Spider Bread Bowl Tomato Soup (Print)

Golden bread bowl shaped as a spider, filled with creamy tomato dip. A festive centerpiece for sharing.

# Ingredients:

→ Bread Bowl

01 - 4 cups bread flour
02 - 1 packet (7 grams) instant dry yeast
03 - 1½ teaspoons salt
04 - 1 tablespoon sugar
05 - 1¼ cups warm water
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 1 egg, for egg wash
08 - 8 pretzel sticks or thin breadsticks, for legs
09 - 2 black olives, for eyes

→ Tomato Soup Dip

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 medium onion, chopped
12 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
13 - 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
14 - 2 cups vegetable broth
15 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
16 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
17 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
18 - ½ teaspoon sugar
19 - ½ cup heavy cream
20 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine bread flour, instant dry yeast, salt, and sugar. Pour in warm water and olive oil, then mix until a dough forms.
02 - Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes by hand or stand mixer until smooth and elastic. Transfer to a greased bowl, cover, and allow to rise in a warm area until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
03 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Punch down dough and shape one large ball for the body, a smaller ball for the head, and either eight ropes from dough or use pretzel sticks for legs.
04 - Arrange the body and head on a parchment-lined baking sheet, attaching the legs to the body and curving them for effect. Brush all exposed dough surfaces with egg wash. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
05 - Remove bread from oven and let cool briefly. Hollow out the center of the body to create a bowl shape, ensuring a sturdy shell remains.
06 - In a saucepan over medium heat, heat olive oil. Sauté chopped onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute more. Stir in crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, tomato paste, basil, oregano, and sugar. Simmer for 15 minutes.
07 - Stir in heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste. For a silky texture, blend soup using immersion blender or transfer to standard blender.
08 - Fill the hollow bread bowl with hot tomato soup dip. Place the head piece adjacent to the bread bowl, and garnish with sliced black olives to create spider eyes. Serve immediately, using the bread legs and bowl crust for dipping.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Easy showstopper for parties and family gatherings
  • Soft homemade bread and rich soup guarantee comfort in every bite
  • Kid approved and makes vegetables exciting
  • Customizable with your favorite herbs or cheeses
02 -
  • High in fiber thanks to vegetable rich soup and hearty bread
  • The bread bowl insulating quality keeps soup warm longer
  • Vegetarian friendly and a hit with kids of all ages
03 -
  • Let the shaped spider chill in the fridge uncovered for about fifteen minutes before baking. This helps it keep its details
  • When hollowing the bread scoop gently to avoid breaking through the crust. A serrated knife and your hands work best
  • Toast the removed bread interior cubes for extra crunchy dippers

Back