Skull Bones Spooky Spread (Printable View)

A festive creamy spread shaped like a skull with crunchy vegetable accents for colorful party appeal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Creamy Spread

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 2 tbsp sour cream
03 - 1 tsp garlic powder
04 - 1 tsp 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 medium bowl. Mix until smooth and uniform.
02 - Using a spatula, form the cream cheese mixture into an oval skull shape on a large serving platter and smooth the surface.
03 - Position celery sticks or breadsticks crossing underneath the bottom of the skull to mimic crossbones.
04 - Place halved black olives as eyes. Use small carrot pieces or olive slices for the nose. Arrange red bell pepper strips and carrot rounds to form the mouth and teeth.
05 - Adorn the skull with cucumber slices and additional vegetable pieces to enhance facial details and color.
06 - (Optional) Garnish with parsley or chives. Serve chilled alongside crackers or additional vegetable dippers.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's genuinely foolproof—even if your skull looks a little lopsided, it'll still get gasps and laughs from guests
  • No cooking required means you can prep it in twenty minutes flat while chatting with friends who stop by early
  • Kids go absolutely wild decorating their own versions, turning it into an edible art project
02 -
  • Soften your cream cheese completely before mixing—cold cream cheese will create lumps and make the whole thing frustrating. I learned this the hard way at my first attempt.
  • Build your skull on the platter you're serving from—moving it around risks the whole structure coming apart. The platter is your canvas from start to finish.
03 -
  • Mix your cream cheese spread the morning of, shape your skull an hour before guests arrive, and save vegetable cutting for the very last moment—this timing prevents any wilting and keeps everything picture-perfect
  • Use a warm, damp knife to smooth the cream cheese between each section—it makes the whole skull look polished and professional
Return