7 Cute Japanese Halloween Recipes For Spooky Sushi Fun

Are you ready to swap the endless piles of sugar-filled candy for something truly memorable this Halloween? It’s easy to get stuck in a rut of store-bought sweets, but what if you could create treats that are not only delicious but also double as the cutest, spookiest decorations for your party table? Imagine your kids’ and friends’ faces lighting up when they see a platter of adorable ghost rice balls and pumpkin-faced sushi.

As a long-time fan of both Halloween and Japanese bento art, I’ve spent years perfecting these simple, kid-friendly recipes that always steal the show at our Halloween parties. We’re moving beyond the expected and diving into a world of creative, savory, and downright adorable snacks that are as fun to make as they are to eat. Forget the sugar crash; this year is all about spooky, savory fun.

Japanese Halloween recipes offer a fun, savory, and creative alternative to traditional sweets. Using simple ingredients like sushi rice, nori, and smoked salmon, you can create adorable characters like Jack-o’-lantern sushi balls, ghost onigiri, and spooky monsters perfect for any party.

☰ Table of Contents ▼ show

What is Temari Sushi (And Why is it Perfect for Halloween)?

Temari sushi, or “sushi balls,” are small, spherical sushi made by shaping rice and toppings in plastic wrap. They are perfect for Halloween because they are easy for beginners to make, highly customizable, and their round shape provides an ideal base for creating spooky characters like pumpkins and ghosts.

Originating from the colorful, embroidered “Temari” handballs of Japan, this style of sushi is all about fun and visual appeal. For anyone intimidated by traditional sushi rolling, the plastic wrap method is a complete game-changer. Here’s why it’s your secret weapon for Halloween:

Beginner-Friendly: There’s absolutely no rolling mat or special skill required. If you can twist a piece of plastic wrap, you can make Temari sushi.
Perfectly Portioned: Their bite-sized nature makes them ideal for parties, allowing guests to sample a variety of spooky creations.
A Creative Canvas: The simple ball shape is the perfect foundation. You can easily transform it into a pumpkin, a ghost, a black cat, or any monster you can imagine!

7 Cute Japanese Halloween Recipes For Spooky Fun (2025 Update)

Ready to bring some spooktacular fun to your kitchen? We’ve tested each of these recipes to ensure they’re not only adorable but also delicious and achievable, even if you’re new to Japanese cooking. This list offers a variety of cute and spooky ideas, from classic sushi balls to savory bites and even a sweet treat, making them perfect for your next Halloween cooking project with the family.

Our top Japanese Halloween recipes include: 1. Jack-o’-Lantern Temari Sushi, 2. Spooky Ghost Onigiri, 3. Black Cat Sushi Balls, 4. Frankenstein’s Monster Avocado Sushi, 5. Mummy Sausage Bites, 6. Monster Eye Rolled Omelette, and 7. Three-Colored Halloween Dango.

1. Classic Jack-o’-Lantern Temari Sushi

Pin this spooky-cute sushi idea for your Halloween party!

Ingredients:

2 cups prepared sushi rice, cooled
1/4 lb thinly sliced smoked salmon
1 sheet of nori (seaweed)
Soy sauce, for serving

Instructions:

Lay a piece of plastic wrap on your counter. Place one slice of smoked salmon in the center.
Scoop about 2 tablespoons of sushi rice on top of the salmon.
Gather the plastic wrap and twist it tightly to form the rice and salmon into a compact ball.
Unwrap and place the sushi ball on a plate. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
To make the faces, use a pair of clean, sharp kitchen scissors or a specialized nori punch cutter to cut small triangles and crescent shapes from the nori sheet.
Gently place the nori shapes onto the salmon to create Jack-o’-lantern faces. Serve with soy sauce.

Pro-Tip: If your nori pieces aren’t sticking, dab a tiny amount of water on the back with your fingertip to act as a glue.

