These cute and fun Mandarin Orange "Pumpkin" Treats will be a favorite healthy Halloween and fall snack for kids AND adults! Only 2 ingredients needed to make these pumpkin-shaped oranges.
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With only 2 ingredients in this quick and easy, party food recipe idea, you can make 3 of these citrus fruit treats in less than 5 minutes!
Mandarin oranges aka "Cuties", "Halos" or "Sweeties", tangerines, Satsumas or even small navel oranges can be peeled and used to make these orange colored snacks. I use English cucumber for the stems but you can also use celery sticks.
If you're looking for sweet treats to make as an alternative to purchased Halloween candy or to place on a party appetizer or charcuterie (or jarcuterie) board, this will be a big hit with all ages....and dentists!
Another healthy Halloween treat is my Kiwi Frankenstein Halloween Treats. So cute and perfect to serve alongside these oranges that look like pumpkins.
I served these no-cook, healthy fall treats last week to a few of my girlfriends on this white pedestal plate while we planned my next Holiday Cooking Show. Then, as they left for the evening, I gave them each one pumpkin on the top of their jarcuterie cup to go.
How to make Mandarin Orange "Pumpkin" Treats
Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the detailed, printable recipe. Pictures below will help guide you as you read the recipe.
- Peel clementines by pushing your thumbnail straight down into the top of the orange and pulling the skins away from the fruit. You can also use this inexpensive tool to peel oranges, but honestly, they are super easy to peel by hand. (I do love the tool to peel navel oranges, though.)
- Cut about a ½-inch slice of English (burpless) cucumber, regular cucumber, or even a celery stalk. Lay the slice down and cut the slice into ¼-inch-wide wedges. Trim the middle of the cucumber wedge away, leaving you with a "stem". For the celery, cut the slice vertically to create the "stem". Continue cutting cucumber slices for as many oranges as you choose to make.
- Push the stem down into the top of the orange pumpkins and that's it!
How can I serve these "pumpkin" treats?
- Halloween parties for kids and adults
- Lunchbox snacks
- Charcuterie boards and jarcuterie cups
- Fruit trays
- Wrapped in cellophane bags with an orange ribbon for trick-or-treating or school parties (Be sure to get parents and school permission-some schools do not allow treats at parties that are not prepackaged.)
Clementines are a type of mandarin orange similar to tangerines and satsuma oranges. They are both known for their thin, easy-to-peel skins and typically seedless which make them a perfect snack for even toddlers. While both oranges are very small, clementines are usually smaller than mandarins.
Mandarins are sold in the produce section of the grocery store in 3 pound mesh bags called "Halos". Clementines are often sold as"Cuties" or "Sweeties".
Yes, clementines, tangerines, and satsumas can be substituted for Mandarin oranges and are all easy to peel and about the same size. Navel oranges are much larger but peel fairly easily and would make a fun and healthy lunchbox surprise for older kids and adults.
Jarcuterie cups or cupcuteries are the safe alternative to everyones fingers touching everything on a charcuterie board. Everyone gets all the particulates on a charcuterie board in their own half-pint-or smaller Mason jar or plastic punch cup.
Check out my own Jarcuterie creations with some of my favorite Southern ingredients like pickled okra and blackberries in mini Mason jars.
How to store Mandarin Orange "Pumpkin" Treats
Store peeled oranges in a sealed zip-top bag or an air tight container in the fridge. They will dry out if left out in the open air for a couple of hours.
Other fall snacks you will love
- No Bake Peanut Butter Energy Bites | Small Batch
- Pimento Cheese with Fire Roasted Peppers
- 3 Ingredient Cinnamon Sugar Toasted Pecans
- Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts
- Bacon-Wrapped Dove Jalapeno Poppers
Leave a comment below the printable recipe if you have questions or want to tell me how you liked the recipe. Don't forget to give the recipe a rating of 5 stars if you love it!
Mandarin Orange "Pumpkin" Treats | Healthy Halloween
SAVE THIS RECIPE
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Ingredients
- 12 Mandarin oranges, clementine, tangerine oranges (from a 3 pound bag)
- About a 2-inch piece of English (burpless) or regular cucumber or stalk of celery
Instructions
- Peel mandarins by pushing your thumbnail straight down into the top of the orange and pulling the skins away from the fruit. You can also use this inexpensive tool to peel oranges, but honestly, they are super easy to peel. (I do love the tool to peel navel oranges, though.)
- Cut about a ½-inch slice of English (burpless) cucumber, regular cucumber, or even a celery stalk. Lay the slice down and cut the slice into ¼-inch-wide wedges. Trim the middle of the cucumber wedge away, leaving you with a "stem". For the celery, cut the slice vertically to create the "stem".
- Push the stem down into the top of the orange "pumpkins" and that's it!
Notes
Nutrition
This post was updated August 2021.
Kaye Lynn Hataway
Too cute!!! Love the idea!
gritsandgouda
So glad you like them. They make me smile! I think these cutie pies make snacking and eating fresh fruit more fun at any age!