Description
A spooky-cute, no-cook Halloween appetizer with bold Italian flavors: creamy cheese, salty olives, roasted red pepper “veins,” and savory pepperoni or salami. Easy to assemble, kid-friendly, and perfect for a haunted charcuterie board or ghoulish party buffet.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup whipped cream cheese
- 24 small mozzarella balls (bocconcini or ciliegine)
- 1 roasted red pepper, sliced into thin strips
- 12 green olives with pimento, halved
- 24 slices pepperoni or turkey salami
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
- Black pepper, to taste
- Toothpicks, for assembling
Instructions
- Prep mozzarella: Pat mozzarella balls dry with paper towels so toppings adhere.
- Add “veins”: Drape 2–3 thin strands of roasted red pepper over each ball to resemble bloodshot veins.
- Make the pupil: Place a halved green olive (pimento side up) in the center of each ball.
- Anchor with cream cheese: Add a small dollop of whipped cream cheese under each mozzarella ball to help it stick.
- Assemble base: Lay a slice of pepperoni or salami on a serving tray, add a dab of cream cheese, then set the mozzarella “eyeball” on top. Secure with a toothpick if desired.
- Finish & serve: Sprinkle with chopped parsley and a pinch of black pepper. Keep chilled until serving.
Notes
- Presentation: Serve on a dark slate or black tray; scatter faux spiders, cobwebs, or plastic eyeballs around for drama.
- Variations: Vegetarian—use cucumber rounds or crackers instead of meat; Cheese swap—goat cheese or feta-stuffed mini peppers; Eyeball bites—nestle into hollowed cherry tomatoes.
- Make ahead: Assemble mozzarella + olive + red pepper up to 1 day in advance; chill airtight. Place on meat bases just before serving.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers up to 2 days. Do not freeze (mozzarella/cream cheese texture degrades).
- Common mistakes: Wet mozzarella (pat dry), skipping cream-cheese “adhesive,” overloading toppings, not chilling before serving.
- Allergy-friendly: Can be adapted gluten-free (use GF crackers) or vegetarian (skip meat base).
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Halloween antipasto eyeballs, Halloween appetizers, spooky party food, antipasto skewers, mozzarella olive eyeballs, roasted red pepper veins, kid-friendly Halloween snacks, creepy appetizers