Turn ordinary green olives into Aliens for your Halloween party. Your guests will get a kick out of seeing an alien in their martini or on a Halloween charcuterie board.
I opened a jar of jumbo green olives the other day, and it struck me just how much they looked like alien heads.
I couldn't resist grabbing a black food coloring marker and turning some olives into aliens. It was super easy and they look so cool.
They could be served in cocktails, added to antipasto trays, or just served in a bowl. I can't wait to make them for one of our annual Halloween parties.
They couldn't be any easier to make. Just grab some jumbo green olives (Spanish Olives) and a black food coloring marker. Draw on some eyes, nostrils, and a mouth, then pop them back in the jar for a short bath in the brine.
After about 15 minutes, take them out, and the black facial features will have turned a cool shade of reddish brown.
Now when you serve them, your party guests won't get black food coloring on their fingers or in their drinks, but the creepy-looking alien faces will show up well.
Storage
Store your olives in a covered bowl in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Related Recipes
Here are a few more fun Halloween recipes made using olives.
- Irresistible Sweets with Dixie Crystals® - July 13, 2024
- How to make peanut butter? - February 15, 2024
- OREO Penguins - December 20, 2023
Samantha says
Hi Beth.
Love this idea! I'm going to a Halloween party next week out of town and was wondering if they maintain this effect if left in the brine? It would be easier to do them ahead of time and just travel with them like that.
Beth says
Hi Samantha,
Yes, the design should stay on if you store the olives in the brine. Enjoy and have a fun Halloween.
Beth says
QUESTION SENT BY A READER -
Hi Beth,
I have really enjoyed finding your blog and website; I have a question for you. I tried the olive aliens (what a great idea!) but they did not turn out like your picture. Did you use a certain kind of food-safe marker? I used a black one, but the faces did not turn out as dark, nor did they turn that cool reddish color. What did I do wrong? Thanks for your help.
MY RESPONSE:
Glad to hear you tried out the olives. I use usually use Americolor food pens when doing my projects. They have the most vibrant colors. However, they do dry out over time. I wrote a blog post with tips and tricks for using your pens and refilling your pens. Check it out here - https://hungryhappenings.com/2012/08/tips-on-how-to-use-edible-ink-food.html/
I will often, dip my marker in liquid black food coloring (made by McCormick) before I draw with them.
After I drew on the olives, I put them back in the jar with the brine. That is when they turned reddish color. I suppose different markers may have different inks that wont turn red. Whenever I go to clean up my black food coloring, things turn pink. So, most of the ones I have used have that red color in them.
Check out my tips page, and see if that helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Miller says
Very funny and interesting, great for X-files fans:)
Beth says
Thanks, Miller! These were really fun to serve at our Halloween party.
Jas says
ha ha brilliant idea! Hugs
Project Denneler says
These are so perfectly simple and smart. Love this idea, Beth.
Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff says
You are a genius! They are absolutely perfect ... love the effect of soaking them in brine 🙂
Aya Sakamoto says
Haha, would be a fun grown-up Halloween surprise. Thanks for the idea!
-Aya
http://healthy-appetite.blogspot.de/
Lynn says
Hilarious! I love this idea Beth-Happy Halloween:@)
beth says
Thanks, Lynn. Happy Halloween to you too.
The Partiologist says
I love this idea - of course you would have seen alien heads when you opened the jar of olives!
beth says
It is rather funny, isn't it? My mind works in mysterious ways =)
Anonymous says
That is too cool! So simple yet so creative! Love it!
beth says
Thanks, I do love how easy there are to make, especially being Halloween is tomorrow.
Julie says
Awesome idea thanks ,,, Halloween is my fave to its my bday 😉
beth says
Happy Halloween and Happy Birthday Julie. I hope you have a great day.