Name: Brain Shaped Shrimp Spread for Halloween
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 4 h 20 min
Yield: 24
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/4 cup water; 1 package unflavored gelatin; 10 oz can cream of mushroom soup; 8 oz cream cheese; 1 bunch green onions or handful of chives; 2 cups shrimp, roughly chopped; 1 cup mayonnaise; dash or two of hot sauce; Cocktail sauce and crackers for serving.

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This brain shaped shrimp spread is the perfect topper for crackers. Shape it like a brain with cocktail sauce blood for a creepy Halloween party snack, but make it in other shapes for a yummy appetizer all year long.

knife in brain shaped mold with cocktail sauce blood.

This is the perfect creepy Halloween appetizer. The shrimp dip is molded into a brain shape with cocktail sauce blood. It is delicious and festive. Of course you could use any mold you have, but the brains make it extra fun!

I originally posted this recipe back in 2015. It was so good and we have made it every year since. I thought I would take some new pictures this year and update the post a bit.

saucepan with cream mixture, shrimp and chopped chives.

Back then, Little Dude was only two and this combined some of his favorite things. Three years later, he still loves shrimp, cocktail sauce and crackers. So this still gets two thumbs up from him.

Not to mention he loved the blood brains. He as been reading a super fun body book and so he was intrigued seeing something that looks like brains and it feels almost like what you would imagine your brains to feel like as well!

Now I will let you read the original post from 2015:

EEEEEEEEK! They’ve all been eating my brains! Little Dude loves shrimp dip, so he was eating cracker after cracker loaded with this stuff. He kept asking for “more mommy brains!”

I am not sure if I should be proud or scared….

brain shaped shrimp spread on black skull platter

I have actually made this a few times now. Every time it gets a lot of fun first impression comments. Once somebody has the guts to cut into it, everyone loves eating it too.

My husband’s favorite holiday is Halloween and his birthday is just a few days before, so we normally have people over for a party at some point the week of Halloween. People get dressed up, we make fun snacks (at least since I’ve been around) and everyone has a good time.

brain shaped shrimp spread with cocktail sauce blood poured over top.

As more and more younguns get added to the group, the Halloween party isn’t quite what it used to be. That doesn’t mean we can’t still make fun snacks!

Make sure to check out all of the other fun Halloween recipes below too. Do you normally like cute Halloween treats? Or gory? Or spoooooky?

shrimp dip and cocktail sauce spread on cracker.

More fun Halloween treats:

Love this recipe? Give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review in the recipe card below!

Yield: 24 Servings

Brain Shaped Shrimp Spread for Halloween

This shrimp spread is the perfect topper for crackers. Shape it like a brain with cocktail sauce blood for a creepy Halloween party snack.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

1/4 cup water
1 package unflavored gelatin
10 oz can cream of mushroom soup
8 oz cream cheese
1 bunch green onions or handful of chives
2 cups shrimp, roughly chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
dash or two of hot sauce
Cocktail sauce and crackers for serving.

Instructions

Stir the gelatin into the water and set aside.
In a large sauce pan over low heat, mix cream cheese and mushroom soup until completely smooth. Remove from heat.
Stir in the gelatin and water mixture until well mixed.
Fold in the rest of the ingredients.
Pour into a greased mold. (I used a brain shaped one like this one but you could do a ring if it isn’t Halloween)
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Unmold brain and serve with cocktail sauce and crackers.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 128Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 314mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 5g

All nutritional information is estimated and will depend on the exact ingredients you use.

This shrimp dip is the perfect topper for crackers. Shape it like a brain with cocktail sauce blood for a creepy Halloween party snack.

Jdolnick

Saturday 26th of October 2019

I just made this and refrigerated it. What is the easiest way to unmold it onto a dish?

Carlee

Mine usually slides out pretty easily. Just put the plate on top of the mold and tip the whole thing over much like you would a cake. If it doesn't slide out easily, you can dip the mold into a bowl of warm water for a minute or so and try again.

Amy

Wednesday 17th of October 2018

So fun for Halloween!

Saturday 3rd of November 2018

Thank you!

Unknown

Friday 12th of October 2018

Very creepy but delicious!

Mwahahahahaha!

Chris

Thursday 11th of October 2018

I need one of thos molds! So creepy and fun. And great for all types of recipes.

I know, I have more ideas I need to try next year!

A Day in the Life on the Farm

I need to get one of these molds. This is an awesome Halloween appetizer.

They are so much fun, you really should!