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Halloween desserts don’t get much creepier than these halloween panna cotta eyeballs. Each little eyeball is made with creamy vanilla panna cotta and topped with a gummy candy for that realistic iris effect. These are fun to make and surprisingly easy, with just a few basic ingredients and silicone molds. They’re sure to get some laughs (and maybe a few double takes) at your Halloween party. You can even customize the colors for your favorite spooky theme.
Halloween panna cotta eyeballs are creepy, creamy and fun. These spooky vanilla eyeballs make a great Halloween party dessert for both kids and adults.
More Halloween treats include lunar elixir cocktails, spooky spider pizza, glow in the dark shooters and Halloween pretzel snacks.
Why You’ll Love It
Creepy and fun: These little eyeballs are perfect for Halloween parties and themed events.
Simple ingredients: You only need pantry staples and a couple of candies.
Customizable: Switch up the gummies or jelly beans for different effects.
Kid-friendly: A spooky treat that’s still sweet and creamy for all ages.
Panna Cotta Eyeballs Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Heavy cream: This gives the panna cotta its rich and creamy texture.
Milk: Lightens the dessert slightly while keeping it smooth.
Gelatin: Helps the panna cotta set and hold its eyeball shape.
Vanilla extract: Adds a warm, sweet flavor to the base.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the creamy mixture just enough.
Lifesaver gummy candies: These form the iris of each eyeball.
Jelly beans: Used for the pupil to complete the look.
How to Make Halloween Panna Cotta Eyeballs
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Soften the gelatin: Sprinkle it over milk in a saucepan and let it sit.
Heat the mixture: Warm the milk and gelatin until the gelatin dissolves.
Add cream and sugar: Stir in the cream and sugar until hot and smooth.
Add vanilla: Mix in the vanilla extract and remove from heat.
Prepare the molds: Lightly oil the silicone molds and place them on a tray.
Add gummies: Press one gummy into each mold, writing-side up.
Fill the molds: Pour in the panna cotta mixture over the gummies.
Chill: Refrigerate for at least 5 hours or overnight.
Unmold: Gently loosen the panna cotta and remove from the molds.
Add pupils: Cut jelly beans and press onto the center of each gummy.
Optional drizzle: Add edible “blood” made with syrup and food coloring.
Substitutions and Variations
Dairy free option: Use coconut cream and almond milk instead of cream and milk.
Gelatin substitute: Agar agar can be used for a vegetarian version, with adjustments.
Candy alternatives: Try sour rings or peach gummies instead of Lifesavers.
Color swap: Use colored vanilla or berry syrup to tint the panna cotta for extra creep factor.
Serving Suggestions
With other Halloween snacks: Enjoy mini charcuterie boards, leftover candy brownies, Halloween bark, Halloween Rice Krispie treats and Halloween hand pies.
With drinks or shots: Try vampire kiss jello shots, a black magic cocktail, eyeball jello shots, or glow in the dark coconut rum shots.
How to Store Panna Cotta Eyeballs
Store: Store the finished panna cotta eyeballs in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy them within 3 days.
Freeze: While freezing is technically possible, it can affect the creamy texture and the look of the candy details, so it’s not recommended.
Top Tips
Use clear molds: This helps you place the candy exactly where you want it.
Don’t skip the chill: Letting them set fully gives the best texture and shape.
Keep it level: A baking tray under the molds helps move them without spills.
Minimal oil: Too much spray will affect the smoothness of the panna cotta.
Halloween Panna Cotta Eyeballs FAQs
No, plain gelatin is best to avoid altering the flavor or color.
Yes, and they have to chill for 5 hours anyway. Preparing them a day in advance gives them enough time to chill and set properly in the refrigerator. Cover them to keep the flavors fresh and the texture smooth. If you are making this dessert a day or so ahead, you might like to reduce the gelatine by about ½ teaspoon. The reason for this is the longer it sits in the refrigerator the firmer it will set.
They’re highly recommended for easy release, but you can try plastic or flexible molds.
It means “cooked cream” in Italian. It’s a nice dessert to make for a dinner party because it can be prepared in advance (although I’d recommend regular panna cotta for a dinner party, not eyeballs!)
Halloween Panna Cotta Eyeballs Recipe
Halloween Panna Cotta Eyeballs
Equipment
- Saucepan Medium
- Silicone Panna Cotta Molds
Ingredients
- 2 Cups heavy cream
- 1 Cup milk
- 4 Teaspoons gelatin, unflavored
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ Cup granulated sugar
- Lifesavers
- jelly beans
Optional "Blood"
- strawberry syrup
- red food coloring
Instructions
- Pour the milk into a medium-size saucepan, sprinkle the gelatin on top of the milk and let it soften for 5 minutes.
- Heat the milk and gelatin mixture over medium low heat, whisking frequently. The gelatin should be melted within a few minutes.
- With the saucepan still on the stove stir in the sugar and heavy cream, heat the mixture until it is very hot, but not boiling or simmering and the sugar has dissolved.
- Once the sugar has been dissolved, remove from the heat and add the vanilla extract.
- While the mixture is cooling for a moment, prepare your silicone molds by spraying very lightly with non-stick oil and placing the molds onto a cookie sheet. This will make moving it to the refrigerator easier.
- Place one of the Lifesaver gummies with the writing-side up into each of the molds, pressing down into the bottom of the mold.
- Fill each mold with the panna cotta liquid.
- Place the panna cotta in the fridge for at least 5 hours or overnight.
- When you are ready to plate the panna cotta, use a thin small knife and run it around the edge of each of the silicone molds to release the panna cotta. Very gently press each of the little panna cotta eyeballs out onto a plate.
- If needed, use your small knife to cut or scrape any excess panna cotta off of the iris/lifesaver, it should come off easily.
- Cut the very tips off of jellybeans and use them as the pupils of the eyeballs.
- Mix strawberry breakfast syrup with red food coloring to make optional "blood". Drizzle each eyeball with the blood mixture.
Notes
Don’t skip the chill: Letting them set fully gives the best texture and shape.
Keep it level: A baking tray under the molds helps move them without spills.
Minimal oil: Too much spray will affect the smoothness of the panna cotta.
Nutrition
There’s no doubt these halloween panna cotta eyeballs will grab everyone’s attention. They’re spooky, sweet and surprisingly simple to prepare. This is one Halloween dessert that strikes the perfect balance between creepy and tasty. Plus, the ingredients are easy to find and the process is stress-free. Add these to your Halloween party menu for guaranteed compliments and clean plates.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
This panna cotta recipe is flawless (and yep I’m Italian so I know!) and I love the clever Halloween twist so much. Italian food and Halloween – the best cuisine and my favorite holiday! What could be better? A tip for you though – make extra, these disappear fast, at least in this house they do.
Just so gross but I want to try to make them this year!