Mini Halloween Pizzas

What is your favorite thing about Halloween? Pumpkin carving, haunted houses, dressing up or all the candy? Do you love it all or is Halloween just not your thing (If so, I don’t know if we can be friends! Just kidding… well kind of.)?

Being big on traditions, as a child we celebrated EVERY holiday, but I will admit, some more than others. For us Halloween was celebrated way more than say, Valentine’s or St. Patrick’s Day, but not as much as Christmas. For Halloween, we covered the house in all sorts of orange and black décor, decorated Halloween sugar cookies, carved pumpkins and looked adorable in our costumes.

While I, of course, loved it all, dressing up was probably my favorite. The opportunity to wear makeup, put on an elaborate costume, and pretend to be someone else, even if just for a night, I think is every child’s dream!

As a child, I went from an adorable bunny, to a picture perfect ballerina, to rockin’ a homemade poodle skirt. My siblings and I even dressed up one year as the crew from Wizard of Oz (I was the scarecrow)! And while many believe dressing up is just child’s play, as an adult I have had fun transforming into a butterfly, flower and even Rosie the Riveter. I love that Halloween, in all it’s spooky and sometimes creepy glory, encourages creativity, imagination and fun!

I think that is why I get so excited about creating and concocting “Ghoulish Grub” every year! Halloween is the perfect excuse for kids young and old to think out side the box and play with their food!

Fun Halloween food doesn’t have to be loaded with candy and sugar. In fact, every year I try to come up with two or three spooky, savory eats to enjoy for dinner on Halloween night or as a snack while we carve pumpkins. These Mini Halloween Pizzas use pantry staples, like California Ripe Olives, cheese and English muffins, to create an easy Halloween meal the kids will love making! 

While I have provided a few fun examples, an owl, cat (or mouse, depending on who you ask), mummy and spider; these pizzas are really a fantastic way for kids to get in the kitchen, try new foods and use their imagination to have fun creating delicious food art. But don’t stop there! Due to their rich black color, crunchy texture and salty flavor, California Ripe Olives are an ideal ingredient for all those savory Halloween dishes. Use these pizzas as inspiration and make spider deviled eggs, open faced mummy quesadillas, or eyeball meatballs!

While I have the basic directions and ingredients listed below, this really a ‘no recipe required’ kind of meal. Just channel your inner child and don’t be afraid to have fun with your food!

What was your favorite Halloween costume?

Mini Halloween Pizzas
by Heather H. of Kitchen Concoctions: www.kitchen-concoctions.com
Printable Version
Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 8 minutes

Ingredients (as needed):
Pizza Sauce
English Muffins, halved
Mozzarella Cheese, grated
California Black Ripe Olives, whole or sliced
Mini Pepperoni

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line baking sheet with foil and set aside.

Using the back of a large spoon, spread desired amount of pizza sauce on top of one half of an English muffin. Top the sauce with cheese and desired toppings to create a festive and unique Halloween pizza. Suggestions: halved and sliced black olives for spiders, quartered black olives and sliced green bell peppers for Jack-o-lanterns, mini pepperoni and sliced black olives for cat faces. 

Place English muffin pizza on prepared baking sheet and bake in preheated 425 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and English muffin is crisp.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.