Tips For Carving a Scary Pineapple Jack O’Lantern

Pumpkins are so 2015 when it comes to carving Halloween Jack O’Lanterns. Instagram is lighting up with scary-cute images of hollowed-out pineapples that are inspiring creative types to try something different this October. There are some major differences when tackling juicy fruit instead of a squash — duh! — so, we asked our resident pumpkin carving expert for some advice. Allrecipes Senior Designer Jeff Cummings has been winning pumpkin carving contests since he was a kid, and attacked this challenge with a Sharpie and a serrated scoop.

Jeff Cummings’ creation is a big hit on Allrecipes’ Instagram. Photo by Lindsey Otta

A Corer is Key

And you thought it was a hassle to scoop slimy seeds from a pumpkin. Removing the fruit from the inside of a pineapple was the biggest challenge Jeff faced, which is why he ran to Target and picked up a corer. It’s a $15 gadget that makes cutting up a pineapple easy/tropical breezy. “Be careful not to cut too deeply into the pineapple with the corer or it will cut a hole in the bottom.

Keep it Simple

Once the fruit has been removed (reserving it for all sorts of yummy pineapple recipes), use a metallic Sharpie market to draw eyes and a mouth on the surface. “It’s difficult to get an intricate cut in the hard, bumpy outer shell of the pineapple, so keep your design simple,” Jeff says.

Looking Sharp

There are carving kits available, with a focus on thin blades, but as long as the knife is sharp, it should be a straightforward process of cutting out the pattern drawn on the pineapple. Don’t get discouraged if it looks rough. “The face is hard to make out in the unlit pineapple, but it really pops once you insert a candle,” Jeff says.

More Halloween stories on Allrecipes Dish:

• 3 Scary and Sweet Grownup Halloween Parties
• How to Make Creepy, Colorful Halloween Jell-O Shots
• Trunk or Treat! Fun Ideas for the Newest Halloween Trend
• How to Decorate A Halloween Gingerbread House
• 5 Retro Treats Your Halloween Party Really Needs
• 3 Cures for Your Wicked Halloween Candy Hangover

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