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Cozy Halloween Veggie Spider Web Tray with Best Ranch Dip

halloween veggie spider web tray - featured image
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A festive and easy Halloween veggie tray arranged like a spider web, served with a creamy homemade ranch dip that’s thick, herby, and tangy. Perfect for parties, potlucks, or a cozy night in.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (240 ml) sour cream (full-fat)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) mayonnaise (Hellmann’s or Duke’s preferred)
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
  • 4–5 medium carrots, peeled and cut into sticks (about 2 cups)
  • 4–5 celery stalks, cut into sticks (about 1 ½ cups)
  • 1 large cucumber, cut into rounds or sticks (about 1 ½ cups)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved if large)
  • 1 cup broccoli florets (blanched optional)
  • 1 cup cauliflower florets (raw or blanched)
  • ½ cup black olives (whole or sliced, for spider body)
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips (for web design)

Instructions

  1. Make the ranch dip: In a small mixing bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, dried dill, dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes (30 minutes is better).
  2. Prep the veggies: Wash and dry all vegetables. Peel carrots and cut into sticks about 3 inches long and ½ inch thick. Cut celery into similar sticks. Slice cucumber into rounds or sticks. Halve cherry tomatoes if large. Cut broccoli and cauliflower into bite-sized florets. Slice red bell pepper into thin strips about 2 inches long. Set aside.
  3. Assemble the spider web: Place a small serving bowl of ranch dip in the center of a large round platter. Arrange red bell pepper strips like spokes of a wheel radiating out from the dip bowl, spacing evenly (8 to 10 spokes).
  4. Create the web rings: Starting from the center, use carrot sticks, celery sticks, and cucumber rounds to create concentric circles around the dip bowl, connecting to the bell pepper spokes. Press gently to secure.
  5. Fill in the gaps: Use broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, and cherry tomatoes to fill spaces between rings and spokes for a fuller look.
  6. Add the spider: Place a few black olives on top of the dip bowl to form a spider body. Use one whole olive for the body and slice another into thin strips for legs. Arrange legs around the body. Optionally, use a small piece of red bell pepper for eyes.
  7. Serve immediately or refrigerate: Best served within an hour of assembly. If making ahead, prep veggies and dip separately and assemble just before serving. Cover assembled tray with plastic wrap if refrigerating.

Notes

Make the dip a day ahead for best flavor. Blanch broccoli and cauliflower for 60 seconds if you prefer them softer. Use a mix of colorful veggies for visual appeal. Keep the dip cold by setting the platter on ice if serving at a party. Leftover dip can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days; veggies for 2-3 days. If dip thickens too much, stir in a teaspoon of milk or water.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween, veggie tray, spider web, ranch dip, appetizer, party snack, gluten-free, vegetarian

Find it online: https://willarecipes.com/cozy-halloween-veggie-spider-web-tray-with-best-ranch-dip/