Halloween jack-o’-lantern-shaped food has recently become huge with carved pumpkin recipes taking over Pinterest, TikTok and Instagram, so we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite pumpkin face dishes to impress guests this year. But first, more on how the jack-o’-lantern came to be.
Where is the Jack-O’-Lantern Tradition From?
The name jack-o’-lantern originally came from Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as canvases. It’s also linked to the legendary drunkard Stingy Jack from Irish folktales, and apparently Irish people used to carve scary faces on turnips to scare away Stingy Jack’s wandering soul. When the Irish moved to the United States, they began carving faces on pumpkins, which were native to the region. Learn more about the history of the jack-o’-lantern.
How to Make a Jack-O’-Lantern
The term jack-o’-lantern in the United States usually refers to a carved pumpkin (or other times turnip or other root vegetable) lantern that is associated with Halloween. The top of the root vegetable is cut off to form a lid, the flesh is scooped out, and a scary or funny face is carved on the rind to expose the interior. A candle or light is usually placed inside the pumpkin or root vegetable to create a lantern effect. Discover our best cute and creepy jack-o’-lantern carving ideas.
Best Jack-O’-lantern Recipes for Halloween
It’s also very common to create Halloween jack-o’-lantern recipes for October 31. There are so many food and drink options—ranging from savory to sweet—from jack-o’-lantern stuffed peppers and Fanta floats, to jack-o’-lantern pumpkin pies and melted brownies. Here are 21 of the best jack-o’-lantern recipes for Halloween. Browse through them, be sure to pin your favorites and have fun making them this All Hallows’ Eve!
21 Best Halloween Jack-O’-Lantern Recipes
Get the recipe: Jack-O’-Lantern Sweet Potato Fries Get the recipe: Jack-O’-Lantern Cake Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pie Pops Get the recipe: Vegan Jack-O’-Lantern Stuffed Peppers Get the recipe: Jack-O’-Lantern Snack Board Get the recipe: Jack-O’-Lantern Pumpkin Hand Pies Get the recipe: Jack-O’-Lantern Hand Pies Get the recipe: Orange Jack-O’-Lantern Fruit Cups Get the recipe: Chocolate Mousse Jack-O’-Lanterns Get the recipe: Melted Jack-O’-Lantern Brownies Get the recipe: Jack-O’-Lantern Tostadas Get the recipe: Halloween Cake Pops Get the recipe: Jack-O’-Lantern Rice Crispy Treats Get the recipe: Sweet Potato Jack-O’-Lanterns Get the recipe: Fanta Jack-O’-Lantern Floats Get the recipe: Southwestern Stuffed Peppers Get the recipe: Freaky Halloween Float Get the recipe: Halloween Jack-O’-Lantern Ice Pops Get the recipe: Jack-O’-Lantern Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Get the recipe: Milk Chocolate Stuffed Jack-O’-Lantern Cookies Get the recipe: Jack-O’-Lantern Pumpkin Hand Pies
