Description

Have you ever wondered if a dip could look like a creepy spider web with a scary avocado skull on the side? Picture a bowl of creamy guacamole topped with a sour cream web, a black olive spider, and a carved avocado that looks like a skull staring at you.

Ingredients

This recipe uses simple ingredients to create a spooky, flavorful dip. Here’s what you’ll need, why each one matters, and some substitutions:

Guacamole (4 cups): The creamy, flavorful base of the dip, store-bought or homemade.
- Substitution: Make your own with 4 avocados, lime juice, cilantro, onion, and salt.
Mexican Crema or Sour Cream (1/4 cup): Creates the spider web pattern.
- Substitution: Use Greek yogurt or vegan sour cream for dairy-free.
Lime Juice (as needed): Thins the crema or sour cream for piping, adds tanginess.
- Substitution: Use lemon juice or water.
Pitted Black Olives (2): Forms the spider body and legs.
- Substitution: Use black beans or small black candies.
Blue Corn Tortilla Chips: Perfect for scooping and adds a spooky color.
- Substitution: Use regular tortilla chips, veggie sticks, or crackers.
Firm Avocado (1, skin-on): Carved into a skull for decoration.
- Substitution: Use a potato or skip for a simpler presentation.

Why These Ingredients Matter

Avocados are packed with healthy fats, fiber, and vitamins like E and K, making this dip a nutritious choice. The crema or sour cream adds a creamy contrast, while the olives and tortilla chips create a spooky, edible design. The ingredients are affordable, widely available, and easy to swap for dietary needs, like vegan or gluten-free diets, making this recipe versatile for Halloween parties. The large yield (10-12 servings) ensures plenty for sharing.

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Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Guacamole Base

Place a large, round, shallow bowl on a larger round platter.
Fill the bowl with 4 cups of guacamole and smooth the top with a spoon or offset spatula.

Tip: Use a wide, shallow bowl to make the spider web pattern easier to create.

Step 2: Make the Spider Web

If needed, thin 1/4 cup Mexican crema or sour cream with a few drops of lime juice to make it pourable.
Fill a squeeze bottle or pastry bag with the crema or sour cream.
Pipe 4 concentric circles onto the guacamole, starting from the center and working outward.
Use the tip of a knife or skewer to pull lines from the center circle outward, creating a spider web pattern.

Tip: Work quickly to keep the crema smooth and easy to pipe.

Step 3: Create the Spider

Slice 1 black olive in half lengthwise; use one half for the spider’s body.
Slice the remaining 1 1/2 olives into 8 thin strips for spider legs.
Arrange the olive half in the center of the web and place the legs around it to form a spider.

Tip: Place the spider off-center for a more dynamic look.

Step 4: Carve the Avocado Skull

Using a paring knife, cut 2 round eyes on the wide end of a firm, skin-on avocado, cutting through the skin and flesh to the pit; remove the skin and flesh.
Cut an upside-down heart shape through the skin for the nose, removing only the skin to show the flesh.
Cut a long rectangle through the skin for the mouth and remove the skin.
Use a skewer or knife tip to draw lines on the flesh for teeth.
Place the skull on the platter next to the guacamole bowl.

Tip: Choose a firm avocado to hold its shape during carving.

Step 5: Serve

Surround the guacamole bowl with blue corn tortilla chips for scooping.
Serve immediately for the freshest flavor.

Tip: Arrange chips in a circular pattern for a spooky, cobweb-like effect.