Skull Deviled Eggs

What's the best way to hard-boil eggs for Halloween deviled eggs?

The most common way to hard boil eggs is in a saucepan on the stovetop. But there are a few other easy ways to hard boil eggs that take advantage of common kitchen appliances, including the oven, pressure cooker, slow cooker and air fryer. Experiment to see which method works best for you. No matter how you hard boil them, know that using older eggs makes peeling easier later on!

What can I use to punch holes in the egg whites if I don't have a straw?

Drinking straws are ideal because they’re readily available and make holes the right size. But you can easily improvise if you don’t have any. Try making holes with a round decorator tip. (We recommend tips #3 through #12.) You can also use the pointy end of a dial meat thermometer, a wooden skewer or, if all else fails, a standard toothpick. No matter what tool you use, make sure it’s clean and food-safe.

How can I make Halloween skull deviled eggs my own?

While the filling is delicious, what makes Halloween skull deviled eggs special is the egg whites. So, feel free to use the filling of your favorite deviled egg recipe to make yours. Otherwise, follow the recipe and replace the mayo with Greek yogurt to lighten up the filling a bit. For more flavor, swap in your choice of chip for the corn chips. (I think Doritos could be a good choice!)

Can I make Halloween deviled eggs ahead of time?

Deviled eggs are best served soon after assembling, but you can keep them covered in the fridge for an hour or so—just hold off on dipping the eggs in the crushed chips until right before serving. If you need to make them 1 to 2 days in advance, it's best to store the filling separately from the egg whites until closer to party time.

What other kinds of Halloween deviled eggs can I make?

There are plenty of different Halloween deviled eggs to make come October. Goblin eyeball deviled eggs feature pimento-stuffed olives. You can put black olives to use by turning them into "spiders"—simply cut up olive halves into makeshift legs. Or, make your eggs look like pumpkins by dyeing the filling orange and adding a fresh herb sprig for the pumpkin stem. Don't be afraid to get creative! Here are more Halloween appetizers to serve with your Halloween skull deviled eggs.

—Lauren Pahmeier, Taste of Home Associate Editor and Amy Glander, Taste of Home Book Editor