How-to: Orange Slice Pumpkins

Based on your wonderful Facebook & Twitter feedback this week, I have received the message loud and clear that my readers want to see some Halloween crafts NOW. ;) I figure we’ll start with something that can be a general fall craft or Halloween-specific, this cute little edible pumpkin project. This craft is super low-cost, messy (in the best possible way) and fun!

Supplies

orange slice candies
sharp knife
cutting board
toothpicks
bendable straw
scissors

Directions

Cut your toothpicks in half. Carefully pressing hard on the center of the toothpick with a knife to score it is a great way to get a clean break and avoid the risk of slivers in your candy.

Next, slice eight orange slices in half without smashing them flat. Arrange the slices sticky side up on your cutting board as you go.

While your hands are probably covered in sugar and sticky orange stuff about now, those mess factors are what makes this project so easy! The sticky side and sugary sides stick together really nicely as you form your pumpkin.

Create four bundles of four half-slices, as shown. Make sure every sugary side is stuck to the next slice’s sticky side.

Use two half-toothpicks to hold each bundle of four firmly together. This step is kind of like setting up skewers for grilling.

Join two sets of four together with an additional half-toothpick, creating big two sets of eight orange slice pieces.

Finally join all slices together into an arch, adding toothpicks as needed.

I recommend doing a lot of squishing to create your pumpkin shape. The squishing of the candy helps it all stick together. My pumpkin looked a little odd at first, but the more I worked with it, the more it looked like a pumpkin.

Finally, grab one whole orange slice and cut a bendy straw up as shown below. Put the straw piece into the top of the orange slice and place inside the orange slice circle.

Now, you’ve got yourself a pumpkin! Store your finished pumpkin in an airtight container to keep it fresh. Also remember to warn anyone who’s going to eat this that there are toothpicks to pull out as they go!