I start by slicing a small circle off the top of one orange to act as a lid, then use a paring knife to score a simple jack-o-lantern face into the peel. I carefully peel back just the scored sections so the white pith underneath shows through as the "glow." This piece becomes the centerpiece of my whole tray.

Next, I slice the bananas in half crosswise so they stand upright like little ghost bodies. I gently press two mini chocolate chips near the top for eyes and one slightly larger chip below for a mouth. I always do this step last among the fruit prep, since cut bananas brown the fastest.

I peel the kiwis and slice them into thick rounds, then melt the dark chocolate in the microwave in short bursts. Using my piping bag, I drizzle chocolate "hair" across the top of each slice and add two small dots for Frankenstein's eyes. This is honestly my favorite step because the green kiwi looks so convincing.

I quarter the green apples and rub lemon juice over the cut sides right away to stop browning. Using my paring knife, I carve a simple mouth shape into each wedge, then spread a little peanut butter inside and press in sunflower seeds as teeth. A strawberry slice tucked in as a "tongue" finishes the look.

To fill out the tray, I thread strawberries, cantaloupe chunks, and grapes onto bamboo skewers in a repeating pattern. These kabobs add height and color between the character fruits, and they're the easiest part for kids to help with.

Finally, I place the orange Jack-O-Lantern in the center and build the ghosts, Frankensteins, and monster apples around it, filling gaps with watermelon cubes and loose blueberries. I pop the finished tray in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before serving so everything firms up and looks its best.