Seasonal Crafts: Apple Heads

How to Make an Apple Head

This fall craft is perfect for September or October—just in time for Halloween!

1. The apple will shrink, so start by choosing a large, firm one. We like Granny Smith apples for their firmness. 
    
2. Peel the apple first. (You can leave a little skin on the top.) 
    
3. Then, with a sharp knife, form the nose, make eye sockets, and cut a line for the mouth. You can “sketch” lightly first.
    
4. Carve around the mouth to accentuate the cheeks, and make some lines around the eyes and on the forehead. Try to make the features super exaggerated because the apple will shrivel up.
    
5. Soak the head in lemon juice for about 1/2 hour (so it doesn’t turn brown) before hanging it to dry.
    
6. To dry in a warm climate, you could stake them on a skewer but it will take a few days which might encourage mold. The fastest way to dry is to simply put them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and set in the oven on low heat (175°F). Keep an eye on them. A food dehydrator is another option. 
    
7. When the head is almost dry, add peppercorn or bean eyes. Or, raisins or cloves!  Use your imagination to make some hair and a body to go with the head.