Halloween ghost fruit skewers are strawberries, marshmallow ghosts and cantaloupe cubes threaded on wooden skewers, ready in 20 minutes. The recipe makes 12 skewers, and it’s a no-cook treat for a party table.
Why This Recipe Works
The ghosts are plain large marshmallows with faces drawn in black cake decorating gel. Draw on the flat side, where the gel sits smooth and doesn’t smear. The gel needs about 5 minutes to dry, so draw the faces first and prep the fruit while you wait.
Each skewer has a strawberry at the bottom, a ghost in the middle and a melon cube on top. The red and orange show up well against the white, so the ghost stands out. The strawberry also gives the soft marshmallow something firm to sit on.
The melon cubes are 1 inch wide, about the same size as a large marshmallow. Matching sizes keeps the stack straight, and the skewers stand up neatly on a platter.
Halloween Ghost Fruit Skewers Ingredients
- 12 large marshmallows
- 12 large strawberries, hulled
- 1 small cantaloupe (or any melon), cut into 12 cubes
- 12 wooden skewers (6 inch)
- 1 tube black cake decorating gel
Optional swaps
- Grapes, pineapple, apple slices, or cucumber, in place of the strawberries or melon (optional)
How To Make Halloween Ghost Fruit Skewers
Prep the fruit and ghosts
- Wash the strawberries: Wash the 12 strawberries and pat them dry, so the skewers don’t slide. Pull off the green tops.
- Cube the melon: Cut the cantaloupe into 1 inch cubes. You need 12, one for each skewer.
- Draw the faces: Squeeze the black gel onto the smooth, flat side of each marshmallow to make two eyes and a mouth. Leave the ghosts for 5 minutes, so the faces set and don’t smudge when you pick them up.
Build and serve
- Thread the skewers: Push 1 strawberry onto a skewer first. Add 1 marshmallow ghost next, then top it with 1 melon cube.
- Space the pieces: Leave a small gap between pieces if your guests don’t like their food touching.
- Serve: Arrange the skewers on a platter and serve right away.
Recipe Tips
- Buy pre-cut fruit: Store-bought melon cubes save you the chopping. Just check they’re close to 1 inch so the stack stays even.
- Swap for allergies: Use grapes, pineapple, apple slices or cucumber for any fruit a guest can’t eat or doesn’t like.
- Draw the faces flat: Lay the marshmallows flat side up on a plate and draw on them there. It’s much easier than holding them in your hand.
- Keep the gel small: Use short, light squeezes of gel. Too much will run and blur the faces.
What To Serve With Halloween Ghost Fruit Skewers
Put the skewers on a platter at the center of the table and serve them right away. They fit a Halloween party, a school treat table or a kids’ snack plate, and a jar of orange punch next to them looks good.
How To Store
- Make ahead: Draw the faces a few hours early and let them dry. Thread the skewers shortly before serving.
- Fridge: Keep leftover skewers covered in the fridge and eat them the same day. The cut fruit gets watery and the marshmallows turn sticky if they sit longer.
FAQs
What can I use if I don’t have cake decorating gel?
A tube of black icing works the same way. You can also dab on faces with a toothpick dipped in melted dark chocolate.
Are ghost fruit skewers gluten free?
The fruit is gluten free. Most marshmallows and decorating gels are too, but check the labels on yours, since some brands differ.
Can I make these ahead of time?
Draw the faces ahead and let them dry. Build the skewers close to serving time, so the fruit stays fresh and the marshmallows stay soft.
Why do the marshmallow faces smudge?
The gel needs about 5 minutes to dry before you handle the marshmallows. Draw on the flat side and keep the lines thin, so the gel sets quickly.
Nutrition
Estimated per serving (1 of 12), worked out from the ingredients.
- Calories: about 45 kcal
- Total Fat: 0g
- Total Carbohydrate: 11g
- Dietary Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
Halloween Ghost Fruit Skewers
12
servings20
minutes1
minute21
minutesStrawberries, marshmallow ghosts with gel faces and cantaloupe cubes on wooden skewers. A no-cook Halloween snack that makes 12 skewers in 20 minutes.
Ingredients
12 large marshmallows
12 large strawberries, hulled
1 small cantaloupe (or any melon), cut into 12 cubes
12 wooden skewers (6 inch)
1 tube black cake decorating gel
- Optional swaps
Grapes, pineapple, apple slices, or cucumber, in place of the strawberries or melon (optional)
Directions
- Wash the strawberries: Wash the 12 strawberries and pat them dry, so the skewers don’t slide. Pull off the green tops.
- Cube the melon: Cut the cantaloupe into 1 inch cubes. You need 12, one for each skewer.
- Draw the faces: Squeeze the black gel onto the smooth, flat side of each marshmallow to make two eyes and a mouth. Leave the ghosts for 5 minutes, so the faces set and don’t smudge when you pick them up.
- Thread the skewers: Push 1 strawberry onto a skewer first. Add 1 marshmallow ghost next, then top it with 1 melon cube.
- Space the pieces: Leave a small gap between pieces if your guests don’t like their food touching.
- Serve: Arrange the skewers on a platter and serve right away.
