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Home > Holidays and Events > Halloween > Sweet and Sour ‘Bat’ Wings

Sweet and Sour ‘Bat’ Wings

Updated: Nov 28th 2018 • Published: Oct 1st 2018 • 21 Comments

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grey plate of black chicken wings with text at the top
Close up on a black chicken wing with text at the top

These sweet and sour chicken wings are baked in the oven to create a spooky fun Halloween dinner or appetizer. The wings are marinated in an easy asian style marinade of pineapple juice, brown sugar, tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce. A dash of food colouring turns the chicken into ‘bat’ making these sticky wings an awesome savory addition to your halloween party.

close up on the wing tip of a black chicken wing on a grey plate

These spooky chicken wings are such a talking point. People either love the idea or hate it, but no matter what they all love the taste!

It took me a while to convince the kids to try them, but once they had they loved the flavor. These are sweet and sticky with a little vinegar tang.

There is the optional addition of hot sauce in the marinade. For the kids I just add a drop or two, but for a adults halloween party I would add a nice tablespoons worth.

Once the wings are cooked they are glazed with honey and apple cider vinegar. This gives them a sticky glossy finish and adds to the sweet and sour flavor. I know everyone hates the basting stage in recipes but don’t skip this step, it really does make all the difference.

Bat wing (black chicken wing) on a grey earthenware plate with a grey plate of wings in the background

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  • How do you make ‘Bat’ wings?
  • Can I just leave off the black colour?
  • Black food coloring!
  • Sweet and Sour ‘Bat’ Wings

How do you make ‘Bat’ wings?

To make bat wings you need to find whole chicken wings. Usually wings are sold as niblets where the whole wings have been jointed. Here you want the whole wing, and if you can get ones that still have the wing tip on as that adds to the bat-ness.

After that it is just a little dash of food coloring. The first time I made these I added far too much and stained our mouths black! But I have paired it back slowly until I got the balance between jet black wing and keeping our teeth white 😉

I tried using squid ink and the color wasn’t quite as dramatic, but it is a natural way to go. And the kids didn’t notice any difference in taste.

Can I just leave off the black colour?

Oh for sure!!! This marinade is a quick pantry marinade so you can whip this up on a week night! If you don’t have time to marinate them overnight that is fine. Just throw the chicken and the marinade into a baking dish and cook everything together. This will help to deepen the flavours.

But if you want the black colour then the wings do need a reasonable stint in the marinade. I like to use an old plastic bowl whenever I am using food colouring. That way I don’t have to worry if the coloring stains the bowl. So far the bowl has come up white again after a wash with hot soapy water…..my fingers aren’t always so lucky! I just can’t open those gel food coloring bottles without getting it somewhere!

plastic bowl full of a black green marinade and chicken wingsbat wing (aka black chicken wing) being picked up

Black food coloring!

Be careful with the black food coloring, it is a killer to get out of your t-shirt (trust me I know!!!) and also if you get it under your finger nail you will be scrubbing for days and still look like you just finished digging up soil with your hands!

That is why Stew had to be my hand model in this photo!! My thumb nail looks rather gross!!! I suppose that fits in with the Halloween theme, but it just looks too dirty for photos.

Once cooked the black doesn’t really transfer so you won’t have to worry about your guests all ending up with black fingers. But I would provide napkins or a finger bowl as these wings are sticky.

grey plate of bat wings (aka black chicken wings) with cobwebs in the background

Enjoy x

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SQ image with a close up on one wing showing the deep black colour
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4.25 from 8 votes

Sweet and Sour 'Bat' Wings

These sweet and sour chicken wings are baked in the oven to create a spooky fun Halloween dinner or appetizer. The wings are marinated in an easy asian style marinade of pineapple juice, brown sugar, tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce. A dash of food colouring turns the chicken into 'bat' making these sticky wings an awesome savory addition to your halloween party.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time35 mins
marinade time6 hrs
Total Time40 mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Servings: 10
Calories: 212kcal
Author: Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts
For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
Need Metric Measurements?Use the options below to toggle between cups and grams (if relevant)

Ingredients

US Customary - Grams
  • 3/4 cup pineapple juice
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp hot sauce optional
  • 1 tsp black food colouring
  • 3 lb whole chicken wings see note 1
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  • Combine the pineapple juice, brown sugar, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce and black food coloring in bowl. Add the chicken wings and turn carefully to coat.
  • Marinate for 6-24 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 400ºF/200ºC.
  • Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat.
  • Remove the wings from the fridge and place them in a single layer on the baking sheets.
  • Bake chicken 30 minutes.
  • Combine the honey and apple cider vinegar.
  • Remove the wings from the oven and brush liberally with the honey mixture.
  • Return to the oven for 10 minutes.
  • Serve in your spookiest dish

Notes

  1. Find whole chicken wings (sometimes call 3 joint wings) rather than the chicken niblets. This is what gives these wings their 'bat wing' like shape.

Nutrition

Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 154mg | Potassium: 189mg | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 4.1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
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Filed Under: All Recipes, Halloween, Party Snacks

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Comments

  1. Caitlyn says

    Oct 29th 2019 at 10:55 pm

    I’d like to make these for a potluck at work but do not have access to an oven to reheat them. Any thoughts on using a slow cooker or any tips for reheating in a microwave? Would I baste before or after?