2. Spooky Ghost Onigiri (Rice Balls)

Save this easy Onigiri idea for a fun kids’ lunch!

Ingredients:

2 cups prepared sushi rice, cooled
1 sheet of nori
Optional filling: canned tuna mixed with mayonnaise, salted salmon flakes.
Salt

Instructions:

Wet your hands with water and sprinkle with a little salt to prevent the rice from sticking.
Take about 1/3 cup of rice into your palm. If using a filling, make an indent in the center, add a teaspoon of filling, and cover with more rice.
Shape the rice into a slightly tapered, rounded triangular or ghost-like shape. Using a handy onigiri mold press makes getting a consistent shape super easy.
Cut out small ovals or circles from the nori sheet for the eyes and mouth.
Carefully press the nori pieces onto your rice balls to create ghostly faces.

Pro-Tip: Keep a small bowl of water nearby to constantly wet your hands. This is the secret to perfectly smooth, non-sticky onigiri every time.

3. Adorable Black Cat Sushi Balls

Share this cute black cat recipe with a fellow cat lover!

Ingredients:

2 cups prepared sushi rice, cooled
2-3 sheets of nori
1 slice of white cheese (provolone or mozzarella)
Black sesame seeds
Kewpie mayonnaise in a piping bottle or small plastic bag with the corner snipped

Instructions:

Shape about 2 tablespoons of rice into a tight ball using your hands or plastic wrap.
Cut a sheet of nori into a strip wide enough to wrap around the rice ball. You may need to trim it to size.
Gently wrap the nori around the rice ball, using a dab of water to seal the edge.
Cut two small triangles from a nori scrap for the ears and place them on top of the cat’s head.
Use a small round punch or the end of a piping tip to cut two small circles from the cheese slice for the eyes. Place them on the cat’s face.
Place a single black sesame seed on each cheese circle for the pupils.
Carefully pipe thin whiskers onto the cat’s face using Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise for its distinct flavor and creamy texture.

Lesson Learned: Cut your nori strips slightly larger than you think you need. It’s easier to trim excess than to try and patch a gap.

4. Frankenstein’s Monster Avocado Sushi

Pin this monstrously good avocado recipe!

Ingredients:

2 cups prepared sushi rice, cooled
1 ripe avocado
1 sheet of nori
A few drops of lemon juice

Instructions:

Press sushi rice into a small rectangular pan or container lined with plastic wrap to form a block. Chill for 10 minutes to firm up, then slice into small rectangles.
Mash the avocado with a few drops of lemon juice to prevent browning.
Spread a thin, smooth layer of mashed avocado over the top of each rice rectangle.
Cut a strip of nori and fringe one edge to create jagged “hair.” Place it at the top of the avocado.
Cut tiny nori pieces for eyes and a stitched mouth. Arrange them on the avocado face. Using a pair of fine-tipped food tweezers can make placing these small details much easier.
Serve immediately to enjoy the fresh avocado.

Pro-Tip: To get clean slices from your block of rice, wipe your knife with a damp cloth between each cut. This prevents the rice from sticking and tearing.

5. Savory Mummy Sausage Bites

Save this super easy savory Halloween snack idea!

Materials Needed:

1 package of Japanese-style cocktail wieners or regular cocktail sausages
1 sheet of refrigerated pie crust or puff pastry, thawed
Black sesame seeds or edible eye candies
Ketchup or mustard for dipping

Step-by-Step Directions:

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Unroll the dough sheet. Use a pizza cutter or knife to cut the dough into very thin strips, like spaghetti.
Take one sausage and wrap a few strips of dough around it, leaving a small gap near one end for the “face.” The wrapping should look messy, like mummy bandages.
Place the wrapped sausages on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and cooked through.
Let them cool slightly, then use a toothpick to place two black sesame seeds in the gap for eyes. Sticking them in with cute bento food picks adds an extra touch of Japanese flair for serving.

