Looking for a fun, budget-friendly autumn craft? Learn how to make shrunken apple heads, a classic project that’s just a bit spooky! This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to carve, preserve, and dry apples to create unique, wrinkled faces that last for years. Whether you want to use them to make a shrunken apple head wreath or vintage-style apple dolls, this easy guide covers everything you need to get started.
As the seasons start to shift, my mind goes to all things cozy, creative, and a little bit spooky. Today, I’m excited to share a classic, nostalgic project that is fun to make and uniquely eerie… Shrunken Apple Heads.
It's a nostalgic folk art project that many of us remember making as kids. It’s a teacher favorite for a reason… it requires only simple ingredients you already have in your pantry.
If you're new to making shrunken heads, you are going to love watching them dry. They shrivel and wrinkle into creepy, expressive little characters that are perfect for my favorite seasonal project: my Adorable Shrunken Apple Head Wreath!
Grab some apples, and let's get crafting.
The Supply List
Before we start carving, make sure you have these supplies:
- Apples (Any variety of apple will do!)
- 2 cups of bottled lemon juice + 2 tablespoons of table salt (Our magic preservation combo)
- A deep glass bowl (To hold your lemon juice mixture)
- A vegetable peeler
- Carving tools (Anything you want to use to carve the apples; think small paring knife, small spoons, wooden skewer, toothpick, pumpkin carving tools, etc.)
- A baking sheet with an elevated rack (I use a cookie sheet topped with a standard wire cookie cooling rack)
- Oven or dehydrator
- Parchment paper (Optional, but recommended for easy cleanup!)
- Spices for decorating (Whole allspice, cloves, or star anise), optional
Step-by-Step: How to Shrink Apples
1. Prep and Peel
Mix 2 cups of lemon juice with 2 tablespoons of table salt in the glass bowl, then set aside. Take your cookie sheet and line it with parchment paper (you'll thank yourself when it’s time to clean up). Place your elevated wire rack right on top of the sheet.
Next, grab your vegetable peeler and peel your apples.
Pro-tip: Leave a minimal amount of skin at the very top (by the stem) and at the very bottom. It gives them a neat, finished look and helps them dry faster!
2. Carve the Faces
This is where the magic happens! Use your carving tools to make eye sockets, a mouth, a nose, or even some deep cheek lines in the apple flesh. The sky is the limit! Don’t worry about making them look perfect or overly detailed-the shrinking process will distort the features. Big, deep cuts often make the best expressions!
Pro-tip: If you mess up an apple, turn it around to the other side and make a new face!
3. The Preservation Soak
Submerge each apple, as it is carved, in the lemon mixture and let it soak for 10 to 40 minutes. Give them a turn occasionally so every nook and cranny gets exposed. This keeps them from browning unevenly and helps preserve the final product.
4. Set the Oven Rack
Move your oven rack to the middle of the oven and turn the oven to 175°-200°F (80°-93°C). You can use the convection setting if your oven has it, or use a dehydrator in place of the oven. (Follow the manufacturer’s instructions if using a dehydrator.)
Pro-tip: Don’t crank the oven up! You won’t speed up the drying process. You’ll end up with apple mush or burnt heads. Low and slow is key!
5. Bake to Perfection
Arrange your soaked apples on the rack (you can remove them as you work to make room for newly carved apple heads in the soaking solution). Make sure to leave plenty of space between each apple for proper airflow. Pop them in the oven and check on them every 2 hours. You’re waiting until they reach your desired state of shrunken, wrinkled goodness. They should be light brown and leathery, not hard or black.
There is no exact time for this step; the total baking time depends entirely on the size of your apples and the amount of water they contain.
Pro-tip: Expect the oven process to take about 8 to 11 hours to reach a nice light brown color. Leave your apples on the countertop overnight to rest. If they still feel damp the next morning, simply toss them back in the oven for a few more hours. (I take my drying apple in an out of the oven since I don’t like to leave it one overnight.)
6. The Final Air-Dry
Once they look perfectly creepy, take them out and let them cool completely. Now comes the patience part: leave them on your countertop for several days so they can continue drying and hardening.
Pro-tip: If you’d like to add spice decorations for eyeballs, teeth or other features this is the time. Try adding whole allspice berries, whole cloves, whole peppercorns, or star anise. Wedge the dried spices in tightly into nooks in the apples, and they’ll stay stuck as the apples continue to dry and shrink. Use a toothpick to make small holes for the cloves if necessary.
Decorating and Storing Your Masterpieces
Once the apple heads are out of the oven, it's time to give them some personality! Grab your whole spices to add those perfect finishing touches:
- Press cloves or allspice in the sockets for spooky eyes.
- Break apart star anise or use cloves to create jagged “teeth.”
A Quick Storage Tip: If you aren’t using them right away, store your finished apple heads in a loosely closed paper bag or a cardboard box. They need airflow! If you seal them in an airtight plastic bag or container, trapped moisture can cause them to mold, and nobody wants a fuzzy apple head.
Once your little characters are finished, they are ready to be turned into an adorable shrunken apple head wreath to greet your guests at the door.
How long do shrunken apple heads last?
Properly preserved shrunken apple heads can last for years. Because the salt, lemon juice, and drying process make the apples leathery, they resist decay as long as they are kept away from moisture. To maximize their shelf life, store them in a cool, dry place in a breathable container like a paper bag or cardboard box-never in airtight plastic, which traps moisture and can cause mold. Keep away from pests!
How do you make shrunken apple heads in the air fryer?
To shrink apple heads in an air fryer, line the basket with parchment paper and arrange your soaked apples in a single layer, leaving space for airflow. Set your air fryer to its lowest temperature-ideally 180°F to 200°F-and dry them for 1 to 2 hours. Check and turn them every 20 to 30 minutes to ensure they dry evenly without burning. Once they look wrinkled and leathery, let them cool and finish hardening on the countertop for several days.
Are shrunken apple heads edible?
Yes, they are *technically* edible… but they probably won’t taste very good! Use them as a drink garnish or in Halloween punch instead of snacking on them.
More Natural Crafts for Autumn
If you loved making these wrinkled little gems, don't stop crafting! Autumn is the absolute best time to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside. Here are a few more budget-friendly, natural crafts you can make using simple, everyday materials:
How to Dry Rose Petals - Save summer blooms and preserve them for bath salts, potpourri, or crafts.
Fall Leaves Front Door Wreath for $0 - Gather autumn leaves to create a gorgeous, welcoming wreath without spending a penny.
How to Make a Pine Cone Garland - Upcycle backyard finds into a beautiful garland for your mantel or porch.
Have you ever made shrunken apple heads before? What was the end result? Let me know in the comments below!
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