11 pumpkin carving ideas: easy and scary designs to try for Halloween 2023 - including cat, zombie and vampire

It's almost time to get carving your Halloween pumpkin (or turnip). Here are some ideas for designs - from the classics to a zombie.

Published 23rd Oct 2023
Updated 25 th Oct 2023

Pumpkin carving is a much beloved Halloween tradition that many of us take part in every year - although it can sometimes be difficult thinking up creative designs to make your pumpkin stand out.

These are 10 of the best Halloween pumpkin carving designs to get to you started.

The classic pumpkin

Pumpkin
(Photo: Shutterstock)

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the classic pumpkin design, with it’s crooked smile, triangle nose and eyes.

Vomiting pumpkin

Pumpkin
(Photo: Shutterstock)

By using the innards of the pumpkin, like the seeds and other goop you scoop out, you can create a pumpkin that looks like it’s throwing up.

Vampire pumpkin

Pumpkin
(Photo: Shutterstock)

If you have a spare pair of vampire teeth lying around as part of your Halloween costume, you can make a cute little vampire pumpkin.

Ghost pumpkin

Pumpkin
(Photo: Shutterstock)

Instead of turning your pumpkin into a character, why not use it to design a scene, like these spooky looking ghosts.

Witch pumpkin

Pumpkin
(Photo: Shutterstock)

Sometimes less is more when it comes to pumpkin carving, and you can create artistic designs like this witchy looking pumpkin.

Cat pumpkin

Pumpkin
(Photo: Shutterstock)

Black cats and Halloween go together hand in hand, so why not combine the two in your pumpkin design?

Halloween cottage pumpkin

Pumpkin
(Photo: Shutterstock)

By not going all the way through the pumpkin rind, you can create this translucent effect with your design, which allows you to create silhouettes and scenes, like this Halloween cottage.

Toothy pumpkin

Pumpkin
(Photo: Shutterstock)

Again, by not cutting all the way through the pumpkin rind, you can create this layered effect that you can use to make things like teeth, eyes and more, and take your pumpkin carving up to the next level.

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Pumpkin inside a pumpkin

Pumpkin
(Photo: Shutterstock)

If you have a really small pumpkin, as well as your regular sized pumpkin, you can make it look like your big pumpkin is eating the small one.

Jack Skellington pumpkin

Pumpkin
(Photo: Shutterstock)

Take inspiration from your favourite Halloween movies, like the Nightmare Before Christmas with this Jack Skellington pumpkin.

Zombie pumpkin

YouTube has a range of tutorials on zombie pumpkins

Turn your pumpkin into the undead with this simple design. Or, if you want to be a bit more creative, you can dye the pumpkin to make it a real stand-out zombie.

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Known for cake making, experimental jam recipes, Champagne, whisky and gin drinking (and the inability to cook Gnocchi), Rosalind is the Food and Drink Editor and whisky writer for The Scotsman, as well as hosting Scran, The Scotsman's food and drink podcast.
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