Orange Jack-O-Lanterns

Orange Jack-O-Lanterns for Halloween

There are some amazingly adorable ideas for Halloween out there on the interwebs. I am impressed with what people have thought up – like a chocolate caramel apple that looks like a cauldron or mashed potatoes in the shape of ghosts. It’s such a fun time of year when everybody has their creative witch hats on, and both kids and adults alike can have a scary delightful time.

I ran across a really cute idea a few weeks ago for orange jack-o-lanterns. It’s an extraordinarily easy recipe; it just takes a little effort to empty the oranges of their guts, but that’s the messiest and longest part. After that it’s just a few steps and you’ll have a cute little dessert that you, your guests and kids will oh and ah over.

Orange Jack-O-Lanterns
Recipe from Martha Stewart Recipes

• 4 navel oranges
• 2 pints mango, passion-fruit, or orange sorbet, or vegan vanilla or coconut ice cream, softened

Be sure to select oranges that have a somewhat flat bottom so they can stand upright, and don’t forget to buy two pints of your favorite vegan ice cream or sorbet – a single pint will not fill all four oranges (I learned the hard way).

Oops - I only bought one pint, but I really should have gotten two!

Slice off the top quarter or so of each orange, and reserve for lid. Using a grapefruit spoon or paring knife, scoop or cut out interior of oranges. Reserve flesh for another use, such as fresh orange juice.

You'll use the top for the lid, so hang onto it

Carve a face or some other Halloween image on the orange.

Carving is pretty easy, but I'd recommend using a small knife like a paring knife

There are a variety of ways that you can decorate the lid, but I found using a cinnamon stick is a great way to make it more interesting as well as functional. Break a cinnamon stick in half (you can get it to give more easily if you score the middle (horizontally) with a knife. Poke a hole in the top of the orange lid with a knife and twist, take your half-sized cinnamon stick and poke it through the hole.

Adding a cinnamon stick as a decorative addition

Pack each orange with sorbet or vegan ice cream, and top it with a lid. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, and place in the freezer until firm, about 30 minutes.

All it needs to do now is freeze!

Serve immediately from the freezer as it can melt quickly if it sits out for too long.

Frozen Jack-O-Lantern

The ice cream or sorbet does take on the flavor of the orange a little bit, so be sure you use one that compliments the orange. I found that the vanilla bean coconut ice cream I used was a perfect pairing.

Also, if you’re like me and you wind up with more hollowed out oranges than you do ice cream, then pop a tealight candle inside and light it. It creates a lovely glow and can be great for your table.

Who says that lit jack-o-lanterns all have to be pumpkins?

What are some of the cuter or more fun ideas you’ve run across so far for Halloween that you’d like to try?

Be Sociable, Share!

•