How to carve a Halloween Pumpkin: Step-by-step guide for perfect Jack o’ Lanterns

Below, we explain how to carve a range of kid-friendly pumpkin designs, give tips on picking the best pumpkin, explore how to make your carved pumpkin last longer and even have some suggestions on what to do with your scooped-out pumpkin flesh.

We've got everything you need to make this spooky season, fun, easy and delicious.

Jump to:

• Easy pumpkin carving designs suitable for kids
• Tips for selecting the best pumpkin for carving
• Pumpkin Preservation: how to prolong the life of a carved pumpkin
• Recipes using pumpkin
• Other pumpkin decorating methods

Easy pumpkin carving designs suitable for kids

Jack O'Lantern

You will need:

• A pumpkin
• Sharp-pointed knife and short-handled, serrated knife or pumpkin carving kit (such as this pumpkin carving kit from Amazon)
• Scoop/large spoon
• Felt-tip pen
• Damp cloth
• Tea light or battery-operated tea light

Instead of using knives, you could invest in a pumpkin carving kit — we would recommend this pumpkin carving kit from Amazon.

How to carve a Jack O'Lantern Halloween Pumpkin:

1. Using a felt-tip pen, draw 2 triangle eyes, a triangle nose and a large mouth with two teeth onto the pumpkin's skin
2. Draw a circle around the stalk on the top of the pumpkin
3. Use a sharp-pointed knife to pierce a hole at one point on the circle, then put a short-handled, serrated knife into the pierced hole and start to cut around the line (tip: aim not to cut straight down but slightly angled towards the centre, creating a bowl-shaped hole)
4. Remove the lid and scoop out all of the pumpkin seeds and fibre with a spoon or scoop
5. Using the serrated knife, cut into the pumpkin where your design's mouth is marked with a gentle back-and-forth motion (cut around the mouth shape by drawing the knife back and force and maintaining a steady downward pressure)
6. Cut out the eyes and nose in the same way
7. Use a damp cloth to clean off any pen marks or pumpkin-y bits from the skin
8. Place a tea light or fairy lights inside your pumpkin

Little pumpkin, big pumpkin

You will need:

• 2 pumpkins - 1 large and 1 small (if you can, use different-coloured pumpkins)
• Felt-tip pen
• Sharp-pointed knife and short-handled, serrated knife or pumpkin carving kit
• Scoop/large spoon
• Damp cloth
• Small knife/potato peeler
• Battery-operated tea light

How to carve a scary little pumpkin, big pumpkin

1. Using a felt-tip pen, draw 2 eyes in a crescent shape (as in the picture above) and a very large mouth onto the larger pumpkin (you need to make sure it's large enough to see your smaller pumpkin once it's placed inside)
2. Draw a circle around the stalk on the top of the pumpkin
3. Use a sharp-pointed knife to pierce a hole at one point on the circle, then put a short-handled, serrated knife into the pierces hole and start to cut around the line (tip: aim not to cut straight down but slightly angled towards the centre, creating a bowl-shaped hole)
4. Remove the lid and scoop out all of the pumpkin seeds and fibre with a spoon or scoop
5. Using the serrated knife, cut into the pumpkin where your design's mouth is marked with a gentle back-and-forth motion (cut around the mouth shape by drawing the knife back and force and maintaining a steady downward pressure)
6. Use a damp cloth to clean off any pen marks or pumpkin-y bits from the skin
7. For the smaller pumpkin, use a small knife or potato peeler and carve out 2 small eyes and a worried mouth
8. Place the smaller pumpkin and a battery-operated tea light in your pumpkin then place the lid back on

Spooky jail pumpkin

You will need:

• A pumpkin
• Felt-tip pen
• Cocktail sticks
• Sharp-pointed knife and short-handled, serrated knife or pumpkin carving kit (such as this pumpkin carving kit from Amazon)
• Scoop/large spoon
• Small Halloween toys (such as a skeleton or spider)
• Damp cloth
• Battery-powered tea light

How to create a spooky jail pumpkin:

1. Use the felt tip pen to draw a rectangle shape onto the pumpkin that is slightly smaller in height than your cocktail sticks
2. Draw a circle around the stalk on the top of the pumpkin
3. Use a sharp-pointed knife to pierce a hole at one point on the circle, then put a short-handled, serrated knife into the pierced hole and start to cut around the line (tip: aim not to cut straight down but slightly angled towards the centre, creating a bowl-shaped hole)
4. Remove the lid and scoop out all of the pumpkin seeds and fibre with a spoon or scoop
5. Using the serrated knife, cut into rectangle outline with a gentle back-and-forth motion
6. Use a damp cloth to wipe off any pen marks or pumpkin-flesh bits
7. Place your Halloween toys into the pumpkin, then push the cocktail sticks evenly into the pumpkin flesh on the top and bottom of your 'jail' opening to make a little prison
8. Put a battery-powered tea light into the pumpkin and put the lid on

Cat Pumpkin

You will need:

