“You’re Not Quite Normal are you?” my friend says staring at my practice brain for Halloween. I’m not offended and agree. I’m a Halloween girl, there’s no doubt about it and I’ve been planning this year’s Halloween party since let’s think… November 1st last year? The one item I really wanted to make was a bloody brain jelly but alas I didn’t have the time to buy a mold last year. This year I was determined to do it though and nothing was going to stop me. I was more determined than Tracy Flick from Election or Rachel Berry from Glee. If I rode a fitness bike, I would have had a picture of the brain jelly in front of me while working out furiously to music. Thankfully no such props were necessary and a purchase of the brain jelly mold was easy.
At first I wanted to make a glowing green jelly brain a la Dr Frankenstein’s lab but when I saw the effect of a creamy vanilla pannacotta jelly with faux blood clots on top of it I was sold on the latter. And like all of my Halloween food, it’s entirely edible and it tastes just like a regular vanilla pannacotta in a thicker jellied red sauce. The idea of slicing this up did frighten my friend and remind her of that surreal scene in Hannibal involving Ray Liotta but once she tried a slice of it, any protests were quelled with a murmur “Mmm brains” she said. I think I turned my friend into a zombie…
Donna Hay cupcakes $3.50 each
And I was excited to see two of my favourite stores also share an interest in the Halloween theme. Donna Hay’s General store in Woollahra has a window devoted to Halloween where you can order cupcakes and buy boxes of pumpkin, witch and ghost cookies, lollies and trick or treat bags.
The Halloween window!
Ghost, witch and pumpkin cookies
I bought some lollies for my Halloween party and was offered a Gift With Purchase of a box of Donna’s Cookie mix (I chose oatmeal and cranberry) which comes with a purchase of $80 or over (while stocks last for this coming week).
Then Buppa from Buppa’s Bakehouse in Newtown emailed to let me know that she had some Halloween food including Pumpkin Pie (of course!), a rat treat, a mummy cupcake, a ghost cake and a skull cookie. I knew what I had to do with this box of Buppa’s goodness. Share it with my mum who is addicted to them.
The Mummy Cupcake was a moist chocolate cupcake topped with buttercream and jaffas for eyes. Ingenious!
The rather realistic rat was made of smooth, rich ganache like chocolate coated in finely ground cookie crumbs.
The Pumpkin Pie had a lightly spiced pumpkin and a slightly wet crust probably due to the pumpkin.
The Ghost cupcake was a light and fluffy vanilla cupcake taken out of it’s sleeve and coated with a rich buttercream.
The Skull cookie was my favourite with a crumbly chocolate cookie filled with cream cheese icing.
Happy upcoming Halloween fellow creepies!
So tell me Dear Reader, are you celebrating Halloween this year? And if so, what is your costume?
Bloody Brain Pannacotta
An Original Recipe by Not Quite Nigella
- 1 brain jelly mold
- 2.5 cups milk
- 2.5 cups cream
- 1 cup sugar
- 5 titanium strength gelatine leaves
- 250ml/8 fl ozs apple and blackcurrant juice
- 1 leaf titanium strength gelatine leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon red liquid food colouring
1. Place gelatine leaves in a bowl of cold water and let soften for 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile heat milk and sugar in a medium saucepan until heated through and sugar has melted. When gelatine has softened, add to heated milk and stir thoroughly. Add cream and stir again. Carefully pour into mold (no need to grease it) and place on a plate in the fridge for several hours or overnight until set.
2. Place extra gelatine leaf in juice in a small saucepan and allow to soften for 5 minutes. Heat gently until the gelatine has melted. Cool in fridge until almost set. Once it’s of a blood clot consistency, that is, not entirely set, then stir in 1/2 teaspoon red liquid food colouring. This will produce the veins for the brain if you stir it through.
3. Unmould jelly onto a platter by running a sharp knife around the edge and carefully running hot water from the tap on the underside of the mold (careful not to get water on the pannacotta) and pour cold “clotted blood” over it. Stick a knife in it and serve to ghoulish friends.
