3 Spooky Halloween Party Snacks: Mummy Pizza Twists, Monster Guac Cups & Eyeball Caprese Bites

1. Mummy Pizza Twists

Makes: 12 twists
Estimated time: 30 minutes, plus any pastry-thawing time
Bake: Start checking at 14 minutes; usually 14–18 minutes at 400°F / 200°C

Ingredients

• 1 sheet thawed, ready-rolled puff pastry (about 9 oz / 250 g)
• 1/3 cup (80 mL) thick pizza sauce, with 1 teaspoon reserved for the eyes
• 3/4 cup (about 85 g) shredded low-moisture mozzarella
• 12 mini mozzarella balls, halved to make 24 small white eye disks
• 12 pitted black olives, thinly sliced to make at least 24 pupils
• 1 egg, beaten, for an optional golden egg wash
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, or as needed, for dusting the counter

Method

1. Heat the oven to 400°F / 200°C. Line a large baking sheet with parchment. Unfold the pastry on a lightly floured counter; keep it cold enough to handle.
2. Spread the pizza sauce over one half of the pastry, reserving about 1 teaspoon for decorating. Scatter the shredded mozzarella over the sauce. Fold the unfilled half over the filling and press the edges gently to seal.
3. Slice the folded pastry into 12 strips. Twist each strip once or twice, set it on the prepared sheet, and tuck in loose ends. Brush lightly with beaten egg if using.
4. Bake for 14–18 minutes, checking from 14 minutes onward, until the pastry is fully puffed and deeply golden. Cool for 3 minutes.
5. On the warm twists, use a tiny dab of reserved sauce to hold two mozzarella half-disks in place. Press a black-olive ring onto each white disk to make mummy eyes. Serve warm.

Party tip: These are nicest warm, but you can fill and twist them ahead, refrigerate them covered, and bake shortly before guests arrive.

2. Monster Guac Cups

Makes: 12 cucumber cups
Estimated time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 large English cucumber, cut into 12 thick rounds (about 3/4 inch / 2 cm)
• 2 ripe avocados
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt, or to taste
• 24 mini mozzarella pearls for monster eyes
• 12 pitted black olives, sliced into about 24 small pupil rings
• 1/4 red or orange bell pepper, cut into little triangles for horns and teeth

Method

1. Set the cucumber rounds cut-side up. Use a small spoon to scoop a shallow well in each round, without cutting through the bottom. Pat the wells dry.
2. Mash the avocados with lime juice and salt until thick but spoonable. Fill each cucumber cup with guacamole.
3. Press on mozzarella pearls and olive rings to make faces, using the 24 pearls across the whole batch. Give the monsters different expressions—some with one eye, others with two or three. Add little pepper triangles for horns or teeth.
4. Refrigerate until serving. For the brightest color and crunch, assemble close to party time.

Party tip: Prep the cucumber rounds and pepper pieces earlier, but mash the avocado near serving time. Cover exposed guacamole tightly to limit browning.

3. Eyeball Caprese Bites

Makes: 12 skewers
Estimated time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 12 cherry tomatoes, washed and dried
• 12 small fresh mozzarella balls, drained and patted dry
• 12 fresh basil leaves
• 6 pitted black olives, sliced into at least 12 pupil rings
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• A little salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 12 short, food-safe appetizer picks

Method

1. Thread one cherry tomato, one folded basil leaf, and one mozzarella ball onto each pick. Arrange the mozzarella at the top or front where the eye can be seen.
2. Gently press a black-olive ring against each mozzarella ball for a dark pupil. If needed, make a tiny shallow indentation in the cheese to help it stay in place.
3. Arrange on a platter and lightly drizzle with olive oil. Add a small pinch of salt and pepper just before serving. Refrigerate until needed.

Party tip: You can assemble these several hours in advance. Store them covered and cold; finish with oil and seasoning just before serving. Remove sharp picks before offering to very young children.

Put the whole Halloween snack tray together

Bake the mummy twists first. While they bake, make the cucumber monster cups and the caprese eyeballs, then refrigerate the chilled bites until serving. Place the warm pastry on one platter and the chilled bites on another. A little black or orange paper outside the serving dishes adds Halloween color without touching the food.

Keep guacamole, tomatoes and mozzarella refrigerated until serving. Do not leave perishable snacks at room temperature for more than two hours, or one hour if the temperature is above 90°F / 32°C.

Refrigerate at 40°F / 4°C or below and discard perishable snacks left out beyond those limits. Set out small batches and replenish from the refrigerator. Wash produce before cutting, use pasteurized dairy, and label milk, wheat and egg ingredients for guests. These decorated whole tomatoes, cheese balls, olives and picks need age-appropriate preparation and adult supervision for young children.

Food-safety reference

CDC: Preventing Food Poisoning — refrigeration and the two-hour/one-hour serving limits.