• A pumpkin
• Felt-tip pen
• Sharp-pointed knife and short-handled, serrated knife or pumpkin carving kit (such as this pumpkin carving kit from Amazon)
• Scoop/large spoon
• Damp cloth
• Tea light or battery-operated tea light
• Cocktail sticks (halved)
• An orange
• Scissors

How to carve a cat pumpkin:

1. Using a felt-tip pen, draw the cat face on the pumpkin (two big round eyes, a small triangular nose, a smiling mouth with little teeth at the bottom, three lines for whiskers on each side)
2. Draw a circle around the stalk on the top of the pumpkin
3. Use a sharp-pointed knife to pierce a hole at one point on the circle, then put a short-handled, serrated knife into the pierced hole and start to cut around the line (tip: aim not to cut straight down but slightly angled towards the centre, creating a bowl-shaped hole)
4. Remove the lid and scoop out all of the pumpkin seeds and fibre with a spoon or scoop
5. Use a sharp carving knife or pumpkin carving kit to carve around your cat design — use a gentle back-and-forth motion
   1. Start with the eyes: carve out the circular shapes but leave the smaller circle in the pumpkin
   2. Carve the nose as a small triangle
   3. Carve the mouth carefully — try to include the small teeth if you can
   4. Carve out the whiskers as thin lines, be gentle or they might break
6. Use a damp cloth to clean off any pen marks or pumpkin-y bits from the skin
7. Place a tea light or fairy lights inside your pumpkin and place the lid back on
8. Peel an orange and cut 2 small triangles out of the peel
9. Attach them to the top of the cat's face using halved cocktail sticks

Spooky words pumpkin

You will need:

• A pumpkin
• Felt-tip pen
• Sharp-pointed knife and short-handled, serrated knife or pumpkin carving kit (such as this pumpkin carving kit from Amazon)
• Scoop/large spoon
• Damp cloth
• Tea light or battery-operated tea light

How to carve a spooky words pumpkin:

1. Using a felt-tip pen, write your chosen word or phrase onto your pumpkin (we love 'Boo!' and 'Spooky' — if you're feeling more adventurous, you could try 'Happy Halloween' or 'Trick or Treat!'). Alternatively, you could print the word out in a fun font, then use it as a stencil to trace with
2. Draw a circle around the stalk on the top of the pumpkin
3. Use a sharp-pointed knife to pierce a hole at one point on the circle, then put a short-handled, serrated knife into the pierced hole and start to cut around the line (tip: aim not to cut straight down but slightly angled towards the centre, creating a bowl-shaped hole)
4. Remove the lid and scoop out all of the pumpkin seeds and fibre with a spoon or scoop
5. Use a small, sharp carving knife to carve the word out using a gentle back-and-forth motion
6. Use a damp cloth to clean off any pen marks or pumpkin-y bits from the skin
7. Place a tea light or fairy lights inside your pumpkin and place the lid back on

Tips for selecting the best pumpkin for carving

Best pumpkin varieties for carving

If you try hard enough, you can carve any pumpkin, but there are definitely some varieties that are easier to carve than others. According to the RHS, traditional is best. An orange, lightly-ribbed pumpkin with soft skin is one of the easiest pumpkin varieties to carve. Other options that are relatively easy to carve include: Racer F1, Jack O'Lantern, Jack of All Trades, Baby Bear, Prizewinner, Casper and Polar Bear (the last 2 are both white skinned).

Size of your pumpkin

When selecting a pumpkin, you really need to think about what design you're planning to carve. If you have a specific design in mind, taking measurements and checking these against the pumpkin you're picking isn't a bad idea. Also, think of where it will be displayed — you need to make sure you have enough space to showcase your pumpkin.

Larger pumpkins do offer more space for an elaborate, spooky design, but they tend to be harder to carve.

Shape of your pumpkin

Don't stress too much about finding the perfect pumpkin shape. If you find one that has an interesting curve or a unique feature, this could add character to your design and really make it stand out.

Check the surface and stem

In terms of the surface, smooth is best. Check the pumpkin over for any marks, bruises or imperfections as these may hamper the pumpkin's longevity, or just get in the way whilst you're carving your masterpiece.

Also make sure you check the stem and ensure it's a healthy one. Try and select a pumpkin with a solid, greenish-brown stem. If it's brittle or weak, then the pumpkin may be starting to decay and you want to select a pumpkin that will last as long as possible.

Pumpkin Preservation: how to prolong the life of a carved pumpkin

Once you've spent the time carving your pumpkin, the last thing you want is for your spooky creation to deteriorate quickly and get mouldy. Below, we explore a few tips for how to help prolong your pumpkin.

Carve your pumpkin as close to Halloween as possible

To keep your pumpkin fresh for Halloween, try and leave carving it as late as you can – ideally no more than a day or two before Halloween. If your schedule doesn't allow for this — or you're just really excited to get going! — then try some of the tips below to help your Halloween pumpkin last longer.

Limit touching your pumpkin as much as you can

The oil from your fingers can inadvertently speed up the rotting process of pumpkins, so try and touch it as little as possible — tricky, we know, when you're trying to carve your masterpiece!

