Skull Bones Spooky Spread (Printable Format)

A creamy base adorned with fresh veggies forms a spooky skull and crossbones centerpiece.

# What's Needed:

→ Creamy Spread

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

→ Skull Features & Decoration

06 - 1 small cucumber, sliced into rounds
07 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
08 - 2 large black olives, halved
09 - 1 small carrot, sliced into rounds and cut for teeth and nose
10 - 2 to 4 long celery sticks or breadsticks
11 - Fresh parsley or chives (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Combine cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl; blend until smooth.
02 - On a large platter, spread and mold the creamy mixture into an oval skull shape, smoothing the surface evenly.
03 - Position celery sticks or breadsticks crossing beneath the skull’s base to represent crossbones.
04 - Place black olive halves for eyes, arrange a carrot piece or olive slice for the nose, and form the mouth using red bell pepper strips and carrot rounds as teeth.
05 - Arrange cucumber slices and additional vegetables to complete facial details and enhance color.
06 - Sprinkle parsley or chives if desired, and serve chilled with crackers or vegetable dippers.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that requires zero cooking—just 20 minutes of fun shaping and arranging, leaving you stress-free while guests arrive
  • Kids actually eat their vegetables when they're part of a skull with a personality, and adults love the playful presentation at parties
  • Naturally gluten-free and vegetarian, so it works for nearly every dietary preference without extra fussing
02 -
  • If your cream cheese isn't soft enough, the spread will be impossible to shape and will look lumpy—patience with softening saves everything. Room temperature is non-negotiable.
  • The platter matters more than you'd think. A white or light-colored platter makes the dark olives and red peppers pop dramatically; the spread's creamy color becomes the canvas instead of disappearing into the background.
03 -
  • Brush the vegetables lightly with lemon juice if making this more than an hour ahead—it keeps them from browning and adds brightness to the flavors
  • The spread hardens slightly as it sits, which is your friend for maintaining the skull's shape. Don't fight it by over-stirring at the last minute
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