Bloody Eyeball Jellies (Halloween)

WARNING: This post contains some visuals that may be frightening to young children. View at your own discretion.

Since last week's play on shaping Matcha Sablés into fingers (and successfully creeping out a few friends XD), I having been thinking about transforming other desserts into Halloween worthy treats. I want them to look as "real" as possible or at least able to spook myself, if not what's the point right?

A friend from a baking forum suggested I should make eyeballs. Right. How can I miss them, they are the essentials of the Halloween spirit, isn't it?! In fact, I have been thinking about them for a long time and had wanted to attempt eyeballs before the sablés but I just didn't have any inspiration and couldn't conceptualize any ideas!! Had to put it on hold and focus on the fingers first.

I tried googling for Halloween eyeballs ideas; almost all of them are cookies recipes, with a few appetizers like deviled eggs around. Not that a cookie recipe isn't good enough for me, but I want the visual, the texture and the whole concept to be as close to reality (or my perceived reality for that matter) as I can get it to be.

Almost inevitably, the best medium (in my opinion) to use for this concept has to be jellies; the wobbly texture and the thin film of water on its surface resembles that of a real eyeball. I opt for Strawberry Coulis as the "blood" and made it slides off the sides of the eyeballs so it kinda resembles the flesh tissue inside of our eye sockets. This might not be very well done, but with the time constraint, I've put in my best effort for this creation!! Hopes everyone likes them. ^_^

Strawberry Coulis
   150g     Strawberries, washed and hulled
     50g     Water
     50g     Sugar

1. Place everything in a pot and simmer over low heat for about 15mins till the sauce thickens and the fruit pieces kinda lose their shapes.

2. Purée the mixture in a food processor and have it pass through a sieve. Use a fork or spoon to help push the mixture through. This is to remove the seeds and ensure that the coulis is smoooth~

And the coulis is done. Mine is a very simple version. There are other recipes which includes lemon juice, alcohol, whatever. You may add if you like or you can even increase the amount of sugar if you find the strawberries too sour (the ones we get in SG can get really sour at times).

Halloween Jelly Eyeballs
1 packet of Almond Jelly
1 packet of Guiling Grass Jelly
1 spherical ice-cube tray

1. Prepare the Guiling Grass Jelly as per instructions on the back of packaging.

2. Using a dropper or a spoon, carefully place a few drops in the ice-cube tray. Take note that they solidify quite fast. Place into chiller for it to set slightly.

3. Prepare the Almond Jelly as per instructions on the back of the box.

4. Check that the Guiling Grass Jelly is set. Use a toothpick and prick each "iris" a few times. Fill the ice-cube tray with the Almond Jelly carefully. It takes a little time to fill completely, just slow down and wait till the liquid does not subside any more.

5. Place in the chiller for 2-3 hours till set.

6. Remove the top lid gently to prevent breaking any jelly. You may trim off the excess while in the tray or I just drop them into a bowl of cold water and gently "wash" off the excess.

There you have your jelly eyeballs!! You can choose to plate them like I did. Place a splotch of Strawberry Coulis first before placing an eyeball in it. Then dribble some coulis over its sides and let them slides off. If time is of the essence and you have no time to make a Strawberry coulis, you can make these into a great eyeball cocktail drink by purchasing off the shelves Raspberry/Cranberry/Pomegranate juice or even Rose syrup. Simply pour the juices into a large serving bowl and plop in the eyeball jellies before your guests arrive. And you will have a bowl of eyeballs welcoming them!! Happy Halloween!! =)

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