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87 Comments | Add your own
What a spooky and fun post. Thanks!
Happy Halloween!
Carrie
You must tell me: where the f… do you buy a brain mold?!
That’s so cool! You are truly the Halloween Queen!
And we in the Pond have the usual Thanksgiving fare…but for Christmas, we might have chicken fried steak…the traditional S. Texas dish, however, is Steak and cheese enchiladas with chile con carne, stuffing and mashed potatoes and refried beans and corn (I never said it made sense!) Plus plenty of tamales…
Oh I feel ever so queasy after those pictures! I am not sure if I could eat any of them – except perhaps the skull cookie! Yum.
I have a Hen’s do this Saturday so won’t be going crazy. I used to get into it as a kid, and we might do something when Lacey is old enough.
I love when people do, especially adults. I love that they nurture their child within! Scary!
That is AWESOME! I love Halloween!
Cheers,
Rosa
oh, lorraine, that’s so macabre! i love it! i also love the little mouse, which is odd because those critters scare me to death when they’re real!
Ewwww!!! lol. It looks disturbing, but I’m sure it’s yummy. We do a little trick or treat at home where the kids dress up and hubby and I dress up and pretend to be the neighbourhood – they knock on bedroom, bathroom and kitchen doors. It’s a bit fun!
We’d love to go to the states and do a ‘real’ halloween though.
Well, the brain’s a little creepy, but Halloween is the best time of year to go all out =D.
OMG, that looks pretty realistic! You really take your Halloween celebrating seriously, don’t you? I really like the skull cookie, as it’s slightly less terrifying looking. Happy Halloween to you!
I’ve forwarded a link to this post to your twin sister. I’m sure she’ll adore it! I love panna cotta, but might have a hard time cutting the brain too! My kids said they wanted pizza for dinner. Any scary pizza ideas? – xoxo Mum
That brain is outrageous, Lorraine. I love your enthusiasm for Halloween. The interest in the holiday really seems to be growing!
I love the brain – it is so effective!!! I also dig Buppa’s mummy cupcake – very cool. I won’t be celebrating Halloween, as I will be recovering from Derby Day – but I bet some people at the races will get dressed up in costume (or at least there will be some train wrecks)!
Hehe. That looks awesome!! Can’t wait to hear about your party
Happy Halloween!
The brain pannacotta looks wicked. I don’t normally enjoy eating brain but this one I will definitely make an exception!
Hahaha that is brilliant! I always know you’re going to come up with the best ideas for Halloween
I was planning to do something for it this month but laziness prevailed!
Fantastic brain – too scary to eat though!
I’ll be heading off to a kids halloween party, dressing up my daughter as a rapper ganster – complete with gold chains and a toy clock around her neck!
OMG LOOOOve that brain!
AWESOME! And we love Glee! I can just imagine you going crazy on the stepper staring at a picture of perfect macaroons….
Oh Lorraine!! You have outdone yourself!
I always look forward to your halloween posts.
I dunno if I could bring myself to eat a brain pannacotta…
That is the scariest looking thing I have seen. I just dont know if I could cut into it. You have outdone yourself Lorraine. What a great post for Halloween.
you are so cool Lorraine all these things are fantastic!
ill be making halloween cupcakes, but thats abt it!
& have been invited to a halloween party on oxford st i think ill just dress up as a fairy hehe
i am an ABSOLUTE halloween freak too and that brain pannacotta is just GENIUS…you do it every time…make these fantastic concoctions…makes me miss my oven even more! i’ll be off for a huge halloween beach party on saturday dressed as a fairy (but of course!!!) that’s gone over to the dark side!
Happy Halloween!
OMG Look at that brain…blood and all!!! Sounds like a wonderful Halloween you will be having!!! Love all those goodies too♥x
I don’t think I’ll look at a panna cotta the same way ever again.
Great job!
That bloody brain pannacotta is so cool! The ganache rat is equal parts cute and disgusting – I can’t help but think of the giant rats that just stroll around the nyc subway system all day long terrifying me…
Your pannacotta scares the brain out of me LOL!!!! Great round up of Halloween goodies. No one does better Halloween than NQN :p
That is gorgeously gory! My sister is a nursing student and now she wants me to make one for her anatomy class!
