Description
Celebrate Halloween with these fun and festive Cheesy Halloween Breadstick Bones paired with a Spooky Marinara Dip. Crafted from soft pizza dough shaped like eerie bones, brushed with garlic butter, topped with melted mozzarella, and baked to golden perfection, these breadsticks make a perfect party snack. The vibrant marinara dip, optionally tinted with red food coloring and adorned with olives or capers, adds a spooky yet delicious complement.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Breadstick Bones
- 1 lb pizza dough
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For the Spooky Marinara Dip
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- Optional: red food coloring for a spooky look
- Optional: black olives or capers for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Roll Dough: On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to about 1/4 inch thickness to create an even base for the breadsticks.
- Slice Dough Strips: Cut the dough into 6-8 inch long strips approximately 1 inch wide, forming the main ‘bone’ shapes.
- Create Bone Ends: On each strip, cut small slits about 1 inch from the edges and fan them out to resemble bone ends for a spooky effect.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the prepared dough strips evenly on the lined baking sheet for baking.
- Prepare Butter Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter with garlic powder, dried oregano, and salt to create a flavorful brush for the dough.
- Brush Dough: Generously brush each dough strip with the seasoned butter mixture to infuse flavor and promote browning.
- Add Cheese: Evenly sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over each strip to create a cheesy topping that melts beautifully.
- Bake Breadsticks: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until the breadsticks turn golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Heat Marinara: While the breadsticks bake, warm the marinara sauce in a saucepan over medium heat to prepare the dipping sauce.
- Add Food Coloring: Optionally, stir in a few drops of red food coloring to the marinara sauce for a blood-like, spooky appearance.
- Prepare Dip Presentation: Pour the warm spooky marinara sauce into a serving bowl and top with black olives or capers if desired for decoration.
- Finish Breadsticks: Once baked, remove the breadsticks from the oven and sprinkle them with grated Parmesan cheese while still warm to add extra flavor.
- Serve: Serve the cheesy Halloween breadstick bones alongside the spooky marinara dip for a fun and festive treat.
Notes
- Ensure dough is rolled evenly for consistent baking.
- Adjust oven time if your breadsticks are thinner or thicker than described.
- Omit cheese or use a vegan alternative to adapt for dietary preferences.
- Use fresh herbs instead of dried for a different flavor profile.
- The red food coloring is optional, but adds a striking visual for Halloween presentations.
- Black olives or capers add a fun decorative touch and a briny contrast to the sweet marinara.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the oven to retain crispness.
