Breadstick Spider Dip for Halloween
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What’s up, Hungry People?
Halloween is lurking just around the corner, and it’s time to get wickedly creative in the kitchen. Forget about those store-bought party snacks—this year, we’re bringing the creep factor to the appetizer table like never before.
Introducing the Halloween spider dip! Imagine breadstick legs so garlicky they could ward off a vampire, and a body so filled with pizza sauce and cheese that even Frankenstein would trade his brain. Get ready to assemble a spider so scrumptious, it might just crawl its way to the top of your favorite Halloween recipes.
This isn’t just any ordinary snack; we’re talking about a full-bodied spider made from bread sticks for legs, a hollowed-out bread bowl torso filled with pizza sauce, and cheese balls for its eerie eyes.
Here’s What You Need
- Sourdough Bread: Serves as the body of the spider and a vessel for the pizza sauce and melted cheese.
- Breadstick Dough: Transformed into the spider’s legs, offering a crunchy contrast to the gooey center.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Used for the cheesy spider body and eyes; it melts well and has a mild flavor.
- Provolone Cheese: Lines the bread bowl, adding an extra layer of flavor and preventing sogginess.
- Butter: Melted and mixed with garlic powder to brush onto the breadstick legs for extra flavor.
- Garlic Powder: Infuses the breadstick legs with a kick of garlicky goodness.
- Pizza Sauce: Fills the bread bowl, acting as both a tasty dip and the spider’s “blood.”
- Pepperoni Slices: Adds a face to your spider, providing a bit of spice and visual appeal.
- Mini Mozzarella Balls: Serve as the spider’s eyes, making the dish both cute and a bit creepy.
- Jalapeño Slices: Enhance the spider’s eyes, adding a pop of color and a spicy kick.
- Cooking Spray: Helps to ensure the breadstick legs don’t stick to the mason jars.
- Toothpicks: Used to assemble the face of the spider, securing the pepperoni and mozzarella balls.
Let’s Cook!
Anatomy of the Spider
Let’s break down our eight-legged friend for a sec, shall we? You’ve got bread stick legs that are not just plain Jane. Oh, no. We brush those bad boys with garlic butter for that extra oomph of flavor. To make ’em stand, drape the bread sticks over mason jars covered with foil. If you don’t have mason jars at hand, don’t sweat it. Balled-up foil or an upside-down bread tin will do the trick.
Keeping it Cheesy, Yet Not Soggy
Here’s what you need to prevent that dreaded sogginess—provolone cheese or any other cheese that tickles your fancy. Line the inside of the bread bowl with it. But wait, there’s more! I also slap an extra layer of mozzarella cheese around the sides of the bowl. Why? Because once the legs are devoured—and trust me, they will be—you can slice up the cheesy body and serve it to your peckish guests.
The Grand Dip
Alright, we’ve reached the moment of truth. Dip those garlic-buttered legs into the bread bowl body filled to the brim with pizza sauce, which we’re affectionately calling ‘spider blood’ for the day. Then, rip those cheese ball eyes off one by one. It’s as satisfying as popping bubble wrap, but way tastier.
Spider Dip Tips and Troubleshooting
- Customizing Your Spider: Don’t like jalapeños or pepperoni? Swap them out for veggies or other meat options. Just make sure they have a strong enough flavor to stand out.
- Preventing Soggy Bread: Make sure to line your bread bowl thoroughly with provolone or another cheese to prevent sogginess. The cheese acts as a barrier between the bread and the pizza sauce.
- Storing Leftovers: If by some Halloween miracle you have leftovers, store the components separately. Reheat the bread and sauce in the oven to bring them back to life.
- Oven Watch: Keep an eye on the breadstick legs while they’re in the oven. They can go from perfectly golden to overdone pretty quickly.
- Sauce Volume: If you find the sauce level dropping too low, especially after the legs have been dipped a few times, feel free to replenish it. Just pop the whole spider back in the oven to keep everything warm and melty.
- Non-Stick Strategy: If you don’t have cooking spray, you can also use a bit of vegetable oil or even butter to grease the mason jars or foil. Just make sure to spread it evenly for the best non-stick results.
Feeling festive yet? Because with this halloween spider dip, your Halloween bash is going to level up from basic to “Why isn’t this a Food Network special yet?” status. Come on, Hungry People, your guests won’t just be creeped out—they’ll be ripping legs off and gouging out eyes. And by that, I mean breadstick legs and cheesy mozzarella eyes, of course. Let’s keep it appetizing, shall we?
This eerie culinary masterpiece is not just eye-catching; it’s also a symphony of flavors, from the garlic-infused legs to the melty cheese core.
Don’t be scared to dig in; it’s all treats, no tricks. Enjoy!
Halloween SPIDER DIP Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 round loaf sourdough bread
- 1 can breadstick dough or sheet dough cut into strips
- 10 slices mozzarella cheese
- 3 slices provolone cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 cup pizza sauce + more as needed
- 8 pepperonis
- 8 mini mozzarella balls
- 8 jalapeno slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Unroll the breadstick dough and separate it into eight evenly sized sticks. Wrap mason jars in foil and grease them with cooking spray. Lay the strips of dough over the mason jars, creating a small 'foot' at the bottom of each 'leg.'
- Melt the butter and whisk in the garlic powder. Brush the garlic butter onto the bread sticks and bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
- While the legs are cooking, cut a circle into the top of the sourdough loaf and remove the center. About one inch down from the first cut, make another cut about one inch deep all around the first cut, leaving a space for the face.
- Press mozzarella slices into the cuts around the hole in the center, and line the hole with provolone cheese. Bake until the provolone and mozzarella have melted.
- Use toothpicks to secure the pepperoni slices onto the face of the spider. Leave the toothpicks sticking out far enough to add the mini mozzarella balls and jalapeño slices. Pour the pizza sauce into the hole in the center of the loaf, and bake until the mozzarella begins to melt, creating a 'weepy-eyed' look.
- Remove the cooked breadstick legs from the mason jars. Place one end of each breadstick into the pizza sauce. Serve as the centerpiece at your next Halloween party. Enjoy and Happy Halloween!