The ultimate not-so-scary snack, Mini Spider Pizzas for Halloween bake fast and look festive with stringy cheese webs and olive legs crawling right into your next monster-themed dinner night.
In a 2-cup liquid measuring cup, add the warm water, yeast, and honey. Allow to sit for 5–7 minutes or until the mixture begins to puff. Add the oil and the room temperature water. Whisk gently to combine.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the salt, flours, and water mixture. When the pizza dough begins to form a ball, remove the paddle attachment and replace it with the dough hook. With the mixing speed on low, knead the dough for 2–3 minutes or until a ball begins to form and the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
Remove the dough from the bowl and place it in a large, well-greased bowl (I prefer using olive oil, but you can also use Pam). Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 2 hours.
To deflate the dough, punch with your fist. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and divide into balls (depending on how big and how many pizzas you want to make—this recipe can make up to 8 mini pizzas). Form into pizza shells and place onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Sauce
To make your homemade pizza sauce, in a small saucepan heat the olive oil until shiny. Add the minced garlic, stir, and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomato sauce, sugar, basil, oregano, and salt. Heat for 5 minutes or until the sauce becomes fragrant.
Assemble
Spread the sauce evenly over the pizza peel, leaving about 1½ inches around the edge for the crust. Lightly brush the crust with olive oil (this will help it get crisp). Sprinkle the grated cheese over the top and bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius) until the crust is golden brown.
Remove from the oven and place the string cheese into a web design, then place the black olives over the top of the pizzas, creating spiders. Place back in the oven until the cheese “web” has melted.
Notes
STORE Halloween Spider Pizzas leftovers in an airtight container or wrap tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Keep refrigerated for up to 5 days. FREEZE once fully cooled by placing the pizzas flat on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe airtight container or zip-top freezer bag for 2–3 months. REHEAT in the microwave for 20–30 seconds or warm them in a toaster oven to keep the bottoms crisp. You can also bake in a 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) oven for 8-10 minutes until the pizzas are heated through and the cheese is melted.