Recipe for: Mini ghost-shaped canapés - photo 1
← Recipes

Recipe for: Mini ghost-shaped canapés

Appetizers halloween 45 min Easy 0 views ~11.40 PLN * - (0)
Rate:
(0)
Start Cooking

Description

Delicate, eye-catching mini sandwiches resembling ghosts — the perfect appetizer for Halloween. We cut slices of toast into ghost shapes, lightly toast them, and then decorate with a white, creamy mixture of cream cheese and sour cream, creating the ghost's "cape." The eyes are made from sliced black olives, and the mouth (optional) from small pieces of red pepper. The dish is light, visually fun, and easy to prepare for beginners — it pairs wonderfully with a spicy roasted beet sauce or cranberry jam. With simple ingredients available in Polish stores, you can quickly prepare 16 mini sandwiches that will be a hit at parties for both children and adults. The unique effect is achieved through the contrast of the white filling, black "eyes," and red "mouth," as well as additional herb decorations for a more sophisticated version.

Ingredients Used

Ingredients (9)

Servings:
4
  • Toast bread 240 g
  • Cream cheese 200 g
  • 18% cream 50 ml
  • Black olive 40 g
  • 🌿 Spices
  • Salt 2 g
  • Black pepper 4 pinch (~2 g)
  • ✨ Optional
  • Butter 30 g
  • Red bell pepper 0.3 pcs (~60 g)
  • Chives 0.2 bunch (~15 g)
💰 Estimated dish cost: ~11.40 PLN (2.85 PLN/serving)
* Prices missing for some ingredients

💡 Click an ingredient to mark it as used

Preparation steps

Preparation of ingredients

1

Prepare the ingredients and tools: lay out the cutting board, take a small ghost-shaped cutter (about 5–7 cm) or a small round cutter. If you don't have a cutter, use a small chef's knife to sketch the shape of the ghost on the slice, then carefully cut it out. Cut the toast bread into slices if it is not pre-sliced (each slice ~30 g). Also, prepare a bowl for mixing the cheese and cream, and a strainer for draining the olives.

Ingredients: Toast bread
Use a ghost-shaped cookie cutter if you have one — it will make the job easier. If you're cutting with a knife, hold the slice steady with your thumb and cut slowly to avoid squashing the bread.

Preparing the slices

2

Cut out shapes: halve each slice of bread into 2 smaller pieces if you want more mini sandwiches. Place the cutter and press down vertically until you cut out the shape; remove the excess. Arrange the cut shapes on a baking sheet. If using butter, melt it in a pan over medium heat and lightly fry each side of the cut shapes for 20–30 seconds per side until they are lightly golden. Alternatively, place the baking sheet in an oven preheated to 200°C and bake for 4–6 minutes, flipping halfway through for a slightly crispy surface.

Ingredients: Toast bread, Butter
The best is a non-stick or grill pan. If you are using the oven, set the grill function or top heating element to 200°C and keep an eye on it, as the slices can burn quickly.

Cheese filling

3

Prepare the cream cheese: in a medium bowl, place the cream cheese (200 g). Gradually add the 18% cream (50 g), mixing with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula until the mixture becomes smooth and slightly runny, but not watery — the consistency should be such that it can be piped into a pastry bag (it should flow slowly from the spoon). Season to taste with 1 g of salt and 1 g of freshly ground pepper, taste, and if necessary, adjust the seasoning gently.

Ingredients: Cream cheese, 18% cream, Salt, Black pepper
Use a hand mixer on low speed if you want to achieve a very smooth consistency. If the mixture is too thick, add cream in increments of 5 g until the desired viscosity is reached. The mixture is ready when a thick, creamy trail forms after lifting the spoon.

Assembly

4

Fill a piping bag with the cheese mixture (if you don't have a piping bag, use a ziplock bag and cut off a small corner). Holding the cut bread on a board, squeeze the cheese mixture from the top down, creating a 'cape' shape — start from the center and gently stretch downwards, forming wavy edges that imitate a ghost's cloak. Amount of mixture: about 10–12 g of mixture per ghost (adjust visually).

