Skull & Bones Spooky Spread (Printable)

A spooky cheese spread with fresh vegetables shaped into a skull and crossbones for festive fun.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Mix until smooth and homogenous.
02 - Transfer the creamy mixture onto a large serving platter and mold into an oval shape to resemble a skull, smoothing out the surface.
03 - Position celery sticks or breadsticks crossed beneath the base of the skull shape to create the crossbones.
04 - Place halved black olives as eyes. Use a small piece of carrot or olive slice for the nose. Form the mouth with red bell pepper strips and carrot rounds to mimic teeth.
05 - Decorate the skull with cucumber slices and additional vegetable pieces for details and vibrant color.
06 - Optionally garnish with fresh parsley or chives. Chill and serve with crackers or vegetable dippers on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks absolutely showstopping but takes just 20 minutes with zero cooking involved—perfect for when you want to look like you tried without the stress
  • Kids and adults both get genuinely excited about eating something that looks like a friendly (okay, spooky) skull, making it the ultimate conversation starter
  • The creamy, garlicky spread paired with fresh, crunchy vegetables hits all the satisfying textures, and you can eat it with your hands straight off the platter
  • Naturally vegetarian and easily gluten-free, so you're not leaving anyone out of the fun
02 -
  • Room-temperature cream cheese is absolutely essential—if yours is cold from the fridge, let it sit on the counter for 15 minutes. Trying to mix cold cream cheese is like trying to spread frozen butter on warm bread.
  • Don't assemble this more than 2 hours ahead of serving, or the vegetables will start to weep liquid and everything gets soggy and sad. The magic lives in the crunch.
03 -
  • Use a piping bag if you want a more defined skull shape, but honestly, rustic and imperfect looks more authentic and charmingly homemade
  • Chill your serving platter for 10 minutes before assembling so the spread firms up slightly and holds its shape better, especially if your kitchen is warm
Go Back