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If you’re looking for creepy scary fun, my Halloween Jello Brain or Brain Mold is perfect for your next Halloween party! All you need is a brain mold (and don’t worry if you don’t have one yet, I have a link for you later), and this easy to make edible brain recipe!
I’ve made this jello brain for many years (even before the internet was around!), and few have dared to eat it. But every appreciates its coolness! For another spooky treat that might scare your guests, try my Halloween Candy Cigarettes!
For more creepy fun, be sure to try my skull cakes, Bandaid Cookies, and a dark and stormy cocktail.
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Please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe. I read all the comments myself and I try to help as soon as I can. I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen on my site, and I’ve tried to answer some of your questions already in the post. But if I’ve missed anything, please feel free to leave a comment and ask.
Pro tips for the best Halloween gelatin brains
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Be sure to scroll down to the printable recipe card for the Brain Mold ingredient amounts and instructions!
Set up
Well, first you’ll need that brain mold! You can find a good looking brain on Amazon. You may also be able to find them in the Halloween stores.
I bought mine many years ago and have used it many times. It’s always a hit at parties. Though I will warn you, very few people will have the courage to take a bite! So, mostly the brain is just for decoration.
Before each use, wash the mold with warm soapy water and a soft cloth or sponge. Then dry it completely. If there’s water in the mold, you run the risk of having no oil in that spot, and the brain may stick and tear when taken out of the mold.
Spray or smear about 2 teaspoons of oil into the inside of the entire cavity of the brain mold. Be sure to get into all the little cracks and crevices. Wipe out the any excess oil. I also like to turn it upside down and shake it to get out any extra oil.
You can use a large bowl to place the mold into, or use a smaller bowl and prop it in. You can also create a ring with a towel or aluminum foil to go around the outside of the mold to help sturdy it.
Make the Jell-o
Put the flavored gelatin in a large bowl. I like to use a large batter bowl with a pour spout so it’s easy to pour into the mold later without making a big mess.
Add boiling water, stirring with a whisk or a fork until completely dissolved.
Stir in cold water.
Stir in evaporated skim milk for 2 minutes.
Pour the gelatin mixture into the plastic mold, but do not fill to the top. Leave about 1-inch of space from the top. Place the mold in the stand in the refrigerator, and let set overnight.
You’ll probably have some jello leftover that didn’t fit in the mold. Spray another mold that you may already with oil so the jello doesn’t stick. I have one with star shapes (that I used to make Chocolate Coconut Stars), skulls for Day of the Dead sugar skulls, and one for Jack-o-lantern cakes. You could also just use muffin tins or mini muffin tins.
Get your serving plate or platter ready, because once the brain comes out of the mold, you’re going to want to plop it down pretty quickly.
To extract the brain from the mold: with the mold open side up, shake the mold until the gelatin loosens from the walls of the mold. Place the palm of your hand over the opening of the plastic mold and turn over. Shake again. You can use your fingers to work up the inside of the mold to gently separate the brain from the walls. Shake until the gelatin brain plops out onto your hand. Place it down on the serving plate.
I have successfully moved the brain from one serving plate to another, but in general, I think it’s best not to move it too often.
Make the “blood” if desired
If you want to make the “blood” for garnishing the brain, it’s super easy!
Simply take about ¼ cup of seedless raspberry jam and thin it with a little water. Different brands of jam will have different thickness, so use your best judgement, but about 1 teaspoon or so should do the trick. Mix the water in with the jam and microwave it for 10-30 seconds to soften it. Give it a good stir. Then, drizzle the “blood” on and around the brain.
Can I use a different milk for the Jello brain?
That’s a negatory, Houston. Make sure to use lite evaporated skimmed milk (99.5% fat free or 100% fat free). Anything with a higher fat content may curdle on you and you could end up with scrambled brains!
What flavor Jello should I use?
In the two brains that I made for these pictures I used a slightly different flavor combination.
For the lighter colored brain, I used 3 boxes of peach flavor. Peach Jello has a nice light fleshy color, and when combined with the creamy milk, it makes for an eerily real looking brain.
The darker red colored brain used 2 boxes of peach and one strawberry. Much darker in color, and still creepy, but defiantly not as fleshy looking.
I remember using peach and watermelon flavors with good results, but my store no longer carries watermelon flavor.
And, you don’t need to keep it fleshy colored if you don’t want to. Use green jello for a moldy looking brain. Or blue jello for a frozen cold brain. You could even toss some gummy worms inside the jello before it’s set for a super creepy look!
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Halloween Jello Brain Recipe
Halloween Jello Brain
Equipment
Ingredients
Jello brain
- 2 teaspoons oil for oiling the mold
- 3 boxes 6-ounces each, peach or watermelon flavored gelatin
- 2 & ½ cups boiling water
- 12 ounce can lite evaporated skimmed milk 99.5% fat free or 100% fat free
- 1 cup cold water
Blood
- 1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam
- 1 teaspoon water you may need more or less depending on how thick your jam is
Instructions
Make brain
- Spray or smear a small amount of oil inside the entire cavity of the plastic mold. Wipe out any excess oil from the cavity.
- Set the oiled mold into a stand to prop it up, and set aside.
- Put flavored gelatin in a large bowl. Add 2 & ½ cups of boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Use a whisk or large fork for stirring.
- Stir in 1 cup of cold water.
- Stir in evaporated skim milk for 2 minutes.
- Pour the gelatin mixture into the plastic mold, but do not fill to the top. Leave about 1-inch of space from the top. Place the mold in the stand in the refrigerator, and let set overnight.
- To extract the brain from the mold: with the mold open side up, shake the mold until the gelatin loosens from the walls of the mold. Place the palm of your hand over the opening of the plastic mold and turn over. Shake again. You can use your fingers to work up the inside of the mold to gently separate the brain from the walls. Shake until the gelatin brain plops out onto your hand. Place it down on the serving plate.
Make blood if desired
- Take about ¼ cup of seedless raspberry jam and thin it with a little water. Different brands of jam will have different thickness, so use your best judgement, but about 1 teaspoon or so should do the trick. Mix the water in with the jam and microwave it for 10-30 seconds to soften it. Give it a good stir. Then, drizzle the “blood” on and around the brain.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
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