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Clementine Pumpkins | Easy and Adorable Kids Snacks

October 4, 2018 by Leslie 18 Comments

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Clementine pumpkins are the perfect make-ahead healthy Halloween snack for kids. Add them to your kids’ lunchbox or make a bunch for a Halloween party! 

Jack o lanterns and pumpkins made out of clementines with the wording cute & easy clementine pumpkins

“When are you going to put pumpkins in my lunchbox again?”

This question pops up every fall with my girls – ever since the first time I surprised my now nine-year-old with the Clementine pumpkin in her lunchbox.

Now, I’m not a mom to make cutesy Bento boxes every day. That’s just more time and energy that I have… especially when making lunches for three kids every day of the workweek.

But, I can easily pulled together something simple like a Clementine pumpkin. I don’t know where I first saw the ideas for the these but they have become a full tradition ever since.

How to Make Clementine Pumpkins – Two Ways

clementine pumpkin with green bell pepper

Peeled Clementine pumpkins

Peeled Clementine pumpkins are the best option for younger kids who can’t peel a Clementine on their own. Plus, they’re simply adorable. All you need is the following:

  • One peeled Clementine
  • Firm green vegetables, sliced about 3 inches long and about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide

Directions:

  1. Remove the appeal from the Clementine and any stringy remains from the peel
  2. Gently insert You’re child’s favorite Green vegetable into the center of the Clementine where the top was.

Which vegetables work best with Clementine pumpkins?

We’ve used a few different vegetables over the years to make our Clementine pumpkins. Here are a few thoughts for each type

Celery Sticks

Celery sticks work well because they are mild in flavor on their own. Unfortunately, my children don’t care for celery so the celery sticks end up getting wasted. Because of that these are not my favorites.

Sliced Green Bell Peppers

Sliced green bell peppers work well if you’re like us and keep sliced peppers on hand every week already.

That said, they have a strong flavor which may affect the taste of the clementine. Picky eaters may not be happy about that.

Sugar Snap Peas

Sugar Snap Peas work well when they’re still firm and fresh. They don’t add any flavor to the clementine, but they also don’t have the same characteristic shape as the celery or bell peppers.

clementine jack-o-lantern pumpkin

Clementine Jack-o’-Lanterns

Once your kids are old enough to peel clementines on their own, clementine jack-o-lanterns are a lot of fun. All you need is a black Sharpie and your imagination.

And for anyone who is concerned, Sharpies are non-toxic, so this shouldn’t be a problem for your children

That said, if you don’t know the right tips, clementine jack-o’-lanterns can get pretty frustrating.

Here are a few tips I’ve learned over the years:

Always always always start with a dry, room temperature Clementine.

Because Sharpies are oil-based any water on the skin of the Clementine Will resist your design. Cold clementines will sweat, ruining your design and leaving you frustrated.

Keep at least two or three black sharpies on hand as you decorate.

Sometimes the Clementines just don’t warm up fast enough. In this case, carefully dry the Clementine with a paper towel and make your design as best you can.

If your Sharpie stops working, swap it out for another Sharpie for a while. This will allow the water that got on the tip of the first sharpie to evaporate so that it can work again.

Keep your designs simple.

I found that ultra-fine point sharpies that looks more like ballpoint pens do not work well on Clementine pumpkins. But the standard fine tip sharpie can create a line that’s a bit fat for the small Clementine.

If you keep your design simple, and outline the jack-o’-lantern face shape first then you should end up with a cute design.

More Halloween Ideas to Love:

  • 80+ Halloween Printables to Download Today
  • 17 Super Cute Halloween Party Favors
  • Halloween Party Foods Kids Love
  • Halloween Songs for Kids (Your Halloween Playlist)
  • Free Printable Halloween Take One Sign
  • Spooky Halloween Mocktails for the Whole Family
clementine jack o lanterns and peeled clementine pumpkins on a table

Now it’s your turn

You don’t have to be a Bento box mom to send cute seasonal themed treats in your kids’ lunches. Clementine pumpkins are hands down my favorite way to surprise my kids in the lunchbox.

