Who says Halloween is just for candy? Let’s get some real food into those little ghosts and goblins before the sugar rush hits, shall we? These Bat-Shaped Halloween Pizza Pockets are the perfect answer. They’re fun, they’re cheesy, they’re way easier than trying to carve a complicated jack-o’-lantern, and they’re a total hit with kids and adults alike. Honestly, they might just become your new spooky season tradition. Let’s get our hands a little doughy and make dinner the most fun part of the night.
Top Reasons To Make It
First off, they are just so much fun. The bat shape is a total crowd-pleaser and really makes the whole meal feel special. Second, they are incredibly easy. We’re using a shortcut with store-bought pizza dough because we’re all busy. Third, they are completely customizable. Got a kid who only eats cheese or a dad who wants all the pepperoni? No problem. You can make a whole flock of bats with different fillings to please everyone. And cleanup is a breeze, which, let’s be real, is a major win on a busy weeknight.
Ingredients
- 1 lb store-bought pizza dough: Our trusty time-saving hero.
- All-purpose flour, for dusting: To keep that dough from sticking to everything.
- 1 cup pizza sauce: The flavorful, tomatoey glue that holds it all together.
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese: For that epic, gooey, stretchy factor.
- Your favorite fillings like pepperoni, cooked Italian smoked turkey sausage, sliced olives, or diced bell peppers: This is where you get creative.
- 1 egg, beaten: This is our egg wash for a gorgeous golden-brown finish.
- Black olives, cut into small triangles: For making the creepy bat eyes.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the pizza dough into a large rectangle, about ¼-inch thick.
- Use a bat-shaped cookie cutter (or a knife and a steady hand) to cut out as many bat shapes as you can. Re-roll the scraps to get more bats.
- Place half of the bat shapes onto your prepared baking sheet. These will be the bottoms.
- Spoon a small amount of pizza sauce onto each bat base, leaving a clear border around the edge.
- Top the sauce with cheese and your chosen fillings. Don’t overfill, or the filling will escape during baking.
- Brush the edges of the dough with the beaten egg. This acts as the glue.
- Carefully place the top bat shapes over the filled bottoms and press the edges together firmly with a fork to seal them shut.
- Brush the tops of the bats with the remaining egg wash. This gives them that beautiful, glossy, golden color when baked.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the pockets are puffed up and a deep golden brown.
- Let them cool for just a few minutes—that cheese is molten lava!—then press two small olive triangles into the top of each bat for eyes. Serve immediately.
Halloween Dinner Ideas
These pizza pockets are the star of the show, but you can build a whole spooky dinner around them. Serve them alongside a creepy green salad (spinach with a bright vinaigrette), some wiggly ‘worms’ (buttery pasta with parmesan), and a blood-red punch for the kids. It’s a complete meal that feels fantastically festive without requiring you to spend the whole night in the kitchen.
Spooky Snacks For Parties
If you’re hosting a party, these bats are the ultimate Halloween finger foods. They are perfectly sized for little hands and big appetites. Set them out on a platter with other easy Halloween food ideas for parties, like mummy dogs, clementine ‘pumpkins,’ and a bowl of festive Halloween candy for dessert. They are spooky snacks that are satisfying enough to balance out all the sweets.
Variations & Substitutions
No pork? No problem! Use cooked and crumbled smoked turkey sausage instead of pepperoni for a similar smoky flavor. For a veggie version, load them up with sautéed mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers. You can even use a whole wheat pizza dough if you prefer. And if you can’t find a bat cutter, a ghost or pumpkin shape works just as well. The method is the same.
Storage & Reheating
These Halloween themed food treats are best served fresh, but any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop them in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes, or until warmed through and crispy. The microwave will work in a pinch, but the crust will lose its crispness. They can also be frozen before baking. Assemble them, place them on a baking sheet to flash freeze, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Pro Tips For Success
- Don’t overfill your bats! A tablespoon of sauce and a small handful of toppings is plenty.
- Seal the edges really, really well with a fork to prevent any cheesy leaks.
- Let the baked pockets rest for 5 minutes before taking a bite. That cheese is dangerously hot.
- If your dough is too elastic and keeps shrinking back, let it rest for 10 minutes before rolling again.
- Get the kids involved with pressing the fork to seal and adding the olive eyes. They love it.
- For an extra spooky touch, add two small slivers of red bell pepper behind the olive eyes for a bloody effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Can I make these Bat-Shaped Halloween Pizza Pockets ahead of time? A: Absolutely! You can assemble them a few hours ahead, keep them covered in the fridge, and then bake them right before your party or dinner.
- Q: My store doesn’t have bat cutters. What can I use instead? A: Any Halloween cookie cutter shape will work wonderfully—ghosts, cats, or even simple circles half-dipped in black sesame seeds to look like spider webs!
- Q: Are these fall snacks very messy for kids to eat? A: They are surprisingly neat for a handheld food! The sealed crust contains the saucy filling beautifully, making them a perfect, less-messy option for a spooky dinner.