Need a fun Halloween dinner that’s easy to make? This Halloween Ghost Pizza is just the thing. It starts with a soft pizza crust, rich tomato sauce, plenty of melty mozzarella, and adorable ghost-shaped cheese toppers that make it perfect for spooky season.
What Makes a Great Halloween Ghost Pizza?
You can make the dough from scratch if you enjoy baking, or use store bought pizza dough to save time. It’s a great choice for Halloween parties, family movie nights, or a festive dinner the kids will love helping to decorate.
Why You’ll Love It
- Cooks in under 20 minutes with simple, everyday ingredients
- Perfect for Halloween parties or Halloween movie nights
- Kid friendly and fun to decorate together
- Easy to customize with your favorite pizza toppings
- Cute, festive, and guaranteed to be a hit with both kids and adults
The Pizza Dough
A good pizza always starts with the dough. It should be soft, stretchy, and easy to shape, with just enough chew after baking. Honestly, homemade dough is worth the little extra effort, but there are days when store bought is absolutely the way to go.
Either option works beautifully here because the ghost decorations are really the stars of the show.
What You’ll Need for the Dough
- 1 1/2 cups bread flour, creates a chewy pizza crust
- 3/4 teaspoon instant yeast, helps the dough rise
- 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water, hydrates the dough without making it sticky
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, encourages a good rise
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt, enhances the flavor
- 2 teaspoons olive oil or vegetable oil, keeps the dough soft
Easy Store Bought Dough Option
What an easy option?
- 1 (13 to 16 ounce) ball refrigerated pizza dough OR fresh bakery pizza dough, either option works well
- Let the dough rest at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before stretching. This makes it much easier to shape and helps prevent it from springing back.
The Pizza Sauce
A thicker pizza sauce works best because it stays put while baking.
You want enough tomato flavor to complement the cheese without making the crust soft. Sometimes simple really is best.
What You’ll Need for the Sauce
- Pizza sauce, smooth and rich
- Garlic powder, adds savory depth
- Italian seasoning, gives classic pizza flavor
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, optional for a little kick
Or just buy some store bought pizza sauce if you want this done quick!
The Ghost Cheese Toppers
The little cheese ghosts melt just enough to become gooey while still keeping their spooky shape.
Adding tiny faces makes them almost too cute to eat…. almost.
What You’ll Need for the Ghosts
- Mozzarella cheese slices, easy to cut into shapes
- Small ghost cookie cutter, for clean ghost outlines
- Small olive pieces, for the faces
The Pizza Toppings
Keeping the toppings simple helps the ghost decorations really stand out.
What You’ll Need for the Toppings
- Shredded mozzarella cheese, creates that classic cheesy layer
- Olive oil, brushed around the crust for a golden finish
- Grated Parmesan, optional for extra flavor
- Fresh baby arugula or basil, added after baking for color and freshness
How to Make Halloween Ghost Pizza
Preheat Your Oven
Preheat your oven to 425°F. You want your pizza to go into a hot oven for the best results!
Prepare the Dough
Combine the flour, yeast, sugar, salt, warm water, and oil in a large mixing bowl.
Knead until the dough feels smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm spot for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
If you’re using refrigerated pizza dough, simply let it sit at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before stretching.
Shape the Pizza
Transfer the risen dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently press it into a 10 to 12 inch round pizza.
Place it on a parchment lined baking sheet or pizza stone.
Use a fork to create a few shallow dimples pin holes across the dough, which helps keep large bubbles from forming during baking.
Add the Sauce and Cheese
Spread an even layer of pizza sauce over the dough, leaving about a 1 inch border around the edges.
Make the Ghosts
Use a ghost-shaped cookie cutter to cut ghosts from mozzarella or provolone slices. Add them to the top of your pizza!
Add the Ghost Decorations
Once they are on the pizza, gently press tiny olive pieces into each ghost to create fun little eyes and mouths.
Put The Pizza In The Oven
Bake your pizza at 425°F for 10-14 minutes (everyone’s oven is different, also you may want it crispier or more doughy), keep an eye on it until it looks right for you!
Garnish and Serve
Finish with a handful of baby arugula or fresh basil, a sprinkle of Parmesan, and a drizzle of olive oil if you like.
Slice and serve while everything is hot and wonderfully cheesy.
Storing, Reheating, or Meal Prep
Leftover pizza can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
The ghost cheese may lose a little definition after chilling, but it still tastes just as delicious.
For the best texture, reheat slices in a 375°F oven for about 6 to 8 minutes or warm them in a skillet over medium heat until the crust crisps up again.
Halloween Ghost Pizza
Description
This Halloween Ghost Pizza features a soft homemade pizza crust topped with rich tomato sauce, gooey mozzarella, and adorable ghost-shaped cheese decorations. It is a fun and festive meal that’s perfect for Halloween parties, family dinners, or a cozy fall movie night.
Ingredients
Homemade Pizza Dough
Pizza Toppings
Optional Store Bought Dough
Instructions
Prepare the Dough
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Combine the bread flour, yeast, sugar, salt, warm water, and olive oil in a large mixing bowl. Stir until a shaggy dough forms, then knead on a lightly floured surface or with a stand mixer for about 8 to 10 minutes. The dough should become smooth, soft, and elastic.
Let the Dough Rise
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Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let it rise in a warm place for about 60 minutes, or until doubled in size. If using store bought dough, allow it to rest at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before shaping.
Shape the Pizza
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Transfer the risen dough to a lightly floured surface and gently stretch it into a 10 to 12 inch round. Place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet or pizza pan. Press small dimples across the surface with your fingertips to help prevent large air bubbles during baking.
Add the Sauce and Cheese
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Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving about a 1 inch border around the edge. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the sauce. Brush the outer edge of the crust lightly with olive oil to encourage even browning.
Bake the Pizza
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Bake the pizza in a preheated 425°F oven for about 9 to 11 minutes. The cheese should be melted and the crust should be lightly golden around the edges.
Prepare the Ghosts
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While the pizza bakes, use a small ghost-shaped cookie cutter to cut ghost shapes from the cheese slices. Cut tiny eyes and mouths from the nori sheet, or use small pieces of black olives, and gently press them onto each ghost. They may not stick perfectly at first, which is completely normal.
Finish the Pizza
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Remove the pizza from the oven and carefully arrange the cheese ghosts over the hot pizza. Return it to the oven for 3 minutes, just until the ghost cheese softens while still holding its shape.
Garnish and Serve
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Sprinkle the finished pizza with grated Parmesan and top with baby arugula or fresh basil. Allow the pizza to cool for 2 to 3 minutes before slicing so the cheese can set slightly and the slices are easier to serve.
Note
Store leftover pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat slices in a 375°F oven for 6 to 8 minutes or in a skillet over medium heat until the crust is crisp and the cheese is warmed through.
If the dough springs back while shaping, let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes before stretching again.
For the neatest ghost decorations, use low-moisture mozzarella or provolone slices, which hold their shape better during baking. Fresh store bought pizza dough is an excellent time-saving alternative and produces equally delicious results.
