Description
This fun and festive Cheesy Halloween Pizza Skulls recipe features mini pizza pockets shaped like skulls, filled with gooey mozzarella, tangy pizza sauce, and a variety of optional savory fillings. Perfect for Halloween parties or spooky-themed meals, these handheld delights bake up golden and crispy, served with marinara sauce for dipping and garnished with fresh herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Dough and Sauce
- 13 to 16 ounces pre-made pizza dough (boxed or fresh)
- 3/4 to 1 cup pizza sauce
Cheeses
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (optional)
Optional Fillings
- 8 oz cooked sausage
- 6 oz mini pepperoni
- Sliced black olives
- Chopped ham
- Crumbled crispy bacon
- Mini Italian meatballs
- Cooked corn kernels
- Baby spinach
- Fresh basil
To Serve
- Marinara sauce for dipping
- Chopped parsley or basil for garnish
Other
- Non-stick cooking spray for pan
- Flour for dusting work surface
Instructions
- Prep the Baking Pan: Spray the mini skull baking pan thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray to prevent the dough from sticking during baking.
- Prepare the Dough: Lightly dust your work surface with flour. Roll, pat, or stretch the pizza dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut the dough into 6 equal rectangles sized to fit the cavities of your skull baking pan.
- Assemble the Skulls: Press each dough rectangle gently into a skull-shaped cavity of the prepared baking pan. Spoon pizza sauce into the center, add shredded mozzarella cheese, sprinkle with Parmesan if using, and add desired optional fillings like sausage, pepperoni, or veggies. Top with a small spoonful of sauce on each filled cavity.
- Seal the Skulls: Fold the dough over the filling to cover it completely, then pinch the edges firmly to seal each pizza skull, ensuring none of the filling leaks out while baking.
- Chill the Skulls: Place the baking pan with assembled pizza skulls into the refrigerator to chill while you preheat the oven. This helps keep their shape during baking.
- Bake the Pizza Skulls: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the chilled pizza skulls for 16 to 20 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and fully cooked through, with cheese melted inside.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the pizza skulls to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes to firm up before carefully unmolding. Serve warm with marinara sauce on the side for dipping and garnish with freshly chopped parsley or basil for a vibrant finish.
Notes
- If you do not have a skull-shaped baking pan, you can use another shaped mold or create freeform stuffed pizza pockets.
- Feel free to customize fillings based on your preferences or dietary needs, including vegetarian options like spinach and basil.
- Chilling the assembled pizza skulls before baking helps maintain their shape and prevents dough from spreading.
- Watch the baking time closely as ovens vary; bake until dough is fully cooked and golden brown.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven for best results.
