These Jack-o-lantern jello heads make the perfect halloween dessert. If you are looking for ideas for a kids party then these unique orange jellies are perfect; children and adults will love this fun and easy dessert.
Learn how to make homemade fizzy jello from fruit and soda drinks. Plus you can carve your 'pumpkin' faces to be as cute or as scary as you like.
These jellies are so much fun! The jello is made with orange soda and the juice from the oranges. This gives the jelly so much flavor but it also means that it fizzes as you eat it. Isn't that just perfect for a halloween dessert!!!! Fizzing food!
How to make Homemade Jello
Don't be worried by using gelatine at home, as long as you follow a couple of steps you'll have no problems at all with it.
Whether you are using the envelopes/packets or gelatin powder from a container, the steps are the same. And these steps can be used for any homemade jello, not just these jack-o-lantern jell-o heads!
- Sprinkle the gelatin over the surface of the your cold liquid (¼ cup per sachet).
- Make sure you do sprinkle it evenly over the surface rather than tipping it in a pile. This ensures it dissolves better.
- Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes.
- Heat your mixture very gently for 3 minutes, stirring until all the gelatine has dissolved.
- Add in the remaining liquid and chill until set.
I use either Knox Unflavoured Gelatine sachets or Mckenzie's Gelatine Powder
The Knox brand comes in pre-measured sachets where as the Mckenzie brand is loose powder.
For this recipe you will need 2 sachets of the Knox gelatine or 4 teaspoon of the Mckenzie gelatine powder.
If you have a different gelatine product, check the instructions on the back. You want to use enough gelatine to set 4 cups of liquid.
How to carve oranges into jack-o-lanten
Oranges are so much easier to carve than pumpkins! Meaning oranges are great for a halloween dessert!
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To turn your orange into a jack-o-lanten you will need to cut off the top and scoop out as much of the inside as you can (see the picture below)
For this recipe you want to save all the scooped out pulp as we are going to squeeze juice out of it to add a nice fresh edge to the jello.
Once the jello has set, you'll need to take a fork and rake it across the surface of the jello. This will break the jello apart and give it a lumpy finish....perfect for a halloween dessert and also much easier to get it inside the orange!
If you lightly push the jello down as you fill the jack-o-lantern orange, you will find it slowly seeps out of the face, giving your dessert a slightly creepy look.
My kids were fascinated with the oozing 😉
Enjoy x
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Jack-o-Lantern Jello Heads
Ingredients
- 6 small oranges
- 2 cups orange soda - see note 1
- 2 envelopes unflavored gelatine - see note 2
Instructions
- Before you start make sure the soda is in the fridge (see note 3)
- Place a metal bowl into the fridge to chill. (see note 4)
- Give the oranges a wash with warm water.
- Use a knife to cut the top off each of the oranges.
- Use a teaspoon to scoop out as much as the orange flesh as you can and reserve it in a bowl. Be careful to not puncture the bottom of the orange.
- Carve your pumpkin-style faces into each of the orange shells. Wrap lightly in glad wrap and refrigerate until later.
- Place the orange flesh into a sieve and squeeze out the juice, you are aiming for 2 cups of juice. (see note 1)
- Pour ½ cup of the orange juice into a small saucepan, sprinkle the 2 envelopes of unflavoured gelatin evenly over the surface of the liquid and let it stand for 5 minute.
- Place the pan over a low heat and stir constantly until the gelatine has all dissolved - about 3 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and pour in the remaining orange juice and stir well.
- Then carefully add your cold soda and stir gently.
- Pour the prepared jelly into your cold metal bowl and refrigerate until set.
- When you're ready to serve use a fork to rough up the jelly, making it look mushy.
- Spoon the jelly into the orange shells, pushing it down so it starts to ooze out of the carved faces.
Notes
- You may need little more soda if your oranges don't release enough juice.
- I use the Knox Unflavoured Gelatine, if you are using a different brand check the instructions and add enough gelatine to set 4 cups of liquid. (see bulk of post for more detailed instructions on this)
- The soda wants to be as cold as possible, this helps the jelly to set quickly, locking in the bubbles and giving you the fizz when you eat the jelly. Also use a unopened bottle of soda to maximise the bubbles.
- The bowl should have the capability to hold 4 cups of liquid, and the metal helps it to chill quickly thus setting the jelly more quickly and locking in the bubbles (as mentioned in note 3)
Nutrition
Nutrition is per serving
Adrianne says
Oh my goodness, I LOVE these!! Talk about creative and original. They are perfect and hit the spot on the head. Also love the story about your farm and the photo of it on your more about Claire page. I can see why these would be a total hit at Halloween. Great work.
Claire McEwen says
Thank you so much Adrianne 😀 😀
The kids loved them!
Aimee Shugarman says
OMG this is so fun and easy. My kids want it every year now 🙂
Claire McEwen says
My kids were the same....and their competitive nature mean I have to judge who makes the 'best' spooky face......
Glad yours loved these little jellies 😀
Kelly Anthony says
These are ADORABLE and so perfect for Halloween! Any kid would go crazy for these. A must-make!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Kelly, they are always a hit at halloween parties 😀