Although relatively robust, pumpkins can still bruise so try and handle your pumpkin as carefully as you can. Try and also grab it around the middle, rather than the stem, as a broken stem can lead to a shorter pumpkin life.

Consider the location

Pumpkins thrive best in a dry, shaded spot. Hot sun (unlikely in the UK!) and rain (much more likely) can both speed up the decaying process, so a covered front porch is your best bet.

Give your pumpkin a bleach bath

Before you display your pumpkin, bathe it in a diluted bleach solution (combine one part bleach to 10 parts water in a large tub) for around 2 minutes — making sure that each part of the pumpkin is covered. Then ensure that the pumpkin is completely dry before displaying it. This will help to neutralise mould and slow down the decaying process.

Make a pumpkin spray

The diluted bleach solution mentioned above can also be used as a daily spray to keep your pumpkin fresh and healthy.

Alternatively, you could make a peppermint spray by mixing a peppermint soap with a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Peppermint has anti-fungal properties which should keep you pumpkin soft and smooth.

Leave your pumpkin before carving

After you've cleared out the flesh of your pumpkin, ensure that the inside is entirely free of guts. Then, if you have time, leave the pumpkin to dry out. Moisture inside the pumpkin will make it rot faster, so try to ensure the pumpkin is as dry as it can be.

Moisture the carvings

The actual carving of the pumpkin is what speeds up the decaying process, so rubbing a substance like Vaseline, or even olive oil around the curved edges can extend your pumpkin's life

Keep pests away

One of the more traditional places to display your carved pumpkin is on your front porch, but be aware that this may attract pests or wildlife who want to snack on your pumpkin. Maybe consider displaying it on a windowsill, or another raised area.

Use battery-powered candles

Using a tea light candle in your pumpkin will dry out the interior, leading it to rot faster. Using a battery-powered tea light will help your pumpkin last longer.

Credit: Better Home and Gardens

Recipes using pumpkin

Once you've carved your pumpkin, use up all the sweet pumpkin flesh with these deliciously spooky recipes that will help make the most of your pumpkin guts.

Annabel Karmel's Pumpkin Muffins

These savoury muffins have the ultimate autumnal taste and are perfect for Halloween. As well as pumpkin, they also contain sultanas, ginger and are topped up with spooky Jack O'Lantern faces.

Get the full recipe for Annabel Karmel's Pumpkin Muffins

Annabel Karmel's Monster Muffins

Super spooky, super cute and super tasty — turn your leftover pumpkin into monster muffins with this simple recipe.

Get the full recipe for Annabel Karmel's Monster Muffins

Spooky pumpkin soup recipe

A perfect warming soup for cold autumn nights, just add a few extra ingredients to you pumpkin to make this velvety smooth soup.

Get the full recipe for Spooky pumpkin soup recipe

Other pumpkin decorating methods

Try something a little different this year and decorate your pumpkin rather than carving it. Below, we outline so great ideas for decorating pumpkins — using craft supplies you probably already have at home.

Thumbprint pumpkin painting

We love this idea of decorating a pumpkin with thumbprint paints — especially as it's easy for young kids to do. All you need to do is have your child press their thumb into a paint colour of your choice, then have them press their paint-covered thumb over the pumpkin.

You could use white paint and make little ghost figures, just add eyes and a mouth with black paint when the white paint has dried. Or use black paint and create spiders, adding legs and eyes once the paint has dried.

Credit: Craft Box Girls

Handprint pumpkin painting

Ideal for younger children, this handprint pumpkin paint idea is simple and super quick to do. It's very similar to the thumbprint idea above, but this one only requires your child to dip their hand in paint and print it onto the pumpkin. Once the paint has dried, you can add embellishments to the design, such as eyes onto a spider or ghost.

Credit: Fun Handprint Art Blog

Doodle pumpkin

This idea is so simple but very effective. Use Halloween stencils, or just go freehand, and decorate your pumpkin with cute spooky-themed designs. You could use a real or foam pumpkin for this craft too. If using a real pumpkin, you could use a white pumpkin, or if you have a more traditional orange one, paint it white first.

Credit: Inspiration Made Simple

Monster face pumpkins

Turn your pumpkins into spooky yet adorable monster faces! The trick is to use small, white pumpkins as they're easier to paint. Then all you need to do is grab your paints and get creative — you could try painting traditional monsters like Frankenstein's Monster or Dracula, or let your imagination run wild and create your own mini monster!

Credit: Aubree Originals

Cotton bud painted pumpkin

Another super easy pumpkin decorating idea for kids is this bright design, made using cotton buds. Again, we would recommend using small, white pumpkins if you can. Alongside this, all you need are cotton buds, paints in the colours of your choice and a paint palette. It also allows your child to get creative deciding how to decorate their pumpkin and hopefully not get too messy in the process.

Credit: Projects with Kids

Pic: Getty

Read more:

• Best Halloween events to take kids to
• Best family Halloween recipes
• 5 spooky Halloween face painting ideas for kids