Funny Face Halloween Apples
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.Every October, I start turning snack time into something playful and a bit spooky, and these funny face Halloween apples are one of my easier creations. I use crisp apples, creamy peanut butter, and pumpkin seeds to create these animated little mouths in just 10 minutes. They are a sweet and nutritious snack that will appeal to even the pickiest eaters.
Halloween snacks do not need to be over-processed bags of candy chock full of refined sugar and artificial colorants to be fun and exciting. I had already had huge success with my reindeer holiday sandwiches and knew that these funny face Halloween apples would be just as well received. If you have kids who are not too keen on healthy snacks, transform them into something fun and playful to spark a renewed interest.
I first started making these funny face Halloween apples for my kids when they were much younger, easily amused, and significantly pickier than they are today. Last year, I skipped the funny faces and gave my kids my more sophisticated, healthy baked cinnamon apples, assuming that by now they had outgrown the whimsical treats. They enjoyed the baked apples, but halfway through October, my eldest approached me and asked if there were still going to be funny face apples that year. I made sure to have them ready and packed into my kids’ lunchboxes the next day. And I even packed one into my husband’s work lunch too. Ha!
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
As a mom and a nutritionist, these funny face Halloween apples tick every box. I use clean, whole ingredients; my kids love it, and it has a creative presentation. The apples add fiber and vitamin C, while the natural peanut butter provides protein and healthy fats. I use pumpkin seeds as the teeth, which not only look realistic but also add a delightful crunch and contribute minerals like zinc and magnesium.
The method may be simple, but the result always garners reactions of amazement followed by compliments. I start by slicing my apples either into thick pieces or wedges, which could resemble a mouth. Then I spread peanut butter over one slice, and press the pumpkin seeds in to look like a row of teeth. I finish by layering another apple wedge on top to complete the funny face.
Many years ago, my eldest lost her 2 front teeth around Halloween, and I decided to mark the occasion with a very special funny face apple and made sure to leave a gap to resemble my kid’s new smile. Since then, I have made these snacks whenever one of my kids loses a tooth and have gotten creative with the presentation. A friend of mine even used some food coloring and painted braces on the teeth the day before her son got his braces. I recommend getting creative, so you can serve these funny face apples any time of the year and not just on Halloween.
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🥘 Ingredients
I use just 3 ingredients for these funny face Halloween apples, making them great for last-minute snacks or busy days. This is what I use:
Apples: I like using red apples for a mouth-like look, but green apples make great monster faces too, as long as they are crisp.
Peanut butter: A thin layer adds a creamy flavor and a base for the pumpkin seeds to stick to. Be sure to check out my nut butter buying guide for the healthiest options.
Pumpkin seeds: I use in-shell pumpkin seeds for the teeth and for a nutty crunch.
Lemon juice (optional): Sometimes I brush the cut apples lightly with lemon juice to stop them from oxidizing.
🔪 How To Make
It takes me minutes to make these funny face Halloween apples. This is how I do it:
Slice and prep apples: I start by cutting my apples into wedges or thick slices. I remove seeds if necessary, then pat the cut sides dry with a paper towel.
Add peanut butter: Then I spread a thin layer of peanut butter on one side of the apple slices.
Press in seeds: Next, I press the pumpkin seeds into the peanut butter with the pointed side facing outward.
Finish faces: Lastly, I place another apple slice on top of the seeds to create a funny mouth shape, and serve it to my kids immediately.
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for this funny face Halloween recipe is to dry the apple slices well before assembling. This is especially important if you have opted to brush the slices with lemon juice. Any excess moisture makes the nut butter slide off and ruins the entire aesthetic of the snack.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Use crisp apples: Crisp apples work best for this recipe, as softer apples may split when you add the seeds.
- Thin spread: I use a light layer of peanut butter so it does not ooze out from between the slices.
- Press gently: I use firm but gentle pressure when adding the seeds, making sure not to crack the flesh.
- Get your kids involved: This is a fun, easy recipe, and is great as a Halloween or holiday activity.
📖 Variations
I have changed the faces of these Halloween apples many times, depending on the party, who I was serving, or how artistic I was feeling. These are 3 of my favorite variations:
Nut-free alternative: Instead of peanut butter, I use my pumpkin seed butter for a nut-free version. Since there are already pumpkin seeds in this recipe, the flavors work really well. I love making this for a mixed crowd as it is safe for everyone and just as creamy.
Green monster apples: I use green apples for a different kind of monster. I like giving this face a bit more character and adding 1 or 2 shelled pumpkin seeds to look like a rotten tooth. Sometimes I even put a few strands of alfalfa sprouts between the teeth. My husband really enjoys this version.
