Get ready to delight and spook your little ones with a treat that is as fun to make as it is to eat! The Eerie Eyeballs – Creepy and Delicious Halloween Treats Kids Love Recipe offers a perfect blend of creamy, sweet, and festive that brings Halloween excitement right to your kitchen. These eyeball-shaped confections are sure to win hearts with their playful appearance and irresistible flavors, combining peanut butter and white chocolate into a bite-sized delight that’s just begging to be devoured.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering these ingredients is a breeze, and each one plays an important role in creating the perfect texture, taste, and eerie look of your Halloween treat.
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter: The rich and smooth base that gives these eyeballs their creamy center and irresistible flavor.
- 3 tablespoons softened butter: Adds a touch of silkiness and helps bind the ingredients into the perfect dough.
- 1 cup powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the mixture, making it easier to roll and shape.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor with a warm, aromatic touch.
- 1½ cups white chocolate chips or white candy melts: Creates the eerie white coating that makes these treats look like real eyeballs.
- Optional: 1 tablespoon shortening: Helps smooth and thin the melted chocolate for easier coating.
- 24 small candy eyes, chocolate chips, or M&M’s: These become the spooky pupils that bring the eyeballs to life.
- Red and blue gel food coloring or writing gel: Used for drawing veins and adding creepy finishing touches.
How to Make Eerie Eyeballs – Creepy and Delicious Halloween Treats Kids Love Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Peanut Butter Mixture
Start by beating together the creamy peanut butter, softened butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and thick like a dough. This is the delicious center of your eyeballs, so getting the texture right is key. It should hold together easily without being too sticky.
Step 2: Shape the Eyeballs
Roll the peanut butter dough into 1-inch balls, aiming for uniform size so the eyeballs are perfectly consistent. Place them on a parchment-lined tray and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. This chilling step helps firm them up so they can be easily dipped without falling apart.
Step 3: Melt the White Chocolate
Melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each until smooth. If desired, add a tablespoon of shortening to create a silky texture that coats your peanut butter balls more evenly and gives a flawless finish.
Step 4: Coat and Decorate the Eyeballs
Using a fork, dip each chilled peanut butter ball into the melted white chocolate, ensuring it’s completely covered. Let the excess chocolate drip off and place the coated eyeball back on the parchment-lined tray. While the coating is still wet, gently press a candy eye or chocolate piece into the center to form the pupil. Chill again for 20 minutes until the chocolate hardens.
Step 5: Add Creepy Details
Grab some toothpicks dipped in red and blue gel food coloring, and carefully draw veins and irises on each eyeball. This step adds a spooky, realistic touch that makes these Halloween treats truly irresistible and eye-catching.
How to Serve Eerie Eyeballs – Creepy and Delicious Halloween Treats Kids Love Recipe
Garnishes
Sprinkle crushed cookie crumbs or edible glitter around the eyeballs for a creepy yet magical effect. You can also add a few candy spiders or mini gummy worms crawling around the platter to amp up the Halloween vibe.
Side Dishes
Pair your eerie eyeballs with a blood-red fruit punch or a creamy pumpkin dip to keep the festive spirit going. Fresh orange slices or caramel apples also make for fun and flavorful companions to balance the sweetness.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve these eyeballs on a black or orange platter lined with spider web cheesecloth for a ghoulish presentation. You could also place each eyeball in a mini cupcake liner or on top of sugar cookie “eyelids” for an extra special twist that will impress kids and adults alike.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and prevent the chocolate coating from sweating. Stored this way, the eyeballs will stay delicious and firm for up to a week.
Freezing
You can freeze the eyeballs by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze initially, then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag. They’ll keep for up to a month and thaw quickly when brought back to room temperature.
Reheating
Reheating isn’t necessary or recommended since the treat is best enjoyed chilled. Let frozen eyeballs thaw in the fridge overnight for the best texture and flavor before serving.
FAQs
Can I make these Eerie Eyeballs if my child has a peanut allergy?
Absolutely! You can substitute the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter or a soy-based spread to keep it safe for those with allergies while still maintaining a similar creamy texture and flavor.
What if I don’t have candy eyes for decoration?
No worries! You can use chocolate chips, colored M&M’s, or even pipe small icing dots to create pupils. Get creative with what you have on hand—the effect will still be delightfully spooky.
Can I use dark or milk chocolate instead of white chocolate?
While white chocolate gives the perfect “eyeball” look, you can experiment with dark or milk chocolate for a different twist. Just keep in mind that it will change the appearance and may not look as like an actual eyeball.
Is it okay to skip the gel coloring for veins?
Definitely! If you prefer to keep things simple, the eyeballs are still cute and tasty without the extra drawing. The gel colors add an authentic creep factor but are optional.
How long does it take to prepare this recipe?
Prep time is about 25 minutes plus chilling time. Since this recipe doesn’t require cooking, it’s a quick and fun project to do with kids right before your Halloween event.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly special about sharing a homemade treat that’s equal parts spooky and delicious, and this Eerie Eyeballs – Creepy and Delicious Halloween Treats Kids Love Recipe hits all the marks. Perfect for kids and adults alike, these charming little eyeballs are guaranteed to bring smiles and maybe a few giggles (or screams) to your Halloween celebrations. So roll up your sleeves and have a blast making this fun and finger-licking delight that everyone will be talking about!
Print
Eerie Eyeballs – Creepy and Delicious Halloween Treats Kids Love Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 24 eyeballs
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
Eerie Eyeballs are creepy and delicious Halloween treats that kids will love. These peanut butter and white chocolate balls are decorated with candy eyes and gel to create spooky eyeball effects, making them perfect for a festive party snack.
Ingredients
Eyeball Base
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons softened butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Coating
- 1½ cups white chocolate chips or white candy melts
- Optional: 1 tablespoon shortening (to smooth melted chocolate)
Decoration
- 24 small candy eyes, chocolate chips, or M&M’s (for pupils)
- Red and blue gel food coloring or writing gel (for decoration)
Instructions
- Make the Dough: Beat together the peanut butter, softened butter, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar until you achieve a smooth and thick dough-like consistency.
- Shape the Balls: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on a tray lined with parchment paper. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Melt the Chocolate: Melt the white chocolate chips and optional shortening in 30-second microwave intervals, stirring well between each interval until completely smooth.
- Coat the Balls: Using a fork, dip each peanut butter ball into the melted white chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. Place the coated balls back on the parchment-lined tray.
- Add the Eyes: While the coating is still wet, press a candy eye, chocolate chip, or M&M into the center of each ball to create the pupil. Then chill again for 20 minutes to set the chocolate.
- Decorate the Eyeballs: Use toothpicks dipped in red and blue gel food coloring to draw veins and irises on the eyeballs for a spooky, realistic effect.
- Store and Serve: Keep the eyeballs refrigerated until ready to serve to maintain their shape and freshness.
Notes
- The optional tablespoon of shortening helps to smooth and thin the melted white chocolate for easier coating.
- If you don’t have candy eyes, chocolate chips or M&Ms work well as eyeball pupils.
- Be careful not to overheat the white chocolate in the microwave to avoid burning.
- These treats should be stored in the fridge as they contain butter and peanut butter and can become soft at room temperature.
- For a nut-free version, substitute peanut butter with sunflower seed butter, but note that flavor and texture will vary.