That looks so awesome!! I love how you get so into Halloween!
that pumpkin pie looks delicious….
i must say, i went to america last year(on my boring diet) and my biggest regret is not trying pumpkin pie…
can anyone out there tell me where to get a good piece in sydney? around the cbd inner west type areas
im going to make some for christmas but id love to try some first so ill know if mine turn out ok!!!
that brain is amazing by the way!
NQN, you are one sick puppy and I love it!!!! I am already focusing on my THanksgiving recipes so I will have to forego any specialties this Halloween, but since I work in a medical clinic I might just have to order the brain mold and give it a try….The doctors there would LOVE it!!!! You rock, girl!
Oh Lorraine. I think I love you. This is so brilliant. If only I lived closer, I’d love to go to one of your Halloween parties.
For the first time in a few years I intend to celebrate Halloween properly! I still don’t know exactly what I’ll do but I have the whole weekend free, and all of New York City at my disposal. JOY!! My best friend and I will scare up something…maybe one of the epic haunted houses. I’m planning to dress as a strawberry shortcake, which is a little conceptual – it’ll involve me being my normal short self, my knit strawberry hat, strawberry hoodie, a brown knit dress and a fluffy white whipped cream scarf. Because I get cold.
omg Lorraine, that brain is the coolest! Probably healthier than eating real brain too, hehe!
I am planning on doing Halloween this year but am working until 8pm or so (boo!) so it will be a late start once I get myself changed and ready. Still deciding on my costume
hhahaha I love the brain!!! you are awesome
This Friday we are doing costumes at work.. I have no idea what to go as.. the only rules are – tasteful and not scary.. LOL. Any ideas?
Saturday is “real” Halloween and we will be going out for dinner and a movie to avoid the trick or treaters.. sorry kids but you’re out of luck this year!
Oooh, I love your ghoulishly spooky brain panacotta! Excellent job! And it looks delicious too!
And that chocolate skull cookie with cream cheese frosting sounds scrumptious!
That is a pretty awesome but CREEPY brain…. I kept staring and staring. Im not big on Halloween but I do love peering into cake shops where they show off their creativity.
I wish I could come to your party though…. Boooo hoooo!
The brain is freaky! So perfect for Halloween!
Ewww.. not sure if i’d like to bite into that… even though I know it would taste good…
LOL you do know you are positively disturbed right?
Love your work all the same
hahaha….that’s awesome! Perfect Halloween dessert!
I usually don’t do the whole ‘Halloween’ thing…as you know, it’s not super huge down here. But this year, I’m a part of an online Halloween party…which I’m hoping will go well
you sick puppy! i love all that gore!!!
This is fabulous! Had I known, I would have invited you to join the #GreatHallowTweet! Your brain would fit right in with my Black Martinis and Devil’s Eyeballs!
That is a simply spook-tacular effort Lorraine! I would love to eat some of your brains
We are going camping on Halloween this year (err..Blair Witch anyone?), but will be taking along some scary goodies.
I’ve been looking everywhere for a brain mould!!!! Do you know where I can find it? I’m cooking for a halloween party this weekend and you’ve just given me great ideas Lorraine!
*gulp*
That is so gross, my boys are super impressed! How are you ever going to to this one?! xxx
NOPE, not me… I love, love the presentation, and I bet it was DELISH as well. That is so gross but looks super yum too!
Very Eerie indeed Lorraine! When you do something , it’s 100%, everything looks so gory, gruesome, bloody and very realistic .hahah I’d eat Pannacotta no matter what it looks like, the brain would not turn me off at all, loving the ever so fluffy Ghost cupcakes too.
I must confess that I can’t get into the whole Halloween thing and leave it for the USA citizens. I just don’t get it??
Anyway, enjoy it as you have put in a lot of effort. Hubby and I will be spoiling ourselves in the city as it’s our anniversary.
OMG I got shocked looking at the first pic
Must say very innovative especially for halloween
That hand…is really, really scary. Eek!
