Halloween jelly eyeballs with agar agar

Small pale hemispheres, a coloured iris and a few veins turn a jelly into a Halloween decoration. Appearance is the fun part; texture needs checking so the result remains pleasant to eat.

A base to adjust

For a small trial, start with 250 g strained pale juice and 2 g agar agar. This starting dose needs checking with your chosen juice and mould, rather than guaranteeing a result with every base.

You also need small food-safe hemisphere moulds and food colours suitable for the application. For a plant-based recipe, check the composition of both juice and colours.

Method

Disperse agar in the juice and heat while stirring until completely dissolved, following the product instructions. Pour a small amount into a mould and let it set before making the full batch.

If the texture is suitable, make the eyeballs and cool completely. Unmould carefully. Add the iris and veins using food colours, working on a dry surface with clean tools.

The detail that changes the result

Large moulds and highly concentrated gels can make hard mouthfuls. Choose small sizes and check the bite as well as shape retention. Do not use inedible glitter, paints or decorations.

Store according to the requirements of the base and prepare close to service; agar does not make juice safe to store at room temperature. For more shapes, see edible architecture with agar agar.