Part of the fun of Halloween is getting into the gross and gory spirit of the season — especially when you’re hosting a party.
The spooky lights are setting the mood inside and out, the doorway is decorated with pumpkins, skeletons and spiderwebs, the playlist is ready for the monsters to mash and the food table is topped with some grossly realistic-looking grub.
Dare your dead and undead guests to indulge in some Jell-O brains or edible fake ground beef. It may look like a trick, but it’s really a delightful treat.
Watch this video for a step-by-step video tutorial on making an edible brain.
Edible Jell-O brain
Brains need time to develop and that includes the edible kind, too. Prepare it in advance so there’s enough time for it to set.
You’ll need:
- Brain mold. You can find these online or at some party supply stores.
- Peach and Strawberry Jell-O.
- Water.
- Milk or milk alternative.
For a large brain
mold, you’ll need about six ounces of Jell-O. Follow the instructions on the packet for exact liquid measurements.
Pour the powders into a large bowl and mix in some of the water. Brains aren’t transparent, so replace part of the water with your milk of choice. Pour that in, but be careful not to overmix the liquefied brains — stop when the mixture curdles. Then pour in the remainder of the water and mix.
Transfer the mix into the mold, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it set in the fridge for at least four hours.
Once it’s set, carefully extract the brain from the mold and admire your creation. Thin out some seedless raspberry jam with a little bit of water and pour it on top for an even more realistic look.
Get this brain mold at Amazon
Kamehame Silicone Brain Mold
Fill this brain mold with the Jello-O recipe above for a spooky (and tasty) Halloween treat.
Shop at Amazon
Fake ground beef for Halloween
Edible faux raw meat can be a fun addition to your Halloween snack table. There are two ways to make it: using a crispy rice cereal, like Rice Krispies, or using red velvet cake.
Watch this video for two step-by-step tutorials on how to make realistic-looking, edible ground beef.
To make the Rice Krispies version:
- Melt butter and 5 cups mini marshmallows.
- Mix in dark red food color and either brown food color or cocoa powder.
- Fold in 6 cups of the crisped rice cereal.
- Press it into a tray and mold it so it looks like meat. The more you compact it, the more realistic it will look.
- Cover it with plastic wrap. You can also create homemade and funny labels to go on top.
It’s very sticky, so use gloves and spray them with nonstick cooking spray to make it easier to handle.
To make the red velvet version:
You can use box cake or homemade cake for this. Crumble the iced cake and run it through a meat grinder.
For an authentic look, put the faux meat on the foam trays you typically find ground meat on at the store. You can purchase these online or at restaurant supply stores.
You can mold it into one slab or portion it out into smaller, personal size faux-burger patties.
Shop ingredients at Amazon
Jet-Puffed Mini Marshmallows
Stock up on top-rated mini marshmallows for all of your favorite Halloween recipes.
Shop at Amazon
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2 gross-looking, deceivingly delicious desserts to make this Halloween
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
