Description
These Halloween Jack Skellington Ricotta Olive Tarts are a delightful and spooky appetizer perfect for your Halloween party. Featuring flaky puff pastry filled with a creamy ricotta and Parmesan mixture, and decorated with black olives to create Jack Skellington’s iconic face, these tarts are both visually festive and deliciously savory.
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry and Cheese Filling
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg (for filling)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Toppings and Finishing
- 12–14 black olives, sliced into rounds and strips (for facial features)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Mix Ricotta Filling: In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan, 1 large egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until the mixture is smooth and well blended, ensuring an even, creamy filling.
- Prepare Puff Pastry Circles: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet. Using a round cutter or the rim of a glass, cut out 6 to 8 circles and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Score the Pastry Borders: Lightly score a smaller circle inside each puff pastry round, being careful not to cut all the way through. This scoring creates a raised border to hold the filling in place as the pastry bakes.
- Add the Ricotta Filling: Spoon about one tablespoon of the ricotta mixture into the center of each pastry, spreading it evenly but keeping it inside the scored border.
- Create Jack Skellington Faces: Use sliced black olives to decorate each tart with Jack Skellington’s iconic face — use olive rounds for eyes and thin olive strips for the stitched mouth and nose.
- Apply Egg Wash: Beat the remaining egg and brush it gently on the edges of each puff pastry circle to ensure a beautiful golden finish after baking.
- Bake the Tarts: Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden brown and puffed up.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the tarts to cool slightly on the baking sheet before serving. They can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature as a festive Halloween appetizer.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add chopped fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary to the ricotta mixture.
- These tarts are best served warm or at room temperature as a spooky appetizer or Halloween party snack.
- You can substitute black olives with kalamata olives for a slightly different flavor.
- Ensure puff pastry is properly thawed before rolling to prevent cracking.
