Gelatin Eyeballs

Gelatin Eyeballs

October 31: Halloween

Look at these “extracted” eyes—they are a creepy yet creative cuisine for Halloween! Instead of decorating cake pops or boiled eggs (which can be time-consuming when preparing other party platters), we wanted a quick recipe for the jiggly-wiggly body part. These gelatin eyeballs have a light almond flavor and taste similar to the Asian/Chinese almond float/tofu. Have a ball this Halloween with easy-to-make gelatin eyeballs!

Recipe

(Adapted from Halloween Forum)

Ingredients

  • 1 packet unflavored gelatin
  • ½ cup cold water
  • ½ cup hot milk
  • 2-3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • food coloring (for the “pupils”)
  • black tube gel icing (we used Wilton brand)

Directions

Lightly grease round molds (we used Wilton brand brownie pops mold) with vegetable oil. In a large measuring cup or small bowl, bloom the gelatin in cold water for at least a minute. Stir in the hot milk.

Gelatin Eyeballs

Add the sugar and almond extract. Pour halfway into the molds. Refrigerate to set for at least four hours.

Gelatin Eyeballs

Unmold the gelatin eyeballs and arrange on a platter.  Dip the wide end of a cake decorating tip in food coloring.

Gelatin Eyeballs

“Stamp” the “iris” onto the center of the “sclera” (eyeball), twisting slightly. Use a food-safe brush to paint towards the center of the circle to create the “iris” effect. Squeeze a small dot of black tube gel icing to make the “pupil”.  Refrigerate until ready to serve. Yield: 16 (or 8 pairs) of gelatin eyeballs.

Gelatin Eyeballs

Notes

  • For bloody eyeballs, decorate with red tube gel icing.
  • For a different flavor, try a teaspoon of other clear extracts (lemon, orange, vanilla, etc.)
  • For Christmas, re-use the brownie pops mold and make Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Brownie Pops.

Devil Cake Pops

Devil Cake Pops

October 31: Halloween

Have a helluva Happy Halloween with these tempting treats: devil cake pops! When we leveled off the tops of our devil’s food cakes, we literally decided to make delicious little devils, complete with an impish smile, fondant horns and a red hot nose! So fire up those creative culinary skills and make devil cake pops–they are sure to be the hot stuff on a Halloween table!

Recipe

(Inspired by Bakerella)

Ingredients

  • Devil’s food cake
  • Chocolate frosting
  • Red candy melts (we used Wilton brand)
  • Red fondant
  • Red tube frosting
  • Chocolate or black tube frosting
  • Vanilla (white) tube frosting
  • Mini chocolate chips (we used Nestle brand for the eyeballs)
  • Red cinnamon candies (we used Red Hots for the nose)

Directions

Bake and cool the cake. Break into fine crumbs. Moisten with the chocolate frosting to make a mixture that has a sticky yet smooth texture.

Devil Cake Pops

Scoop or pinch out 1 – 1 ½ inch of the mixture and roll into balls. Place on a flat plate or cookie sheet (preferably lined with wax paper). Refrigerate for about 15 minutes to firm them up. Microwave the candy melts in a small bowl according to the package directions. Stir until smooth. Set the bowl over a pot of simmering water to keep it tempered.

Devil Cake Pops

Dip the end of a lollipop stick into the melted candy. Insert it at least halfway into the cake ball. Refrigerate again to set the candy and secure the lollipop stick in place. Dip the chilled cake balls into the melted candy, working quickly to cover the surface. Allow the excess to drip back into the melted candy bowl. Stick into a styrofoam block in the refrigerator. Cool to set the candy coating.

Devil Cake Pops

Pinch out a small amount of red fondant and knead until pliable. Roll into a tiny ball, form into a cone and shape into a horn. Make enough pairs for all the cake pops. Use a dot of red tube frosting to attach the horns to the cake pop. Refrigerate to set.

Devil Cake Pops

Pipe in the eyes with white tube frosting. Add a mini chocolate chip for the eyeballs. Pipe the eyebrows and mouth with chocolate or black tube frosting. Use a dot of red tube frosting to attach a cinnamon candy for the nose. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Display on a decorated styrofoam block or cake/lollipop stand.

Devil Cake Pops

Notes

  • For more fun and freaky foods on Halloween, prepare pumpkin cake pops.
  • Search our blog for other creatively creepy Halloween recipes.

Apple Smiles

 Apple Smiles

October 31: Halloween

An apple a day keeps the (mad) doctor away! Nibble on some nutrition and snack on “apple smiles” for Halloween. The fruit is filled with peanut butter (protein) and fat-free marshmallows, which makes it a healthier alternative to the sweet treats and candies that the kids are collecting in plastic pumpkins today. These delicious dentures are another freaky yet fun food for Halloween.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • Apple slices
  • Peanut butter
  • Miniature marshmallows

Directions

Wash, dry and slice the apples to ½ inch thick. Spread a little peanut butter on one side of two apple slice. Arrange a few miniature marshmallows on top of the peanut butter. Sandwich with the other apple slice. Continue assembling the “apple smiles.” Serve as snacks immediately.

Apple Smiles