I’m from Singapore, so I have never celebrated Halloween before, and by the time I got to USA I was too old!
awesome post! i liked the ghost cupcake the most, and that brain pannacotta definitely gave me slight chills just by looking at it! Thanks for adding the tip on Donna Hay’s halloween treats, I think i might pop down sometime this week and get some for the kids baking classes this saturday! I promised them something halloween-ish for their baking class
That’s a scary dessert! I love the way the blood pools around the skulls on the platter.
ahaha i love it!
i’m going as yoko and my boyfriend will be john lennon, complete with bullet holes, outfits taken from the cover of the wedding album.
Hilarious! I’m so glad I saw this after my anatomy lab and not before…
So clever Lorraine! I love panacotta and for an adult Halloween, I could definately enjoy that one.
The Donna Hay chocolate cupcakes photo should be another another blog devoted to hilarious icing mistakes (me thinks).
wow that is so cool – i don’t think i would even try it, it looks so creepy!
Damn that brain looks so delicious! I don’t celebrate halloween but absolutely adore pumpkin pie in any form, the most memorable being a pumpkin pie icecream in Alaska!
Your post got me excited for halloween. I’m in St Petesburg which I suppose is close to Transylvania so I thought these people would be excited about it. Not a witch’s hat in sight
I confess that I have never celebrated Hallowe’en and probably never will but I would certainly eat one of those skull biscuits as cream cheese icing is so good. Actually, I’d eat all of it, even the brain.
Hee hee bbrraiiiiiiiiiiinnsss ^^! I love zombies, they so funny. Your brain looks soo tastyy mmmm
My friend was looking for something other than jello to make in her brain mold this year! How did you know?
I’m sending this to her right now!
Interesting and funny post.Loved it :Wonderful photos too!
Ooh the bloody brain looks so creepy- in a good way!
And how cute are the halloween treats! My favourite’s definitely the rat
OMG are you hysterical and I so love it! I wish I was coming to your Halloween party! Now I’m all upset that I didn’t buy all the Halloween cookie cutters and sprinkles ans such when I was in the US! I love this post! Brilliant!
Where did you get the brain mold? I love it, and the platter is great too. I still have figured out a costume, and I’m running out of time!
hehe vat a fun post!! this reminds me of the bay habour butcher from dexter!! HAHA. happy Halloween!!
cheers!
OMG that is hideous! I am sure it is delicious, but I don’t think I could try it. The rat and skull biscuits looked cute though.
Our kids have a Halloween disco at school where they dress up, and I also walk around the neighbourhood with them. Husband stays home to hand out treats to any visitors we get.
I was thinking of doing Halloween cupcakes or skulls to hand out to little visitors instead of lollies this year.
Any simple ideas?
i love love love this!! you’re my go-to-girl for halloween goodness
That is entirely awesome! The trouble you go to with the props is amazing! I love the first photo! I think I would have been hesitant to try the brain too, just because it looks so real!
oh goshhhhh, L….i eat real brain dishes…but the panna cotta really scared me…WELL DONE!
That’s awesome. Very creepy and very creative.
Can recommend Buppa’s pumpkin pie, and my daughter loved the mouse.
This year I will be a zombie. Thankfully, no costume required… just child-induced lack of sleep!!
Lucas will be Batman and we’re spending the day on Friday carving pumpkins, making bats and all sorts of Halloween things with friends. I need to make some cookie dough for ghoulish fingers!
Can’t wait to see all the pictures from your party… the pannacotta looks amazingly realistic! Are you going to do a body-cavity cake?
That looks amazing and gory – I have seen some severed finger cookies that interest me but probably wont make them this year
That is freaky! I shiver at the sight of it all!! haha very creative I must say ;p
My gosh, that’s really creepy, the brain..Congrats on making it looks so real not that I’ve seen a real brain out of a skull before..I have goosebumps just by looking at it.
You are so creative!!
And it’s great that more stores are getting into the Halloween spirit!
Amazing stuff!! wow wow wow!
