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Creepy Halloween Hand

Creepy Halloween Hand

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  • Author: Caitlin
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1 hand 1x
  • Category: Appetizer, Halloween
  • Method: Mixed
  • Cuisine: Holiday

Description

A flavored cream cheese dip shaped into a creepy hand and wrapped in prosciutto to make a disturbingly realistic Halloween appetizer in just 10 minutes


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 oz prosciutto slices
  • 2 (8 oz) blocks of cream cheese
  • 1 (8 oz) prosciutto rolled in mozzarella cheese (pre-made, in log form)
  • 1 Tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp onion powder
  • 1/2 Tbsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 Tbsp dried basil
  • Crackers, for serving (I prefer Wheat Thins with this dip) 
  • Optional: Can substitute other flavors of choice in cream cheese, such as diced peppers, olives, green onions, or additional cheeses.

Instructions

  1. To start, allow 16 oz of cream cheese to soften slightly at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes. Then, in a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese with your desired flavorings (I used 1 Tbsp each of garlic powder and onion powder and 1/2 Tbsp each of dried basil and oregano).
  2. Place your prosciutto/mozzarella log down on your serving platter of choice as the wrist bone. Make sure you leave enough room on your platter for the rest of the hand! (PS: You don't have to use saran wrap, I just did that because I needed it for photographing on my chalkboard!) 
    • If you were unable to find a pre-made prosciutto/mozzarella roll, you can simply use an extra 8 oz of cream cheese and 2 oz of prosciutto. (Just be sure to increase your seasoning amounts to compensate for the extra cream cheese!) 
  3. Spoon out about 1 C worth of your cream cheese mixture to make the palm of the hand at the base of the wrist bone. Smooth a little over the top of the prosciutto log to make it continuous. 
  4. Next, roughly create the 5 fingers with your remaining cream cheese mixture, saving a little for touch-ups. 
    • You can use a small spatula for this, but I find it is easier to just use your fingers.
  5. Smooth out all of the fingers and add extra cream cheese as needed to give the form of a true hand. 
    • Don't forget to add a little extra "hand meat" between the thumb and palm and the pinky finger and palm to make the hand look more realistic. 
    • Nothing here has to be too smooth or perfect because you're going to be lining it with prosciutto, but keep in mind that prosciutto is very thin so you'll at least want to have the thickness of the fingers correct! 
  6. Cover the cream cheese entirely with prosciutto pieces. 
    • I find that it looks more realistic/creepy to rip the prosciutto into smaller pieces first, rather than just laying it down in full sheets. This also gives you some of the creepy looking fat strips, too! 
      • This will also make it simpler to eat because the smaller pieces will easily break off with crackers or a cheese knife rather than having to constantly slice through a large piece of prosciutto with each bite!

Notes

  • Shopping: When shopping for ingredients, remember that you'll need 4 oz of sliced prosciutto (I recommend Citterio brand), 16 oz of cream cheese (I recommend 1/3 fat by Philadelphia), and a pre-made log of prosciutto and mozzarella rolled together. (If you're unable to find this, you can substitute for an extra 8 oz of cream cheese and 2 oz of prosciutto.)
    •  If you don't already have them at home, you'll also need garlic and onion powder, as well as dried basil and oregano. (However, you can use any seasonings you'd like, see the substitutions bullet point below.) 
    • Don't forget some crackers for serving as well! I prefer Wheat Thins for this dip because they are sturdy enough to cut through the prosciutto.
  • Substitutions: Prosciutto is non-negotiable for this recipe since it makes the "skin" look so realistic. However, you can substitute the cream cheese for another sturdy, spreading cheese such as flavored goat cheese, or even combine various types of cheeses for a more unique flavor. 
    • You can also swap out the seasonings for diced peppers, olives, green onions, or any other of your favorite dip ingredients! (Just be sure they aren't too chunky or it will ruin the appearance of the hand!) 
  • Prep: The step by step photos above should walk you through the preparation of this prosciutto cream cheese dip, just remember to use a serving dish that is large enough for the hand to lay flat and allow enough time for your cream cheese to soften for easier mixing and spreading (about 15-20 minutes.) 
  • Making ahead of time: If you're strapped for time on the day of your Halloween bash, you can definitely make this prosciutto cream cheese dip in advance! The cream cheese will hold its shape well in the refrigerator. Simply create then follow the storage directions below until ready to serve.
  • Storage: Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container (or by wrapping your serving dish in plastic wrap) in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
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