus you can eat the innards and be all healthy and stuff.
  
  These little lanterns are pretty genius because they are so small, you really only need a pairing knife and a spoon or ice-cream scoop to do the dirty work. I even used a straw on one lantern. A STRAW, you guys.
  
  Is that….clapping I hear?
  
  Let's do this.
  
  The cast of characters: A pineapple, an orange bell pepper, a grapefruit, and an orange. They don't seem too frightened, do they?
  
  I started with the orange bell pepper, and you know what? Even if his smile is pretty jank, I was only warming up. And it's all about the fun, right? RIGHT? Mini tip: using a pencil, poke a small hole in the bottom of the pepper, and shove a white birthday candle up in it. That way there's not a huge tea light candle taking up all the room.
  
  Next we have the pineapple prepping. I found that using an ice-cream scoop worked best. AND, I saved all the pulpy insides for a breakfast smoothie. SCORE.
  
  WHOA. Look at Mr. Pineapple Lantern Man. I gave him some attitude…along the lines of Wilson, from Cast Away. That's a cinnamon stick as his nose. I couldn't stop myself.
  
  Awww, and then we have sweetie-face grapefruit baby lantern. This little guy had the straw action. After a quick scoop of the pulp, the straw made for the cutest little eyes, nose and mouth holes. I giggled (too much) during the making of him.
  
  Quick tip on making an orange-o-lantern: If you use a pairing knife and slice off a tiny hole in the bottom, the candle can fit right in, taking up less space inside the fruit. Nifty, eh?
  
  Are you laughing? Because I am. Look at his mouth. And his nose is the stem nubbin' thingy. How are you not at least grinning?
  
  And finally, the entire group, together for their glamour shots. They’re practically glowing. BA-DOMP.
  
  Sorry.
  
  Make these this Halloween! With your kids, on a date, alone. Just make it happen!
  
  More Halloween Recipe Ideas
  
  Collection: Recipes for Halloween Dinner
  Collection: Halloween Desserts Recipes
  Collection: Easy Halloween Recipes
  
  Bev believes that any fruit or veggie can exhibit true personality. Well, after a face-lift, that is. For more musings, visit her blog at Bev Cooks and her Tablespoon profile.