I love halloween, and I was going to make zombie brains (fudge) but I couldn’t find the molds and it was too late to order them. Definitely next year!
I’m going as a vampire victim. Just have to work on the bruised and drained look.
OK..I think Halloween is my favorite holiday, yet I did nothing when it came to my blog. I feel such shame (BOO hoo on me..lol), especially seeing this post! lol LOVE the bloody brain pannacotta so much. It’s too late to get it together, but saved for next Halloween. Everything looks amazing!!
What a great idea! A panna cotta brain! Just the right texture! The rat is really cute, too.
haha I love you and all your posts!
I’m attempting to make your brain clot cupcakes!
Had the witchy fingers on halloween.
I dressed up as a zombie nurse.
Basically a nurses outfit & smeared fake blood allover myself
Great Halloween presentation. I love the brain!
Hi Carrie-Thanks and Happy Halloween to you too!
Hi Lisbeth-Haha you can buy them from most party shops. I bought mine from the Party People
Hi Blond Duck-Aww shucks thankyou! Oooh can I come over? *Drools…
Hi fat mum slim-Haha don’t be! It’s all delicious
Yes when they’re older I think they can get more into it. Indeed! 
Hi Rosa-Thankyou!
Hi grace-Haha thankyou!
It’s so realistic isn’t it!
Hi Liss-Haha believe me it tastes great! Aww how cool!
Me too, maybe next year! 
Hi Lauren-Haha indeed!
Hi Helen-Absolutely!
Thanks and Happy Hallowe’en! 
Hi Barbara-Haha cool! I hope sis likes it!
IS it strange that I didn’t have any trouble cutting it? 
Sorry I’m a bit late but how about spider web patterns like in my Okonomiyaki? Xxx
Hi Julia-Thankyou so mcuh! It sure does, even since last year!
Hi Cakelaw-Yes isn’t the mummy cupcake cool? Ahh cool! Haha yes I’m sure they will!
Hi Betty-Thankyou so much and Happy Hallowe’en!
Hi Trissa-Haha well this one is less brainy tasting
Hi Steph-Aw shucks thankyou!
Fair enough, it sure was a busy month!
Hi Fiona-Hehe nooo honestly it isn’t!
Haha how very fun!
Hi pigpigscorner-hehe thankyou!
Hi Vita-Isn’t it great!? Haha yes I was determined to have the brains
Sounds very zombie like doesn’t it! 
Hi Iron Chef Shellie-Aww thankyou Shellie!
Hi Katherine-Why thankyou! I’m so flattered that you think it’s realistic! Thanks
Hi Betty-Your cupcakes looked great!
Aww how cute!
Hi the airy fairy-Thanks so much Sinead! Haha I love the sound of that costume!
Happy Hallowe’en!
Hi Dzintra-Haha it needed the blood I think! Thankyou so much!
Hi Sean-Why thankyou!
Hi La Pastry Chef-Hehe I loved the rat! Oh yes I suppose put that way it isn’t anywhere near as cute!
Hi Ellie-Haha! Aww thankyou so much!
Hi Midge-Thankyou! Haha now wouldn’t that be perfect!?
Hi Esz- Thanks, I don’t know why I love it so much but I do!
Hi buggy-I’m so glad to see that you tried Buppa’s pumpkin pie!
Thankyou!
Hi June-Haha why thankyou! Wouldn’t it be great for a work party?
Thanks so much! 
Hi anna-Aww shucks thankyou! Brilliant stuff! Aww that sounds so cute! Will you put up a pic?
Hi Conor-THankyou! Haha defiitely cholesterol wise!
What did you end up going as? 
hi Kathy-Thanks!
Tasteful and not scary? That’s not Hallowe’en! 
Haha!
Hi Faith-Thankyou so much! Htat was so good that cookie!
Hi penny-I’m so glad people find it creepy!
It’s a good time to make ugly, scary things on purpose! 
Hi 5 Star Foodie-Thankyou!
Hi Anita-Haha really!
I promise it doesn’t taste like real brain 
Hi Karen-Yep sure do!
Thanks!
