Mini Mummy Pizzas
25 min
|
easy
|
vegetarian
Recipe by Eunice
Introduction
Mini mummy pizzas turn the classic English muffin pizza into a Halloween snack, with a crisp, saucy base and gooey mozzarella bandages that melt just right.
They are party-ready, kid-approved, and weeknight-easy, so you get adorable looks and real pizza satisfaction in about 15 minutes.
I don't do bland, so brush the muffins with olive oil and hit the sauce with a little garlic or red pepper to make them pop.
Ingredients (4 servings)
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Ingredients:
- 4 English muffins, split in half English muffins 4 ct
- ½ cup pizza sauce pizza sauce 4.44 oz
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese shredded mozzarella cheese 3.03 oz
- 8 sliced mozzarella, cut into strips sliced mozzarella 5.82 oz
- 4 pitted black olives, sliced in half (for eyes) pitted black olives 0.53 oz
- olive oil (optional, for brushing) olive oil
How to Make Mini Mummy Pizzas
-
Preheat and set the stage
Heat the oven to 425 F and place a rimmed baking sheet inside to preheat so the muffin bottoms get ultra crisp.
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Split and toast
Split the English muffins, lightly brush the cut sides with olive oil if using, and toast them cut-side down on the hot sheet for 3 to 4 minutes until just golden.
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Sauce smart
Flip the muffins cut-side up and spread a thin, even smear of pizza sauce on each half, stopping just shy of the edges to prevent overflow.
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Cheesy foundation
Scatter a modest layer of shredded mozzarella over the sauce to create a sticky base that will anchor the mummy bandages.
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Make the bandages
Pat the sliced mozzarella strips dry with a paper towel and lay them across each muffin in crisscrossed bands, leaving small sauce gaps so the mummy look pops.
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Add the eyes
Nestle two olive halves near the top of each muffin for eyes, pressing gently into the cheese so they adhere.
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Bake to melty perfection
Return the sheet to the oven and bake 6 to 8 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and the edges are toasty.
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Finish and serve
Broil for 30 to 60 seconds if you want browned bandage tips, then rest 2 minutes so the cheese sets and serve hot.
Substitutions
- Swap English muffins with biscuit dough or pizza dough
- Use 2.5 to 3 inch biscuit dough rounds or small pizza dough circles for the base, which bakes up more tender and bready than muffins while still giving you a crisp underside if preheated on the sheet.
- Use marinara instead of pizza sauce
- Marinara brings a slightly looser texture and brighter tomato flavor, so spread it extra thin to keep the base from softening while still delivering that familiar pizzeria vibe.
- Replace black olive eyes with black beans or capers
- Black beans sliced in half or large capers keep the spooky dark-eye look and add a pleasant briny pop without changing the overall flavor balance.
Tips
- Preheat the sheet for crisp bottoms
- Starting the muffins on a hot pan jump-starts browning so you get crunch without overbaking the cheese.
- Dry the mozzarella strips
- Moisture is the enemy of crisp edges, so blot the sliced mozzarella to keep bandages defined instead of weepy.
- Thin sauce wins
- A whisper-thin layer of sauce prevents soggy centers and lets the bandage pattern show cleanly.
- Mind the spacing
- Leave small gaps between cheese strips so the red peeks through and the mummy effect reads instantly across the room.
- Broil for 30 seconds max
- A short blast adds color to the bandage edges without drying the muffins or turning the eyes bitter.
- Batch and hold like a pro
- Bake, cool 10 minutes, then reheat on a wire rack at 375 F for 4 to 5 minutes so the bottoms stay crisp and the cheese remelts without greasing out.
Nutrition Facts *
| Energy | 172 | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 11 | g |
| Total Fat | 8 | g |
| Carbohydrates | 15 | g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 | g |
* Approximate, per serving.
Data source: USDA FoodData Central.
FAQ
- How do I keep the muffin bottoms from getting soggy?
- Preheat the baking sheet, toast the cut sides briefly before saucing, and spread a thin sauce layer so steam has a way out.
- My cheese slides off the muffins, what went wrong?
- Use a base of shredded mozzarella under the strips and press the bandages into it so they fuse as they melt.
- The olive eyes keep falling off, any fix?
- Set the olives on warm, melty cheese and lightly press so they sink in, or tuck them slightly under a strip at the top for grip.
- Can I make these ahead for a party?
- Assemble up to 4 hours in advance and refrigerate uncovered on a sheet, then bake just before serving and broil briefly for color.
- Can I cook these in an air fryer?
- Yes, air fry at 370 F for 4 to 6 minutes in a single layer, checking early since air fryers brown fast.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these mummies with a side of warm marinara for dipping and a dusting of oregano or red pepper flakes if your crew can handle a little heat.
For a bold twist, brush the muffins with a whisper of garlic oil before saucing or streak a spoon of pesto under the bandages to add a fresh, herby punch without messing up the spooky look.
More pairings:
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