Skull & Bones Spooky Spread (Printable)

A creamy, festive spread shaped like a skull, adorned with fresh veggies for a fun party treat.

# Ingredient List:

→ Creamy Spread

01 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
02 - 2 tablespoons sour cream
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
05 - Salt, to taste
06 - Black pepper, to taste

→ Skull Features & Decoration

07 - 1 small cucumber, sliced into rounds
08 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
09 - 2 large black olives, halved
10 - 1 small carrot, sliced into rounds and cut for teeth and nose
11 - 2 to 4 long celery sticks or breadsticks
12 - Fresh parsley or chives, optional for garnish

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth and homogenous.
02 - Transfer the mixture onto a large serving platter and mold it into an oval skull shape using a spatula, smoothing the surface evenly.
03 - Position celery sticks or breadsticks crossing beneath the bottom of the skull to resemble crossbones.
04 - Place black olive halves to form eyes, use a carrot piece or olive slice for the nose, and arrange red bell pepper strips with carrot rounds to shape the mouth and teeth.
05 - Adorn the skull with cucumber slices and additional vegetable pieces to enhance facial features and add color.
06 - Optionally garnish with parsley or chives. Serve chilled alongside crackers or vegetable dippers.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks absolutely spectacular without requiring any special skills—just a spatula and confidence
  • It's naturally vegetarian, gluten-free adaptable, and honestly better for you than most Halloween spreads you'll find
  • The creamy garlic-laced base paired with fresh vegetables stays refreshing even as the party stretches on
  • You can assemble it in the time it takes to brew a pot of coffee, which means less stress and more mingling
02 -
  • Make sure your cream cheese is truly softened before you start, or you'll be fighting lumps the entire time. Cold cream cheese and quick mixing creates texture problems that no amount of stirring will fix.
  • The vegetables soften slightly as they sit in the spread, so if you're making this more than thirty minutes before serving, add them closer to party time. The texture contrast is part of what makes this work.
  • Taste your spread before you decorate. The garlic powder amount matters—sometimes you want to add more, sometimes less. This prevents any bland surprises.
03 -
  • Use a warm, damp spatula when shaping the skull—it makes the spread cooperate instead of stick to your tool
  • Arrange your vegetables on a separate plate first and check your color balance before placing them on the spread, so you don't regret placements halfway through
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