Hi Liv-Thankyou so much! Yeah it isn’t but I think it’s getting bigger!
Hi grace-Haha thankyou so much!
Hi RJ Flamingo-Haha yes that would be so cool!
Hi shaz-Haha why you would be more than welcome to! Ooh Blair Witch, how cool! Love it!
Hi Trishsa-I bought it from the Party people (probably too late now for you sorry!)
Your party looked great!
hi Angela-Haha yes boys would love it! Haha I’ll try!
xxx
Hi April Marie-Hehe I love it, a fellow ghoul. Nothing wrong with that!
Hi Matilda-Indeed, I always have to go the whole hog!
It’s originally an Irish celebration but yes it’s huge in the US. Thankyou and I hope you anniversary dinner went well? 
Hi Parita-Haha thankyou!
Hi sophia-Hehe don’t be scared!!
Oh no but you can when you’re grown up!
Hi Mei-Hehe thankyou, I love the fact that you guys think it looks realistic!
I bet they loved it! 
Hi Arwen-Haha thanks, yes that was the perfect plate!
Hi Alex-Oh that is such an amazing sounding outfit and matching too! :O
Hi Jay-Haha you could bring on to your anatomy lab!
Hi Theresa-Hehe you know the funny thing is that I didn’t even think of that!
I was too busy thinking how could I get those cake toppers!
Hi restaurantgroupie-Aww go on!
Hi Moya-Ooh that sounds lovely! :O I must give that a go one day!
Hi Shmii-Oh really? What a shame, it’d be a great place to have it!
Hi Amy-Haha good stuff!
Hi Ffichiban-Hehe zombies are funny?
Hi steph-Haha fantastic! Yes I think this may even look more brain like than jello!
Hi zurin-Thankyou so much!
Hi thecoffeesnob-Haha thankyou, you are too kind!
The rat was tasty!
Hi Jamie-Thankyou!
Hehe I suspect I’d come back with a whole suitcase of decorating goodies! 
Hi lisa-I bought it from a party shop although I’ve seen them at a few party different party shops. I hope you got one in the end
Hi nora-Haha I always love a Dexter reference
Happy Hallowe’en! 
Hi MrsDesperate-Haha thankyou hideous is good!
I might be too late for suggestions by now sorry! 
hi A Girl Called E-Aww shucks, thankyou so much!
Hi Rilsta-Thankyou so much and thanks for noticing!
Haha it wobbles too 
Hi mochachocolatarita-Haha thankyou!
Hi Divina-Thanks so much Divina!
Hi Reality Raver-Buppa’s is great isn’t it!
Hi Angela-Haha no way!
Oh that sounds so cute! Seriously! Now that sounds like it would take a few days to do! 
Hi Johanna-I’ve made those, they’re great and so creepy!
Hi Caz-Thankyou so mcuh!
Hi Olive-Thankyou! I think I’ve only seen them in labs and in movies!
Hi Brenda-Thankyou! Isn’t it great! More stuff to buy!
hi Emily-Thankyou so much!
Hi Seanna Lea-Ooh how cool do they sound! Next year
Haha how very cool and the bite marks!
Hi Lisa-Oh no don’t feel shame! It’s kind of in the busiest part f the year so it’s hard! Thankyou!
Hi Erin-Hehe thankyou so much!
Hi Lisette-Thanks so much! Ooh cool, how did they turn out? That sounds like a fabulous outfit!
Hi Tony-Thankyou very much!
If you don’t have leaf gelatin how much powdered gelatin would you use for this recipe?
thanks
4 Trackbacks/Pingbacks
[...] a link to Not Quite Nigella the foodie blog of Lorraine Elliott. She made an awesome, gross-looking Bloody Brain Pannacotta. I might be able to handle that! It’s great to see people who are as into Halloween as I am, [...]
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[...] Bloody Brain Pannacotta by Not Quite Nigella – I’m actually buying a brain jello mold on Amazon right now. I am torn, however, between buying a mold for 1 large, life-size brain versus a mold for 4 individual pannacotta-sized brains. Help! [...]
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