Pin This festive spider bread bowl with creamy tomato soup dip creates a showstopping centerpiece that both delights guests and satisfies appetites. Whether you want to impress at your next Halloween party or just bring some fun to your dinner table this bake is worth every minute.
I made this for our neighborhood Halloween gathering and had people circling the kitchen just to sneak another dip. That chewy bread with tangy creamy tomato soup is a combo we crave all winter.
Ingredients
- Bread flour: Provides the base for chewy tender bread. Opt for high protein to help the bowl hold its shape
- Instant dry yeast: Brings rise and lightness. Always check your yeast’s expiration for best results
- Salt: Heightens flavor in both bread and soup
- Sugar: Helps the yeast activate and promotes golden crust
- Warm water: Activates the yeast best if it feels just slightly warm to your wrist
- Olive oil: Offers moisture and softness. Choose extra virgin for the most flavor
- Egg: Gives the iconic golden shiny finish
- Pretzel sticks or thin breadsticks: Add crunch and create spider legs
- Black olives: Make perfect eyes with mild salty flavor
- Onion: Forms the aromatic foundation for the soup
- Garlic: Deepens the savory notes. Fresh is best for full aroma
- Canned crushed tomatoes: Guarantee consistent tomato flavor year round
- Vegetable broth: Adds depth without overpowering the tomato
- Tomato paste: Boosts umami and color
- Dried basil and oregano: Bring out classic Italian flavor and warmth
- Sugar: Balances acidity in tomatoes
- Heavy cream: Delivers silky rich soup. Go for full fat for creamy texture
- Salt and pepper: Finish both soup and bread and help flavors shine
Instructions
- Make the Dough:
- Combine the bread flour instant yeast salt and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Pour in warm water and olive oil then use a spoon or your hands to mix until a rough dough forms
- Knead the Dough:
- Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for at least eight minutes working until the dough feels smooth stretchy and no longer sticky. This builds the gluten strength the bread bowl needs to hold its shape
- First Rise:
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap. Let it rise somewhere warm until doubled in size usually one hour. The dough should feel airy and pillowy when poked
- Shape the Spider:
- Gently punch the dough to release air. Separate a large ball for the body a smaller ball for the head and divide the rest into eight thin ropes for spider legs. If you enjoy extra crunch or want perfectly shaped legs swap some or all ropes with pretzel sticks or thin breadsticks
- Arrange and Bake:
- Set the body and head on a parchment lined baking sheet. Curl the legs around the body. Attach the legs by pinching ends into the body so they bake as one piece. Brush everything with egg wash for color. Bake at 200 Celsius until deep golden and firm about twenty five to thirty minutes. Cool just enough to handle
- Hollow the Bread:
- Once cool enough cut a circular opening in the spider body and scoop out most of the soft interior with your hands or a spoon. Leave a thick wall to support the soup. Reserve the bread pieces for dipping
- Make the Tomato Soup:
- In a saucepan heat olive oil over medium. Add chopped onion and stir until tender and translucent about five minutes. Add garlic and cook one minute
- Simmer and Blend:
- Add crushed tomatoes vegetable broth tomato paste dried basil oregano and sugar. Simmer uncovered for fifteen minutes letting flavors meld and soup thicken. Add heavy cream and season well with salt and pepper. If a smooth soup is preferred blend until silky with an immersion blender
- Assemble and Decorate:
- Pour hot soup into the hollowed bread body. Attach the head and decorate with black olive slices for eyes. Serve immediately with extra breadsticks or reserved bread
Pin I have always loved adding herbs right into the bread dough for even more aroma. My favorite memories are watching everyone giggle as they pull off bread legs and dunk them into piping hot soup. This dish turns any meal into a celebration.
Storage Tips
Store leftover bread and soup separately. Keep bread loosely wrapped at room temperature for up to two days and soup refrigerated in an airtight container for three days. Refresh the bread in a warm oven before serving again
Ingredient Substitutions
For gluten free dining use a trusted gluten free bread dough and shape as usual. Cashew cream can stand in for heavy cream making the soup vegan with the egg wash omitted. For extra flavor try shredded mozzarella folded into the dough
Serving Suggestions
This centerpiece shines at holiday parties or family dinners. Offer plenty of fresh veggies for dipping or serve with a salad for a complete meal. If making for little ones cut the spider into small portions for easy sharing
Cultural and Holiday Connections
This bread bowl spider brings American Halloween traditions to life with food that is interactive and memorable. Edible bread bowls first hit the party scene in the 1980s and have never gone out of style. Bringing playful shapes to mealtime is a tradition in many cultures and sparks both nostalgia and joy
Seasonal Adaptations
Top the spider with pumpkin seeds or use seasoned pumpkin puree in the soup for fall flair. Stir fresh basil or oregano into the soup at the end for peak garden flavor in summer. Switch the filling to creamy potato or squash soup for winter gatherings
Pin Hosting a memorable party is about joy and conversation. This spider bread bowl always brings both plus the kind of bread and soup everyone wants a second helping of.
Recipe Questions
- → How do I achieve the spider shape for the bread bowl?
Shape the risen dough into one large ball for the body, a smaller ball for the head, and eight thin ropes or use pretzel sticks for spider legs. Arrange on a lined baking sheet before baking.
- → Can I prepare the bread bowl ahead of time?
Yes, you can bake the bread bowl a few hours in advance. Fill with warm tomato dip just before serving to keep the bread crisp.
- → What toppings can enhance the tomato dip?
Stir in extra herbs, shredded cheese, or a splash of balsamic for deeper flavor. Garnish with fresh basil for a vibrant touch.
- → How can I make this dish vegan?
Skip the egg wash and substitute heavy cream with coconut cream in the tomato dip. Verify all ingredients are plant-based.
- → What can I serve alongside the bread bowl dip?
Offer extra breadsticks, crispy vegetable crudités, or crackers for dipping into the tomato soup filled bread bowl.