Description
Celebrate Halloween with this fun and spooky Halloween Mac and Cheese recipe featuring vibrant orange and black colored cheese sauces. Perfect for a festive main course, this dish combines creamy sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses with elbow macaroni, enhanced by playful garnishes like edible candy eyes or sliced olives.
Ingredients
Scale
Mac and Cheese
- 12 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Orange and black food coloring (gel preferred)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Toppings and Garnishes
- 1/2 cup crushed cheese crackers or black sesame seeds (optional)
- Edible candy eyes or sliced olives for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni according to the package directions. Drain well and set aside.
- Make the roux: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes until the mixture is slightly golden, which helps develop a nutty flavor.
- Add milk and thicken sauce: Slowly whisk in the whole milk, stirring continuously until the sauce thickens, about 4–5 minutes. Lower the heat to avoid scorching.
- Incorporate cheeses and seasonings: Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses until melted and smooth. Season the cheese sauce with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to taste.
- Divide and color cheese sauce: Divide the cheese sauce evenly into two bowls. Add orange food coloring to one bowl and black food coloring to the other, mixing thoroughly until the colors are fully incorporated.
- Combine pasta and cheese sauces: Divide the cooked macaroni evenly between the two colored cheese sauces, stirring each gently to coat the pasta evenly.
- Assemble the dish: Spoon the orange and black macaroni alternately into serving bowls or layer them in a baking dish to create a spooky swirl effect.
- Add toppings and garnish: Sprinkle the top with grated Parmesan cheese and the optional crushed cheese crackers or black sesame seeds for added texture. Decorate with edible candy eyes or sliced olives for a playful Halloween touch.
- Serve warm: Serve immediately while warm and enjoy the festive flavors and colors.
Notes
- For natural food coloring alternatives, use carrot or beet powder for orange and activated charcoal or squid ink for black.
- This dish can be baked at 375°F (190°C) for 10–15 minutes to develop a crispy top layer.
- Use gel food coloring for more vibrant hues and less impact on sauce consistency.
- To make it gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free pasta.