Ingredients: Cream cheese, 18% cream, Toast bread
A piping bag allows for even, aesthetically pleasing application — use a round tip with a diameter of 8–10 mm if you have one. If not, cut a small corner of the bag and squeeze slowly, controlling the flow of the mixture.

Decoration and details

5

Prepare the eyes and mouth: drain the black olives, cut them lengthwise into thin slices, and use a small knife to cut out circles the size of an eye; place two pieces as eyes on each sandwich, gently pressing them into the mixture. If using bell pepper (optional), cut it into very small strips and create a small, rounded "mouth" under the eyes. Additionally, you can sprinkle the plate with finely chopped chives for a 'grass' effect or as a color accent.

Ingredients: black olive, Red bell pepper, Chives
Use a small knife to slice the olives into thin rounds. If the olives have pits, remove them before slicing. Make sure the eyes are set, but not pushed too deep to avoid breaking the shape of the mixture.

Cooling and serving

6

Before serving, refrigerate the sandwiches for 10–15 minutes to allow the filling to set slightly and the shape to stabilize. Arrange the sandwiches on a large platter with some space between them. Serve with roasted beet sauce or cranberry jam for dipping (color contrast). Serve immediately after removing from the refrigerator, as the cheese filling can soften too much at room temperature.

Ingredients: Toast bread, Cream cheese
Use a flat platter, preferably white or black, to highlight the contrast. If preparing in advance, store the sandwiches covered in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours.

Fun Fact

💡

Similar small sandwiches (finger sandwiches) have their roots in British afternoon tea tradition, but Halloween themes are a newer, fun addition — in Poland, for several decades, local products (e.g., cottage cheese, sour cream) have been combined with the Anglo-Saxon form of snack.

Best for

Halloween Impreza dla dzieci Przyjęcie tematyczne

Tips

🍽️ Serving

Serve the sandwiches on a large, flat tray. Place small bowls of roasted beet sauce (sweet and sour) or cranberry jam next to it — guests enjoy dipping. For adults, you can add a bit of hot pepper to the cheese mixture. Arrange a few "fallen" ghosts tipped on their side for a fun decorative effect.

🥡 Storage

Store in the refrigerator for a maximum of 12 hours, covered tightly with plastic wrap or in a container. Do not freeze — the texture of the filling and bread would be ruined. Before serving, do not leave at room temperature for too long to prevent the filling from becoming soggy.

📸 Cooked by the community

Log in to add a photo
Add a photo of the finished dish

After moderator approval, you will receive 10 experience points.

🍲

No one has added a photo yet. Be the first!

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment on this recipe!

Add a comment

You might also like

Panna cotta with green sauce (Halloween) 90 min

Panna cotta with green sauce (Halloween)

Desserts
Pumpkin Smoothie with Cinnamon 50 min

Pumpkin Smoothie with Cinnamon

Drinks
Halloween Beetroot Drink with Lemon 60 min

Halloween Beetroot Drink with Lemon

Drinks
Pumpkin and Spice Tea 45 min

Pumpkin and Spice Tea

halloween
Green salad with garlic dressing (Halloween version) 25 min

Green salad with garlic dressing (Hallowee...

Salads
Chocolate Pumpkin Milkshake (Halloween) 60 min

Chocolate Pumpkin Milkshake (Halloween)

Drinks

Recipe Categories

Appetizers
Appetizers in: halloween

Scary appetizers that will delight your guests and put them in the Halloween spirit.

See all recipes in this category
halloween
halloween

Halloween is a time when culinary traditions take on a dark and mysterious character. It's an opportunity for fun, creativity, and experimentation in the kitchen, where dishes take on unusual forms. In many countries, children dressed as ghosts and monsters run from door to door collecting candy,...

See all recipes in this category
Advertisement