Fork and Beans

Making food fun for the family

Creepy Crudites Platter

by

To officially kick off my month long celebration of Halloween,

I thought I would start with a platter of:

This is the perfect starter for any Halloween party.

Gross out your guests as they feast on:

Brains.

Fingers.

Eyeballs.

Blood.

Yet as grossed as they might be, they will find these appetizers refreshingly delicious.

Creepy Crudites Platter

Never before have you heard your friends say,

“I am really enjoying the way these fingers taste!”

or

“I’m sticking with the brains!”

or even,

“I didn’t know eating eyeballs could be so good for you!”

(and hopefully this will be THE only time you hear it).

This platter is so easy to make too!

Here are the simple steps to follow:

CUCUMBER EYEBALLS:

Creepy Crudites Platter

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: 

  • Cucumber, sliced in big chunks, patted dry
  • Green olive, sliced
  • Tofutti cream cheese
  • natural red food coloring (made from beets)
  • toothpick

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Apply a glob of cream cheese in the middle of the cucumber and stick the olive on top.
  2. With a toothpick, carefully dip into food coloring to make lines that look like veins on the eyeballs.
CARROT FINGERS:

Creepy Crudites PlatterWHAT YOU’LL NEED:

  • 1 bag baby carrots
  • small cutting knife

DIRECTIONS:

Carefully use the knife to cut out 3 lines in the middle of the “finger” for knuckles and carve out a fingernail at the thinnest point of the carrot.

CAULIFLOWER BRAINS

Creepy Crudites PlatterWHAT YOU’LL NEED:

  • 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets, patted dry
  • natural red food coloring (beet-based)
  • toothpick

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Using the toothpick, dip in coloring make squiggly lines for the brains.
TOMBSTONE CHIPS:

Creepy Crudites Platter

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

  • 1 bag corn tortillas
  • vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS:

If you have a tombstone cookie cutter, this will come in handy. I didn’t so I just hand carved out one and used it as my base. 

  1. Cut out tombstones from the tortillas.
  2. Heat oil in skillet on medium heat until hot. Place tortillas, batches at a time, into skillet and cook for 5 minutes, or until crispy. Drain oil on a paper towel.

Place all your ingredients on a platter with a salsa-filled skull bowl and enjoy!



About Cara

Based in Chicago with her husband and son, Cara is the creator behind the site Fork and Beans: A place where kids can have fun with their food.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alina

    Hey Cara, I’m a little obsessed with your blog, truly I’m a huge fan of your creativity!
    Although here in Germany we do not celebrate Halloween as much I got inspired and I’m looking forward to host a little Halloween dinner in Berlin.
    The carrot fingers look awesome! Have you thought of adding peeled almonds as fingernails? It came to my mind when I saw your fingers. I will have to try to make the nails stick on them fingers! 😉
    Warm greetings from not-so-warm Germany! Alina

    • Cara

      Hi Alina! First and foremost, thank you so much for the blog love. Means a great deal to me! I love that you are enjoying the Halloween stuff despite the fact that it’s not celebrated in Germany–make it a thing now!! ha. Love your idea with the almonds, that would be a GREAT addition. If you do have a Halloween dinner, send pics! xo

  2. Randi

    These look fab! Wondering if could make the night before for a luncheon? Wasn’t sure if blood would “spread” during fridge time……

    • Cara

      Hi Randi! I think it would probably be best if you do the coloring the day of. Prepare everything else the night before but then give yourself 10 minutes before you need to leave to do the coloring. Good luck! xo

  3. Melissa Coburn-Taylor

    so, having a little trouble achieving the fantastic beet food coloring you have pictured. any hints? did you use anything to thicken it up, or just blend/food process the beet and go? i really love your blog, thank you so much for sharing your journey… we are a vegan household and take great joy in seeing more and more veg inspired peoples. you’re creativity is truly making a difference, thank you again for sharing!

    • Cara

      Wow, Melissa–that just brought a huge smile to my face to hear that! I so appreciate your support with this insanity others call creativity and cannot tell you how happy it makes me feel to know that others are getting a kick out of something I just love to do 🙂 Thank you just doesn’t cut it with sweet words like that…
      This is where I found the beet-based food coloring: http://www.seelecttea.com/index.php/food-color.html
      I have heard that some colorings are different and not all are made out of crushed beetles. I believe cochineal and carmine (carminic acid) are what you want to avoid if this is important to you. Red dye #40, however, is not so you could totally go with that one. Hope this helps Melissa! Best of luck, xoxo Cara

  4. Sarah

    Awesome stuff! Makes me wanna host a Halloween party! 🙂 One question — is there a reason the red food coloring has to be beet-based, or is it just a personal choice? I’d like to just be able to use the stuff I’ve got on hand which is not beet-based.
    Thanks for the fun ideas!

    • Cara

      Thanks Sarah! If you do throw a Halloween party, I wanna come 🙂 hehe. About the food coloring, use whatever you want, definitely! I put that up there to stick to the vegan dress code…

  5. erin

    Great stuff! I’m always looking for cool/cute snacks to serve the kids. Your stuff is just what I was looking for.

  24. boychucker

    That is a party I want to go to! I think the cauli brains are my favorite, but it is tough to choose from so many amazing options. I can’t wait to see what else you do.

    • Cara

      I think it the brains are my fav too! I guess I should now actually have a party, huh? ha! Thank you for the comment!

  25. Megan

    So cute!! I’ll have to do this- all but the eyeballs, I’m not a fan of olives, nor do I care much for vegan dairy products, but I love the fingers and brains!

    • Cara

      I’m with you on the vegan dairy products! I use them sparingly–they are just nice to know you have that option, you know? 🙂 ha. Enjoy the brains and fingers. hehe

    • Cara

      I am losing sleep already with ideas 🙂 It’s already driving me nutso but I love it. Thanks for the comment love, Sara! xoxo, Cara

  29. Katie

    This is awesome! I’m doing a horror movie themed MoFo, i’m going to keep my eye on your blog so I can link to some of your recipes.

    • Cara

      I love that idea, Katie! I will keep my eye on your blog as well…. Can’t wait to see what you have a’brewin’ 🙂

  32. Vivian Cutler

    So Very Creative!!! What a Great Way to Start off October!!!! I am Ready Now for Halloween!!! Love All of these Dishes!!! Wonderful Job!!! Hugs Viv

  34. the sister

    ohmygauw!!!! dude! could you be any more creative????? sheesh. you should get paid for this….here’s five bucks. i’m broke. wish it was more!! love you sissy!