Recipes: Jack-O’-Lantern Oranges and Halloween Poke Cake

Looking for last-minute Halloween recipe ideas? Impress your guests with these two crafty treats courtesy of Quaker Valley student Hannah Blizzard.

Interested? Here's what you need to know: 

Jack-o’-Lantern Oranges

Ingredients

• 8 small navel oranges

• 1 small apple, chooped

• 1/2 cup halved seedless red grapes

• Slivered almonds and whole cloves

Directions

• Choose which side of each orange will be the jack-o'-lantern's face; cut a thin slice from the bottom of each so that it rests flat. 

• Cut another small slice from the top. Spoon out pulp. Chop pulp and combine with apple and grapes; set aside.

• Cut faces as desired; decorate with cloves and almonds. Spoon fruit mixture into jack-o'-lanterns. 

Yields: 8 servings.

Halloween Poke Cake

Ingredients

• 1 package fudge marble cake mix (regular size)

• 2 packages (3 ounces each) orange gelatin

• 1 cup boiling water

• 1/2 cup cold water

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 3-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

• 1/3 cup baking cocoa

• 1/4 cup milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 12 to 15 candy pumpkins

Directions

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. 

• Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour.

• In a small bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water; stir in cold water. 

• With a meat fork or wooden skewer, poke holes in cake about 2 inches apart. 

• Slowly pour gelatin over cake. 

• Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

• For frosting, in a small bowl, cream butter until fluffy. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, cocoa, milk and vanilla until smooth. 

• Spread over cake; top with candy pumpkins. 

• Cover and refrigerate until serving. 

Yields: 12-15 servings.