Kids' Pumpkin Carving Party
There's not a ghost of a chance kids won't like this party--it's centered around the great pumpkin! Pump kids up with a hearty breakfast of pancakes, then let them create their own jack-o'-lantern!
Make It Special!
"Pumpkinvitations"
Cut jack-o'-lanterns out of orange card stock or construction paper, and fill in all the details: time, place and a note to wear clothes for pumpkin carving, which can get messy.
Jack-o'-Lantern Fun
You have choices when it comes to jack-o'-lanterns. Select the activity below that's suited to your party-goers.
Young and Creative Kids
If you're concerned about safety, put away the carving tools and bring out a selection of markers, paper, feathers, yarn, pipe cleaners, buttons, ribbons, dried pasta, cold cereals, candies, glue, clay and stickers.
Cool and Coordinated Kids
Plastic tools, available at supermarket and discount stores, make pumpkin carving easy and safe. A grapefruit spoon or ice-cream scoop makes quick work for scraping out pumpkin insides. Supply pencils to mark pumpkin designs before cutting. There is an array of stencils for fancier designs available at craft and discount stores. Place buckets on the table for the scooped-out seeds. Have adults there in good numbers to help the little ones and guide the older kids. Sharp knives and cutters are for you to use or at least to supervise the use of.
- Pumpkin carving and picnic tables just go together in great weather. If you're creating inside, cover a table with a plastic tablecloth (orange, of course), and play some Halloween music.
- Award prizes for the funniest, goofiest, biggest or smallest; just make sure you have a prize for each of the kids. Stickers make good prizes.
Dessert-Loving Kids
(They get to make a jack-o'-lantern cake and eat it, too!) Make Jack-o'-Lantern Cake for kids to assemble and decorate. It's easiest to bake the cake ahead and freeze.
The Pumpkin Challenge
Make a giant jack-o'-lantern with cutout eyes, nose and mouth from orange poster board, or purchase one at a party store. Have kids stand behind a line at a chosen distance from the pumpkin and toss pumpkin candies or candy corn to try to land in the eye and mouth spaces. Or hollow out a pumpkin and have kids take turns tossing candies to try to get into the pumpkin. Make sure they all are rewarded with bags of Sweet and Crunchy Snack Mix or another great treat.
Roasty Toasty Pumpkin Seeds
Complete your pumpkin party by roasting pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds -- when cleaned, tossed with a little oil and salt or seasonings and toasted in the oven (at 350º for 20 to 30 minutes or until golden brown -- make terrific snacks!
No Tricks - Just Treats
- Float gummy worms and gummy spiders in cider; place them in cups just before serving.
- Pumpkin pancakes are yummy by themselves, but set out dishes of raisins or chocolate chips, whipped cream in a can for squirting, and gummy worms and spiders, and kids will create pancake jack-o'-lanterns for super-fast "goblin."
- Add candy corn and candy pumpkins (or other Halloween candies) to the Sweet and Crunchy Snack Mix or to purchased Chex Mix® snack available in the snacks section of the supermarket. Package in mini plastic pumpkins or festive bags for take-home treats.
Preparation Guide
Up to 1 Month Before
- Bake Jack-o'-Lantern Cake (one or more), but do not frost; tightly wrap and freeze. Make cupcakes, if using, and freeze.
1 Week Before
- Take the gang to a pick-your-own pumpkin patch to get enough pumpkins so each guest can have his or her just-right-size pumpkin. (Puzzled over pumpkin picking? Put your puzzling at ease with the Pumpkin Primer below.)
The Day Before
- Bake Jack-o'-Lantern Cake if not already baked. Frost and decorate just-baked or frozen cake, or wait until the party and make the decorating a party activity.
- Make Sweet and Crunchy Snack Mix. Add candy corn and/or candy pumpkins or gummy worm and spider candies.
- Measure ingredients for Spicy Pumpkin Pancakes. Combine dry ingredients; wrap tightly. Mix the wet ingredients; cover and refrigerate.
About 1 Hour Before Guests Arrive
- Mix pancake batter.
- Brew Peachy Spiced Cider; cool slightly for little ones.
- Slice pears or apples; sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent slices from turning brown.
About 15 Minutes Before Guests Arrive
- Make Canadian Bacon; keep warm over low heat until serving.
When Guests Arrive
Pumpkin Primer
Pumpkin varieties vary greatly. The pumpkins you choose to carve into jack-o'-lanterns will be different than those you use in pumpkin pie, roasted vegetables or pumpkin soup. "Field," "sugar" and "cheese" are three types of pumpkins.
- Field pumpkins are the pumpkins piled high at the supermarkets and roadside stands. They're the pumpkins typically used for carving and Halloween spooking, although smaller field pumpkins may be used for cooking. If you go on a picking adventure, experts will direct you to the "best picks for carving" pumpkins. Field pumpkins tend to be larger and have coarser, more fibrous flesh.
- Sugar pumpkins (also called pie pumpkins) are sweeter than field pumpkins and can also be carved. These fleshy pumpkins are bright orange and round, average 5 to 8 pounds and have a fine texture and sweet flavor.
- Cheese pumpkins have a more squat, flat-topped shape, similar to that of a wheel of cheese. They are a pale orange color with a creamy, fruity flesh. These pumpkins aren't the best choice for carving.