Spooky Halloween Hand Cheese Ball Recipe
Ditch the sugary candy and go for a healthier Halloween snack! This hand-shaped cheese ball wrapped in cured meats is the ideal protein-packed party snack.
Servings 16 servings (approximately 2 Tablespoons)
Ingredients
- 450 g cream cheese (2 8oz packages)
- 100 g salted cod
- 2 teaspoons dried onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
Making the cheese ball mixture
- Soak the salted cod in cold water for about an hour, changing the water every 15 minutes to remove the excess salt.
- Strain the cod, removing as much water as possible. Break it up into small pieces.
- In a large bowl, mix softened cream cheese, shredded cod, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
Shaping the Halloween hand
- Mold the cheese mixture on a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper into a rough hand shape. Make an oval for the palm, and then shape five "fingers" coming from the top. Refine the details with a spatula, making the fingers more distinct.
- Lay slices of salami or prosciutto across the cheese hand.
- Overlap the slices of cured meat to create the effect of the skin. Tuck the ends of the meat slices under the hand to hide any seams.
- You can optionally add fingernails to your hand. I used cheese shaped in witch finger molds.
Chill and serve the cheese ball
- Refrigerate the hand cheese ball for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld and the shape set.
- When ready to serve it, place the hand on a platter and surround it with a variety of meats and cheeses. To make it even more festive, add cheese molded into shapes or cheese cut with cookie cutters.
Video
Notes
Expert tips
- Don’t worry about making the hand perfect—it’s Halloween! Uneven or twisted fingers can add to the spooky effect.
- If you’re struggling with freehand sculpting, you can use a hand-shaped mold to help shape the cheese mixture. You may need to slightly freeze the mixture so it holds its shape when unmolding. Or try lining the mold with the cured meats and fill it with the cheese mixture.
- For an added creepy effect, use prosciutto to look like thin, veiny skin, and salami for a more rough-textured, weathered look. Play around with different meats to make your hand appear as spooky as you like!
- Serve the hand with blood-red marinara sauce or green guacamole to enhance the Halloween atmosphere.