And it only takes about five minutes or less to make a Clementine pumpkin or a jack-o’-lantern pumpkin. But the smiles are always worth it.

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Filed Under: Appetizers, Sides, and Finger Foods, Food, Halloween, Holidays, Kid Crafts and Activities Tagged With: pumpkin

About Leslie

Leslie is the passionate party planner in her family. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, she was determined to find a way to continue making amazing parties for her kids that don't leave you exhausted. To do that Leslie combines the experience she learned working for a professional event planner with the reality of a busy family life to create party inspiration that the average mom can reproduce and be proud of.

Comments

  1. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says

    October 7, 2018 at 10:38 am

    What a cute idea! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party! Have a wonderful week and hope to see you at next week’s party too!

    Reply
  2. Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled says

    October 8, 2018 at 6:50 pm

    Very cute! I once did a bunch of these pumpkin oranges for a teacher appreciation event. Visiting from Inspire Me Tuesday.

    Reply
  3. Michele Morin says

    October 9, 2018 at 7:23 am

    Nice to have a healthful alternative in the midst of all the candy!

    Reply
  4. alissa apel says

    October 9, 2018 at 5:36 pm

    Cute and easy! I usually love this time of year, but it’s been so rainy in Nebraska. I just want to skip this season.

    Reply
  5. Marie Moody says

    October 9, 2018 at 11:44 pm

    Totally easy and what a great decoration on the table when guests come over. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  6. janice says

    October 10, 2018 at 5:21 am

    Oh those clementine jack o’lanterns are an awesome idea! i think it would be great to put in the kids’ lunchboxes until halloween. thanks for the idea!

    Reply
  7. Amanda says

    October 10, 2018 at 1:05 pm

    What a cute, yet simple idea to make the season a little more festive!

    Reply
  8. Whitney says

    October 10, 2018 at 1:53 pm

    These are adorable!! I’m keeping them in mind for my daughter’s Halloween party. Thanks for sharing and for linking up with us today.

    Reply
  9. The Better Baker says

    October 10, 2018 at 10:50 pm

    Adorable idea! I love these fun things that can be done last minute. Pinning!

    Reply
  10. Jann Olson says

    October 11, 2018 at 10:00 pm

    What a fun treat for kids!! Thanks for sharing them with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply
  11. Pam says

    October 12, 2018 at 10:44 am

    Very very cute. My kids would have loved these when they were little. I will have to make these for my niece and nephew! I would love for you to share these at Thursday Favorite Things at my blog!

    Reply
  12. laura says

    October 14, 2018 at 12:09 am

    What a great healthy Halloween snack idea! Featuring on Inspire Me Monday on not a trophy wife dot com.

    laura

    Reply
  13. Rita says

    October 15, 2018 at 12:29 pm

    So Easy and Colorful. Healthy too.
    See my FiestaFriday Milk Pudding

    Reply
  14. Miz Helen says

    October 15, 2018 at 6:18 pm

    Your Clementine Pumpkins look so adorable and healthy for the kids! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great week!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
  15. Jodie Fitz says

    October 17, 2018 at 9:08 am

    Always love these awesomely healthy treats for Halloween. Thanks for sharing at last week”s party. Hope to see you this week: https://www.jodiefitz.com/2018/10/16/reader-tip-tuesday-weeks-craft-recipe-party-14-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/

    Reply
  16. Debbie Kitterman says

    October 17, 2018 at 11:58 pm

    Hi Leslie! I love this healthy, fun alternative to candy for celebrating the season.

    Thanks for linking up your posts last week with #TuneInThursady – I am featuring your post tomorrow at the linkup. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Neena says

    October 18, 2018 at 2:06 pm

    Hi Leslie,

    I love the simplicity in this. With so many sugary sweet treats in October, it’s nice to have a healthy alternative that is still festive.

    Stopping by from Best of the Weekend.

    I featured your post this week – be sure to look for it tomorrow after 8 pm. 🙂

    Reply
  18. Angie | Fiesta Friday says

    October 18, 2018 at 10:41 pm

    That’s so cute! Thanks for linking up! #fiestafriday

    Reply

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