Be original this year and forget about pumpkin carving. There are other fun foods you can turn into jack-o-lanterns just as easily. You could start with an unusual looking squash — one of those green and bumpy ones you see at the farmers market, or you could take it totally weird and think citrus. Here are eight creative carving ideas for Halloween.
Apples
Apples are another symbol for fall, so why not give them the jack-o-lantern treatment? Their firm flesh and thin skin make them a perfect candidate for going under the knife. If you plan on keeping them around for longer than a few hours, try spraying with a bit of lemon juice to keep from turning brown.
Bonus points for turning your creation into the best fall apple of them all — candy apples.
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Oranges
A grapefruit spoon will help you tackle the delicate job of gutting an orange. Carve your frightening features into the flesh, rinse, and dry. Use as a bowl for small sweets or find a tiny candle to light up your fruit’s new found features.
TURNIPS
Pumpkins may be the Halloween carving darling, but long before this tradition, Celtic people in Ireland were carving turnips and lighting them with embers to ward off evil spirits in the night.
PEPPERS
Peppers are practically hollow anyway, so there’s very little work to be done. Cut a small hole around the stem, scrape the inside free of seeds and turn upside down to remove. You now have a smooth surface ripe for face carving. Stuff with rice or cheese for spooky stuffed peppers.
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PINEAPPLES
This hair-raising party decoration is spine-tingling yet tropical at the same time. Cut the fruit a few inches below the leaves. Cut a cross through the fleshy fruit. Leaving about a half inch of wall on all sides, carefully remove the edible insides. Carve your favorite face, pop in a small tea light and enjoy a little taste of the tropics in October.
WATERMELON
Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew. They’re all begging for faces now that you think about it, right? Pumpkin carving is popular because they’re big and round — same benefits here. Hollow your watermelon out using this genius tip, and carve away!
AVOCADOS
You’re going to need a bit of patience and excellent motor skills for this one. For safety’s sake, you should also probably have some real carving tools. If you can pull it off, it’s incredibly creepy.
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LEMONS
Much like the orange, a grapefruit spoon can help you remove the fruit from the wall. Wash it. Dry it. From there, it’s all carving fun.
