Tombstone dip is creamy, cheesy, briny layered dip with a creepy vibe. With a cheddar and cream cheese base (spiked with your favorite hot sauce) and a thick shovelful of black olive tapenade, this easy to make Halloween dip is awesome with buttery tombstones (a.k.a. Town House crackers).
4ounce jarsliced pimenton peppersdrained and patted dry (save a few for garnish)
1cupblack olive tapenade
FOR TOMBSTONE GARNISH AND FOR SERVING:
Town House Crackers
Food Grade Markers
chopped parsley
pimenton "snakes"
scallions
Instructions
In the work bowl of the food processor, combine the softened cream cheese and grated cheddar. Pulse several times to combine.
Add the hot sauce and blend until well mixed. Transfer to a medium bowl and add the scallions.
Reserve a few pimenton peppers for garnish and set aside. Roughly chop the remainder of the peppers and add to the cream cheese mixture. Stir to combine.
Transfer the cream cheese blend to a shallow serving dish (about 4" x 7"). Spread the cream cheese blend into an even layer with an offset spatula or knife.
Refrigerate the cream cheese layer so that it can firm up before adding the tapenade. (You want the layers to remain separate).
After the cream cheese has chilled, dollop a thick layer of the tapenade over the cream cheese and carefully spread it over the cheese mix.
DECORATE THE TOMBSTONE DIP:
Lay the remaining pimenton peppers on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice them vertically, to resemble long thin snakes. Arrange them over the top of the tapenade dip. Sprinkle with chopped scallions and parsley.
Using the food grade markers, write "RIP" or other headstone epitaphs on the Town House crackers and sink the headstones into the graveyard.
Cover and chill. When you're ready to serve, remove the dip from the refrigerator for about 20 minutes so it can soften. Serve with extra Town House crackers on the side.