Cheesy Spider Recipes

CHEESY SPIDER DIP

Steps:

• In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, Cheddar, Monterey Jack cheese, butter, salsa and some salt and pepper and beat until smooth. Alternatively, mix all the ingredients in a large bowl with a spoon. Reserve 1/3 cup of the dip and wrap in plastic wrap.
• Make 2 balls with the remaining dip, one twice as big as the other, wrap in plastic, and shape into balls. Refrigerate all three portions of the cheese until hardened and cold, 2 to 3 hours.
• Unwrap the two balls and coat in the crushed tortilla chips. Place on a platter directly next to each other and make eyes in the smaller ball with 2 olives. To make the legs, arrange 8 green beans to stick out of the "spider's" side, then place a small ball made out of the reserved 1/3 cup dip on the end of each bean and connect another bean to each ball to make long legs.
• Serve with vegetables, crackers or tortilla chips.

GARLIC BAKED BRIE SPIDER

Steps:

• Slice a grid on top of a brie wheel; approximately 4 slits horizontally and vertically.
• Insert thinly sliced garlic in the slots.
• To make the spider legs: roll out a sheet of puff pastry dough; then a layer of prosciutto on top; cut 1-2" strips.
• To make the spider's head: take a puff pastry dough and make it into a small ball (the size of a large meatball); slice black olives and insert them into the ball to make the eyes and fangs.
• Position the head and brie wheel on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Twist each strip of pastry dough/prosciutto and place them around the spider's body to form the legs.
• In a bowl, mix olive oil, rosemary, thyme, basil, salt and black pepper; spoon the mixture over the brie cheese wheel.
• Brush egg wash over the head and legs.
• Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes.

HAM 'N' CHEESE SPIDERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Using small pieces of foil, make forty 1/2-in. foil balls for shaping spider legs; coat lightly with cooking spray., For filling, mix first 4 ingredients. On greased baking sheets, pat 5 biscuits into 3-1/2-in. circles. For legs, cut each of 10 breadsticks crosswise in half; cut each piece lengthwise in half. (Reserve remaining breadsticks for another use.) Attach 8 legs to each biscuit, twisting and pressing onto pan to adhere. Tuck a foil ball under the center of each leg., Spoon filling over biscuits. Fold cheese slices into quarters; place over top. Pat remaining biscuits into 4-in. circles; place over cheese, pressing edges to seal. , Whisk together egg yolk and water; brush over tops. Attach olives for eyes; fill centers with pimientos. Sprinkle with poppy seeds., Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Serve warm.