Sweet monster: For a sweeter version, I swap out the pumpkin seeds with a few mini marshmallows, and give the face eyes with 2 chocolate chips, which I secure with a drop of honey or peanut butter. It’s a strange combination of ingredients, but my kids love it.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Whenever I put out a Halloween spread for kids, I like to balance the rich sugary treats with some fresh, fruity snacks like these funny face Halloween apples. Next Halloween, serve these apples with a few glasses of my bright orange apple carrot smoothie. And try a batch of my cookie monster cookies as a sweet treat. Between the vivid colors and the lively appearance of these snacks, kids will enjoy them whether they are made from fruit or sugar.
Certain recipes are staples when it comes to our annual Halloween parties, and these toothy apples are one of them. I also always make my Halloween monster cookies and a tray of my Halloween Jack-O-Lantern quesadillas. The kids enjoy colorful drinks that resemble potions like my blue butterfly pea latte, while us grown ups indulge in my witches brew cocktail or a bloody Maria drink that looks like it was made by a vampire.
🧊 Storing And ♨️ Reheating
Refrigeration: I store assembled apples in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day for the best appearance and texture.
Freezing: This recipe is not suitable for freezing, as the apples lose their crisp texture after thawing.
Reheating: I serve these apples chilled or slightly cool from the refrigerator. There is no reheating required.
❓Recipe FAQs
Which apples work best for funny face Halloween apples?
I prefer using crisp apples that hold their shape while also providing a juicy crunch. I recommend Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, Red Delicious, or Granny Smith.
Are white pumpkin seeds ok to eat?
Yes, they are. In fact, a lot of people prefer them to the de-hulled version as they have a crunchy outer shell. De-hulled pumpkin seeds are dark green, sometimes greyish in appearance. I know these look raw, for lack of a better word, but they are completely safe to eat, and while they are crunchier, they are also not too hard.
Why is the peanut butter sliding off the apples?
This happens to me if I have not dried the sliced apples enough, or if the peanut butter is too runny. If you are using a natural peanut butter, be sure to stir it thoroughly before spreading it onto the apples. Some nut butters have a much thinner consistency and separate as they sit. If it is not stirred well, the nut butter will not have enough body to hold the seeds or stay on the apple.
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🎥 Watch How to Make It
Funny Face Halloween Apples
Every October, I start turning snack time into something playful and a bit spooky, and these funny face Halloween apples are one of my easier creations. I use crisp apples, creamy peanut butter, and pumpkin seeds to create these animated little mouths in just 10 minutes. They are a sweet and nutritious snack that will appeal to even the pickiest eaters.
Servings: 4 funny face apples
Calories: 82.5kcal
Ingredients
Instructions
- Use a paper towel to dry off the sides of each apple slice.
- Place four apple slices on a flat surface with the skin facing outward. Spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the top of the apple slice.
- Press five pumpkin seeds into each apple slice, making sure the seeds are pushed into the apple to keep them from falling out.
- Spread peanut butter on one side of the remaining four apple slices.
- Rest the slice, with the peanut butter side facing down, on top of the pumpkin seeds.
Notes
- My #1 Secret Tip for this funny face Halloween recipe is to dry the apple slices well before assembling. This is especially important if you have opted to brush the slices with lemon juice. Any excess moisture makes the nut butter slide off and ruins the entire aesthetic of the snack.
- Use crisp apples: Crisp apples work best for this recipe, as softer apples may split when you add the seeds.
- Thin spread: I use a light layer of peanut butter so it does not ooze out from between the slices.
- Press gently: I use firm but gentle pressure when adding the seeds, making sure not to crack the flesh.
- Get your kids involved: This is a fun, easy recipe, and is great as a Halloween or holiday activity.
Nutrition
Calories: 82.5kcal | Carbohydrates: 9.9g | Protein: 2.5g | Fat: 4.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.9g | Sodium: 46.9mg | Potassium: 125.1mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6.4g
How clever you are. These are going to be perfect for my niece and nephews this weekend! Thank you.
Yay! I hope they love them as much as we did!
Hahaha – these are adorable! Perfect for Halloween, but really something fun to surprise the kiddos with as an after-school snack anytime. Darling but so healthy, too! And extra-great that they store well for a few days – nice to be able to make some ahead of time, too!
Totally!! These apples will always get my kids excited about snack time, whether it’s Halloween or not! 🙂
Aww! These are insanely cute! Can’t wait to make them for the kids at Halloween!
Yay! Hope you all enjoy them!
This is such a cute idea! My kids will love making these apple treats for Halloween! 🙂
Thanks Erika! 🙂 My kids love making these for Halloween (or basically anytime of the year too haha!)
Fantastic. Saving this to make at Halloween!
Awesome!! So happy to hear that Beth!