Lesson Learned: Don’t wrap the dough too tightly! The dough will puff up as it bakes, so a loose wrap gives the best “mummy” effect.

6. Monster Eye Tamagoyaki (Japanese Rolled Omelette)

Pin this unique and healthy Halloween breakfast idea!

Ingredients:

4 large eggs
1 cup fresh spinach, finely chopped or pureed
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp mirin
1 tsp sugar
1 slice of Japanese fish cake (kamaboko)
1 pitted black olive
Oil for cooking

Instructions:

In a bowl, whisk the eggs, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar. Stir in the pureed spinach until the mixture is an even green color.
Cut a small, round piece from the fish cake. Use a straw to punch a hole in the center, and insert a small piece of black olive to create an “eyeball.”
Heat a rectangular tamagoyaki pan over medium heat and lightly oil it.
Pour a thin layer of the egg mixture into the pan. When it’s almost set, place your fish cake “eyeball” at one end.
Carefully roll the omelette from the eyeball end toward the other end.
Push the rolled omelette back to the start. Oil the pan again and pour in another layer of egg, making sure it flows underneath the first roll.
When the new layer is almost set, roll it up again. Repeat until all the egg mixture is used.
Remove the omelette from the pan, let it cool for a few minutes, then slice it to reveal the monster eye in each piece.

Pro-Tip: Using the proper rectangular pan is key to getting the classic tamagoyaki shape and making the rolling process much easier.

7. Spooky Three-Colored Halloween Dango

Save this Japanese Halloween dessert recipe for a sweet treat!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shiratamako (sweet rice flour)
1/2 cup joshinko (regular rice flour)
1/2 cup hot water (approx.)
2 tbsp pumpkin puree
1 tsp purple sweet potato powder
1/2 tsp food-grade activated charcoal powder
Sugar to taste

Instructions:

In a large bowl, mix the two types of rice flour. The key ingredient for that perfect chewy texture is a high-quality mochiko or shiratamako sweet rice flour.
Slowly add hot water and knead until a smooth dough forms (the consistency of an earlobe).
Divide the dough into three equal portions.
Knead the pumpkin puree into one portion for orange, the purple sweet potato powder into another for purple, and the activated charcoal into the last for black.
Roll each colored dough into small, bite-sized balls.
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Carefully drop the dango balls in.
Cook until they float to the surface, then let them cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked dango to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
Once cooled, thread one of each color onto small bamboo skewers.

Pro-Tip: The amount of water needed can vary. Add it slowly until the dough just comes together. If it’s too sticky, add a bit more flour; if too dry, a few more drops of water.

Key Takeaways: Your Quick Guide to Japanese Halloween Treats

Feeling inspired? Here’s a quick recap to help you get started on your spooky culinary creations.

Embrace the Ball: Temari sushi (sushi balls) are your best friend. They’re easy to form with plastic wrap and are the perfect canvas for spooky faces.
Master Sushi Rice: The foundation of great sushi or onigiri is well-seasoned, perfectly cooked sushi rice. Don’t skip the seasoning step with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt.
Nori is Your Artist’s Pen: A single sheet of nori seaweed is all you need to create eyes, mouths, hair, and stitches for all your spooky characters.
Think Beyond Sushi: Don’t be afraid to theme other Japanese favorites! Onigiri, sausages, and even dango can all get a fun and spooky Halloween makeover.

Final Thoughts

This Halloween, step away from the candy bowl and into the kitchen for a creative culinary adventure. These Japanese-inspired recipes are more than just food; they’re a fun activity, a conversation starter, and a way to make this year’s celebration truly memorable. They prove that Halloween treats can be cute, savory, and spooktacular all at once.

Which of these cute and spooky recipes are you most excited to try first? Let us know in the comments below

Last update on 2025-11-27 at 08:49 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

7 Cute Japanese Halloween Recipes For Spooky Sushi Fun

What is Temari Sushi (And Why is it Perfect for Halloween)?