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Clementine Jack O Lanterns Recipe
Ash Tyrrell

Clementine Jack O Lanterns Recipe

I made these clementine jack o lanterns last weekend, and I was amazed at how much fun a simple piece of fruit could be. I love this recipe because it needs only two things and about ten minutes of my time. I drew a few silly faces on the peels, set them in a bowl, and the kids grabbed them right away.
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Total Time 10 minutes
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 clementines or tangerines: Pick firm bright orange fruit with smooth, unblemished skin.
  • 1 black marker: I use a food-safe one since little hands touch the peel

Method
 

  1. Start with clementines or tangerines in a similar size. Smaller fruit looks like a tiny pumpkin and is easy for kids to hold. Skip any with soft spots or bumpy skin, because they are harder to draw on. Firm, round fruit gives you the best pumpkin shape.
  2. Rinse each clementine under cool water to remove any waxy film or dust. Pat them completely dry with a paper towel. Dry skin takes the ink much better, and your lines come out clean.
  3. Before I draw, I decide on a few face styles. I like triangle eyes, a wide toothy grin, and a few silly or surprised faces. Sketching one on scrap paper first helps me feel confident.
  4. Hold the clementine steady in one hand and draw with the black marker in the other. Start with the eyes, then add the nose and mouth. Keep your lines bold, since thick shapes show up best on the bright orange peel.
  5. Place each finished clementine on the clean tray for a minute or two. This short pause keeps the faces from smudging when you move them. I use this time to clean up my workspace and put the caps back on the markers.
  6. Place the clementines in a decorative bowl or on a pretty plate. Mix up the expressions so the group looks lively and spooky. That is it, and you have a healthy treat and a festive decoration in one.

Notes

  • I always draw on dry fruit. Damp peels make the marker skip and blur.
  • I use a thicker marker tip. Fine tips look faint on the textured peel.
  • I let kids draw their own faces. They love it, and no two faces ever match.
  • I pick clementines with loose, easy-to-peel skin. They are more fun to eat afterward.
  • I draw the faces on one side only. That way the bowl looks tidy from every angle.
  • I keep a damp paper towel nearby. It wipes mistakes away fast if the fruit is still fresh.
  • I make a few extra. They disappear faster than I expect.
  • I hold the fruit gently while drawing. Pressing too hard can bruise the peel and make the lines wobble.
  • I draw a quick practice face on one clementine first. It warms up my hand and calms any nerves.
  • I turn on some spooky music while we draw. It makes the whole activity feel like a little Halloween party.