How to carve a pumpkin video
loading...
Learn how to carve a spooky Halloween gourd in two designs – a scary face, plus a simple hole-punched lantern – with help from the BBC Good Food cookery team.
Points to remember
- Start by making a cavity in the middle of your pumpkin to remove the seeds. Draw a circle on the base of the pumpkin, cut it out using a knife then pull the circle away. Scrape away the seeds and stringy flesh using a spoon.
- To make a decorative pumpkin, attach a template - or draw on your own design - then mark the outline using a skewer to punch holes in the pumpkin.
- Remove the template then cut along the dotted lines with a knife. To add definition, peel away the top layer of the skin to reveal the lighter flesh underneath.
- To create a simple lantern, punch holes through the pumpkin using an apple corer. Add your candle and enjoy!
Advertisement
TIPS
USE OUR SPOOKY TEMPLATES
Use our Halloween templates to create the perfect carve. Choose from three designs - wicked witch, flying bat and haunted house.CHOOSE THE RIGHT KNIFE
We recommend using a small, serrated, flexible knife to carve your pumpkin.
MAKING STOCK
Use the seeds and fibres as a base for stock. The resulting liquor is surprisingly flavourful and a welcome change from the standard vegetable stock cube. Use in vegetable soups or pumpkin risotto.
USING THE SEEDS
The seeds roast up to a lovely crunchy snack. Try our classic roasted pumpkin seeds recipe or experiment with fun flavours. Wash to remove the fibres, then toss in olive oil, salt and pepper and some cumin seeds. Spread out over a tray and bake at 180C for 20 mins until crisp. Sprinkle over soup or eat as a snack.