My kids always get so excited when October rolls around, and it’s not just for the candy! It’s the pumpkin carving, the spooky decorations, and of course, the Halloween-themed snacks. This year, I wanted to create a treat that was both fun and healthy, so I came up with these adorable Halloween sandwich treats. They’re made with pumpernickel bread, cream cheese, and olives, and they’re shaped like little pumpkins. So cute!
These sandwiches are incredibly easy to make, even for novice cooks, and they’re ready in minutes. Plus, they’re a great way to get kids involved in the kitchen. My little ones love helping me spread the cream cheese and decorate the pumpkins with olive eyes. Let’s whip up a batch!
Why You’ll Love It
These Halloween sandwich treats aren’t just adorable; they are practical and fun too! They’re quick and easy to prepare, perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute party snacks. Kids love the fun pumpkin shapes, and they’re a sneaky way to get a little extra cream cheese and olives into those picky eaters. The combination of creamy, salty, and slightly sweet flavors is a hit with everyone, and they’re easy to customize with different fillings or shapes. Plus, they are easy to pack in lunchboxes or serve at parties—no forks or spoons required!
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Halloween Sandwich Treats
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
## Better-Than-Grandma Tips
Softened Cream Cheese is Key: Make sure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature for easy spreading. This will prevent the bread from tearing. If you’re short on time, microwave the cream cheese for a few seconds to get it spreadable.
Sharp Knife or Cookie Cutter: For the cleanest cuts, use a sharp knife or a large pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter. This will help you get those perfect pumpkin shapes. If you’re serving these to very young kids, take a look at our post on safe cutting practices for Lunch preparation.
Olive Alternatives: Feel free to get creative with the eyes! If you don’t have pimento-stuffed olives, black olives, green olives, or even small pieces of carrot would work well.
Ingredients
- 4 slices pumpernickel bread
- 1 ounce cream cheese, softened
- 1 (4-ounce) can pimento-stuffed olives, 2 olives sliced in half, the rest finely chopped
Instructions
- Slice each of the four pimento-stuffed olives in half. Set these aside for making the pumpkin eyes later. Finely chop the rest of the olives for the filling.
- Spread about 1 ounce of softened cream cheese on four slices of pumpernickel bread. Distribute the chopped olives evenly over the cream cheese on those same four slices.
- Top each of the four cream cheese and olive slices with plain pumpernickel to make four complete sandwiches. Now, using a knife or a large pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter, cut each sandwich into a pumpkin shape.
- Use small dabs of cream cheese to attach the reserved olive slices to the pumpkin sandwiches as eyes. And there you have it! Adorable, edible pumpkins.
Notes
## That’s a Wrap
These Halloween sandwich treats are sure to bring spooky smiles to faces young and old. They are a great way to celebrate the season, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a fun and festive sandwich? I hope these little pumpkin-shaped delights bring a touch of Halloween magic to your kitchen! For more fun and festive holiday recipes, check out our Desserts page. Don’t forget to share your spooky creations with me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Assembly
- Cuisine: American
What You’ll Need
These Halloween sandwich treats use simple, easy-to-find ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
- Pumpernickel Bread: The dark color of the pumpernickel bread makes a perfect backdrop for the pumpkin shape. It also offers a slightly sweet and earthy flavor that complements the other ingredients. Choose a good quality, thinly sliced pumpernickel for easier cutting.
- Cream Cheese: This is the “glue” that holds our pumpkin faces together, and the base for the olive spread. Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for easy spreading.
- Pimento-Stuffed Olives: These savory little gems provide both the filling and the adorable eyes for our pumpkin sandwiches. You’ll need both chopped olives for the inside and sliced olives for decoration.
That’s it! Just three simple ingredients and you’re on your way to creating adorable Halloween snacks.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prep the Olives
Slice each of the four pimento-stuffed olives in half. Set these aside for making the pumpkin eyes later. Finely chop the rest of the olives for the filling.
Step 2: Assemble the Sandwiches
Spread about 1 ounce of softened cream cheese on four slices of pumpernickel bread. Distribute the chopped olives evenly over the cream cheese on those same four slices.
Step 3: Top and Cut
Top each of the four cream cheese and olive slices with plain pumpernickel to make four complete sandwiches. Now, using a knife or a large pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter, cut each sandwich into a pumpkin shape.
Step 4: Add the Eyes
Use small dabs of cream cheese to attach the reserved olive slices to the pumpkin sandwiches as eyes. And there you have it! Adorable, edible pumpkins.
Better-Than-Grandma Tips
- Softened Cream Cheese is Key: Make sure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature for easy spreading. This will prevent the bread from tearing. If you’re short on time, microwave the cream cheese for a few seconds to get it spreadable.
- Sharp Knife or Cookie Cutter: For the cleanest cuts, use a sharp knife or a large pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter. This will help you get those perfect pumpkin shapes. If you’re serving these to very young kids, take a look at our post on safe cutting practices for Lunch preparation.
- Olive Alternatives: Feel free to get creative with the eyes! If you don’t have pimento-stuffed olives, black olives, green olives, or even small pieces of carrot would work well.
Try These Variations
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Pumpkins: Get creative and make pumpkin-shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! Use small dabs of peanut butter to attach raisin eyes. For other kid-friendly favorites, explore our Breakfast recipes.
- Spooky Shapes: Use different cookie cutters to create other spooky shapes like ghosts, bats, or cats. Have fun with it!
- Savory Filling Swaps: Try other fillings like hummus, tuna salad, or egg salad. You can also add slices of cheese or deli meat.
Can I use a different type of bread?
You can use any type of bread you like for these sandwiches, but pumpernickel gives them a nice earthy flavor that complements the cream cheese and olives. White bread, wheat bread, or even rye bread would also work well.
Can I make these sandwiches ahead of time?
Yes, you can make these sandwiches ahead of time. Just store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Let them sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before you want to serve them, and they’ll be perfect!
Can I use different types of olives?
Absolutely! If you don’t have pimento-stuffed olives, you can use any kind of olive you like. Black olives, green olives, or even Kalamata olives would be delicious. You can also use other fillings, like chopped pickles, roasted red peppers, or sun-dried tomatoes.
What occasions are these good for?
These sandwiches are perfect for Halloween parties, classroom snacks, or even just a fun lunch for the kids. They’re easy to make and easy to transport, so they’re a great option for any spooky occasion.
How to Serve
These Halloween sandwich treats are perfect for all sorts of spooky occasions. They’re great for classroom parties, Halloween gatherings, or even just a fun after-school snack. Arrange them on a platter with some other Halloween treats, or pack them in lunchboxes for a festive surprise. Serve with a side of baby carrots or fruit slices for a balanced meal. For some other fun lunchbox ideas, check out our Lunch page.
That’s a Wrap
These Halloween sandwich treats are sure to bring spooky smiles to faces young and old. They are a great way to celebrate the season, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a fun and festive sandwich? I hope these little pumpkin-shaped delights bring a touch of Halloween magic to your kitchen! For more fun and festive holiday recipes, check out our Desserts page. Don’t forget to share your spooky creations with me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
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