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Oct 30th 2019 at 4:43 am

      Hi Caitlyn,

      I haven’t reheated these using a microwave or slow cooker before but I think it should work. Or if you have access to a toaster oven? That could be an option.
      For the slow cooker I would preheat itwith 2 cups of water in it, then place some scrunched up aluminium foil balls in the bottom, this should come up higher than the water level. Put the wings in a dish/foil tray and place it on top of the aluminium foil balls. That way the steam will help to keep the wings warm and juicy still.
      I would cook them fully the night before, but save the honey baste for when you are heating them up.
      Hope that helps.

      Reply
  2. Morgan says

    Oct 29th 2019 at 9:22 am

    Hello! Any recommendations on reheating? I have a work potluck I am bringing them to and need to prepare them the night before. I was considering a crockpot for reheating.

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Oct 30th 2019 at 4:34 am

      Hi Morgan, I haven’t tried a crockpot for reheating, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. The wings aren’t super crispy, so sitting in a crockpot to stay warm shouldn’t affect them.
      What I would do if preheat the slow cooker with 2 cups of water in it. Then place some scrunched up aluminium foil in the bottom, this should be higher than the water level. Place the wings in a dish/foil tray and place that on top of the aluminium foil balls. That way the steam will help to keep the wings warm and juicy still.
      I’ve made them and reheated them (in the oven) and the color is just as vibrant, so they making the night before they will still look bat like for your potluck.
      Hope that helps 😀

      Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Oct 30th 2019 at 4:39 am

      I also thought a toaster oven could be a good way to reheat them as well. If that is something you have access to at work?

      Reply
  3. Alysia Duke says

    Oct 28th 2019 at 4:41 am

    5 stars
    Made these for a Halloween pot luck and they were a hit. Definitely a reusable recipe!

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Oct 30th 2019 at 4:45 am

      Hi Alysia, thank you for coming back to comment. I am so pleased they were a hit 😀

      A couple of people have asked about reheating them without an oven. Just wondering if you needed to reheat yours? And if so what did you use?
      Thanks Claire x

      Reply
  4. Morgan says

    Oct 20th 2019 at 9:55 am

    Any thoughts or recommendations on coking these a day before, for a work party? Specifically about how to heat them and should I wait to base them?

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Oct 20th 2019 at 3:51 pm

      Hi Morgan,

      I would cook these for 35 minutes to ensure they are cooked through. Then on the day you want to serve them baste them with the honey and vinegar mix and reheat them in the oven (390ºF/200ºC) for 10 minutes.

      I haven’t ever tried to microwave the wings so I can’t say for sure, but I am thinking that it would make them soggy and a little chewy.

      Hope that helps 😀

      Reply
  5. Linda says

    Oct 19th 2019 at 10:25 am

    What food colouring brand was used?
    I’m getting some none black ones on the shopping apps – Going to check out the baking aisle tomorrow.

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Oct 19th 2019 at 2:18 pm

      Hi Linda, I use a brand called Chefmasters Liqua-gel. It is designed to work well with oil and fats so it takes to the skin of the chicken well.
      Hope that helps 😀

      Reply
  6. Whitney dees says

    Sep 25th 2019 at 10:40 pm

    Hello! I am making these for a Halloween party I am catering and I am testing them out today but I am having trouble getting the entire wing to absorb the color. Should I have taken the skin off first? Do you have any other suggestions? It seems that the underside of the wing is the part that isn’t taking the color, it just slides right off.
    Thanks so much in advance!!

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Sep 26th 2019 at 12:12 am

      Hi Whitney,

      Make sure your wings are dry before you pop them into the marinade, that way they absorb it better.
      If they aren’t taking the colour well I would also leave them for the full 24 hours.
      I wouldn’t suggest much more food colouring as it can start to affect the taste and also stain peoples tongues! But you could up it by 1/2 tsp.
      Hope that helps.

      Cx

      Reply
  7. Daire says

    Oct 27th 2018 at 7:38 am

    These are probably my favorite Halloween recipe I’ve found! Definitely making these for dinner this year if I can find the food coloring (well, I’ll make them either way!). I just featured this recipe on my Halloween Foods roundup on my blog!

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Nov 4th 2018 at 8:26 am

      Thank you Daire 😀

      Reply
  8. Ruby says

    Oct 11th 2018 at 8:50 pm

    These sound fantastic! I would love to include them at my Halloween party.
    Can you suggest a substitute for the pineapple juice? I’m allergic to pineapple.
    Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Oct 12th 2018 at 7:04 am

      Hi Ruby,
      I haven’t tried it, but I think any fruit juice would have the similar affect of adding sweetness and some acidity.
      Maybe try apple juice or mango juice.
      I hope you enjoy them 😀

      Reply
  9. Britni says

    Oct 8th 2018 at 9:58 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is so creative! And a fun twist on chicken wings.

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Oct 10th 2018 at 2:48 pm

      Thank you Britni, I was so happy how these halloween chicken wings came out 😀

      Reply
  10. Jennifer Farley says

    Oct 8th 2018 at 9:00 pm

    5 stars
    I can’t get over how incredible these look! What a brilliant recipe for halloween.

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Oct 10th 2018 at 2:48 pm

      Oh thank you Jennifer, I love how they turned out.

      Reply

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Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts

I believe cooking for those you love should be stress free and simple.

Here on Sprinkles and Sprouts you will find delicious meals all made with easy to find grocery store ingredients. Family friendly mains, sensational sides and delicious desserts. Plus a great selection of party food and appetizers.

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