Make a pepper-o-lantern - Straight from DIYHQ

All Activities

Make a pepper-o-lantern by hollowing a bell pepper, carving a friendly face, and lighting it safely with an LED tealight to explore design.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to make a pepper-o-lantern

What you need

Bell pepper, marker, small spoon, small knife, cutting board, paper towel, led tealight, plate, adult supervision required

Step 1

Rinse the bell pepper under cool water.

Step 2

Pat the bell pepper dry with a paper towel.

Step 3

Place the cutting board on the table and set the pepper on it.

Step 4

Find an adult and ask them to help you with the cutting steps.

Step 5

With the adult's help, cut a circle around the stem and remove the top of the pepper.

Step 6

Use the small spoon to scoop out the seeds and white ribs from inside the pepper.

Step 7

Pat the inside of the pepper dry with a paper towel.

Step 8

Draw a friendly face on the pepper with the marker.

Step 9

With the adult's help, cut out the face shapes by following your marker lines and remove the pieces.

Step 10

Place the pepper-o-lantern on a plate or another stable surface.

Step 11

Turn on the LED tealight.

Step 12

Gently place the lit LED tealight inside the hollow pepper.

Step 13

Share your finished pepper-o-lantern on DIY.org.

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have an LED tealight, a small spoon, or a marker from the materials list?

If you don't have an LED tealight for steps "Turn on the LED tealight" and "place the lit LED tealight inside," use a small flashlight or your phone's flashlight placed inside; if you lack the small spoon for step "scoop out the seeds," use a clean dessert spoon or melon baller; and if you don't have a marker for step "Draw a friendly face," use a pencil or washable pen.

The pepper tore while cutting the face shapes—how can we prevent that during the cutting steps?

If the pepper tears when you cut the face shapes in step "With the adult's help, cut out the face shapes," have the adult hold the pepper steady on the cutting board and use a sharp paring knife to cut slowly along your marker lines after removing the top in step "cut a circle around the stem and remove the top."

How can this activity be adapted for younger children or made more challenging for older kids?

For younger children, skip the cutting steps and let them do steps like rinsing the pepper, patting it dry, drawing the face in step "Draw a friendly face," and scooping seeds while an adult handles cutting, and for older kids let them sketch complex designs, carve more detailed faces with adult supervision, or arrange multiple pepper-o-lanterns on plates as a display in step "Place the pepper-o-lantern on a plate."

What are some fun ways to personalize or extend the pepper-o-lantern after it's finished?

After placing the lit LED or flashlight inside in steps "Turn on the LED tealight" and "place the lit LED tealight inside," personalize by patting the inside dry (step "Pat the inside of the pepper dry"), adding a felt hat made from the removed top, attaching craft scraps with toothpicks or non-toxic glue, or wrapping colored cellophane around the light for a colored glow before sharing your photo on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to make a pepper-o-lantern

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Facts about food crafts for kids

🫑 Bell peppers are botanically fruits (not vegetables) and come in many colors like green, red, yellow, and orange.

🎃 The jack-o'-lantern tradition began in Ireland using turnips and later switched to pumpkins in North America.

🍉 Fruit carving is a celebrated decorative art in Thailand and is often used to make festive food displays.

💡 LED tealights are cool to the touch, use very little power, and can run for hundreds to thousands of hours—perfect for safe lanterns.

💦 Bell peppers are about 92% water, so hollowing one out is juicy and quick—great for a hands-on craft.

How do you make a pepper-o-lantern?

Start by washing a bell pepper and cutting off the top. An adult should remove seeds and core while the child draws a friendly face with a marker. Use a small serrated knife or a vegetable carving tool to carve along the lines—adult handles cutting for young children. Place a battery-operated LED tealight inside, set the pepper on a small plate to catch juices, and enjoy. Supervise at all times.

What materials do I need for a pepper-o-lantern?

You'll need bell peppers (thick-walled like red or orange), a marker for drawing faces, a small serrated knife or child-safe carving tool, a spoon for scooping seeds, LED tealights (battery-operated), a small plate or tray, paper towels, and optional cookie cutters or hole punches for decorative shapes. Also have adult supervision, a cutting glove or towel to steady the pepper, and wet wipes for easy cleanup.

What ages is this activity suitable for?

Best for children aged 4–10 with adult supervision. Ages 4–6 can draw faces and scoop seeds while an adult handles cutting. Ages 7–10 can practice careful carving with a child-safe serrated knife and close adult guidance. Adapt for toddlers by letting them decorate with stickers or markers on an uncut pepper. Always supervise when tools are used and choose activities that match your child's motor skills.

What are the safety tips for making a pepper-o-lantern?

Safety first: always supervise cutting and use battery LED tealights instead of real flames. Have an adult do all knife work or use child-safe serrated tools. Keep a towel or non-slip mat under the pepper, wear a cut-resistant glove if available, and scoop seeds into a bowl to avoid slips. Check the LED battery before placing it inside, and place the finished pepper on a plate or tray to catch juices and prevent mess.

Ready to create?

All Activities

Make a pepper-o-lantern - Straight from DIYHQ

Make a pepper-o-lantern by hollowing a bell pepper, carving a friendly face, and lighting it safely with an LED tealight to explore design.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to make a pepper-o-lantern

What you need

Bell pepper, marker, small spoon, small knife, cutting board, paper towel, led tealight, plate, adult supervision required

Step 1

Rinse the bell pepper under cool water.

Step 2

Pat the bell pepper dry with a paper towel.

Step 3

Place the cutting board on the table and set the pepper on it.

Step 4

Find an adult and ask them to help you with the cutting steps.

Step 5

With the adult's help, cut a circle around the stem and remove the top of the pepper.

Step 6

Use the small spoon to scoop out the seeds and white ribs from inside the pepper.

Step 7

Pat the inside of the pepper dry with a paper towel.

Step 8

Draw a friendly face on the pepper with the marker.

Step 9

With the adult's help, cut out the face shapes by following your marker lines and remove the pieces.

Step 10

Place the pepper-o-lantern on a plate or another stable surface.

Step 11

Turn on the LED tealight.

Step 12

Gently place the lit LED tealight inside the hollow pepper.

Step 13

Share your finished pepper-o-lantern on DIY.org.

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have an LED tealight, a small spoon, or a marker from the materials list?

The pepper tore while cutting the face shapes—how can we prevent that during the cutting steps?

How can this activity be adapted for younger children or made more challenging for older kids?

What are some fun ways to personalize or extend the pepper-o-lantern after it's finished?

Watch videos on how to make a pepper-o-lantern

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

6 Easy DIY Paper Lantern Ideas | Simple and Beautiful Lantern Making Tutorial

4 Videos

Facts about food crafts for kids

🫑 Bell peppers are botanically fruits (not vegetables) and come in many colors like green, red, yellow, and orange.

🎃 The jack-o'-lantern tradition began in Ireland using turnips and later switched to pumpkins in North America.

🍉 Fruit carving is a celebrated decorative art in Thailand and is often used to make festive food displays.

💡 LED tealights are cool to the touch, use very little power, and can run for hundreds to thousands of hours—perfect for safe lanterns.

💦 Bell peppers are about 92% water, so hollowing one out is juicy and quick—great for a hands-on craft.