Halloween Witch Hat Calzones

These Halloween Witch Hat Calzones are a delicious appetizer or side dish for your Halloween menu. They are perfect to serve at Halloween parties or just for fun at home!

My family has been making this recipe for these Halloween Witch Hat Calzones since my 21-year-old son was a young kid. We found the original recipe at Better Homes & Garden when we were looking for fun Halloween ideas. And I think we have made it every year since then.

The recipe is easy and fun to make. And they are so delicious! My 10 year old daughter loves them! I had to share this recipe with you!

Why this recipe works:

• They are so easy to make. Kids can help with making them.
• The recipe uses simple ingredients.
• They are very festive and kids love them!
• Perfect to serve up before going trick or treating!
• Also are great to serve at a Halloween party.

Ingredient List:

• Pepperoni
• Mozzarella Cheese
• Parmesan Cheese, grated
• Cream Cheese
• Crescent Rolls
• Egg
• Dried Italian Seasoning or Oregano
• Marinara Sauce

For the marinara sauce, we buy our favorite sauce from the grocery store. Use whatever sauce you prefer to go with these calzones.

How to make Halloween Witch Hat Calzones:

First, preheat your oven to 425°F. Place parchment paper or a silicone baking mat on your baking pan. 

Why use parchment paper or a baking mat? They both help prevent sticking, reduce browning and promote even baking. Also, using them makes your pan easier to clean up.

While your oven is preheating, slice up the pepperoni into small pieces. If you have kitchen shears, I would highly suggest using them.  The job will get done quicker by using them.  If not, cut the shapes with a sharp knife. 

You will need about 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni to mix in with the cheese mixture. This cheese and pepperoni mixture will be placed on the dough for the calzones.

Then take an additional eight to ten pepperoni slices and cut them into small shapes like triangles and diamonds. They will be used to decorate the brim of the witch hat.

I usually do simple shapes like triangles and diamonds because they are pretty easy to cut out. If you have the time and feel creative, you can cut them into crescent moons or other fun shapes you might like.

Set the fun-shaped pepperoni aside until you are ready to use them. Decorating the hat is one of the last steps before cooking the calzones.

Using a spoon, mix the softened cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni together in a medium-sized bowl until well combined. The cream cheese needs to be softened to mix the ingredients together easier.

Recipe Tip: To soften your cream cheese, place it on your counter for about 20-30 minutes.  If you want to soften it quicker then place it on a microwave-safe plate and heat it on high for 15-20 seconds.

Take one of the crescent roll packages out of your refrigerator once you are ready to make the calzones. It is best to keep the dough cold until you are ready to use it.

Unroll the crescent rolls and separate the triangles. Place four of them on your prepared baking sheet. Set the other four triangles to the side. The second half of the triangles will be the tops of the Witch Hat Calzones.

Recipe Tip: Use one package of crescent rolls at a time and leave the second one in your refrigerator until you are ready to use it. This way the dough will stay cold and will be easier to work with.

Slightly beat the egg and whisk in the water. Then brush the edges of the triangles that are on your baking sheet with the egg. To do this step, use a basting brush or the back of a spoon.

Scoop about one and a half to two tablespoons of cheese mixture and place that on the middle of the crescent roll.  Spread out the mixture a little but make sure it does not go right to the edges of the dough. You will be pressing the two triangles together and will need some space at the edges.

Take the four triangles that you set aside and place them on top of the triangles with the cheese mixture. Gently press down on the edges so that the cheese mixture stays within the calzones during baking.

Recipe Tip: I have noticed that sometimes the crescent rolls are not cut all the exact same size. Make sure to take a look ahead of time to be sure the smaller bottoms go with the smaller tops as well as match up with the larger ones.
 
Fold the bottom half of the triangle up so it resembles the brim of a witch hat. Work the tip of the triangle so you get the fun witch hat look.

Brush the top of the witch hats with a little of the egg mixture. Add the fun-shaped pepperoni pieces to the brim of the hat. Then sprinkle them with dried Italian seasoning or oregano.

Recipe Tip: Place the fun-shaped pepperoni towards the top of the brim of the hat. If you place them closer to the bottom they might not be seen as well after the dough rises.
 
Bake at 425°F for 8-10 minutes or until golden. Once the calzones are out of the oven you can sprinkle a little grated Parmesan cheese over them (this is optional).

Serve with warm marinara sauce and enjoy!

Recipe Tips:

Using parchment paper or a silicone baking mat on your baking sheet will promote even baking, help prevent browning, and are great for easy clean-up.  Silicone mats are a nice option because they are reusable.  

To soften your cream cheese, place it on your counter for about 20-30 minutes.  If you want to soften it quicker then place it on a microwave-safe plate and heat it on high for 15-20 seconds.

You will need two packages of crescent rolls. Leave the second one in your refrigerator until you are ready to use it. The dough is better to work with when it is cold.

I have noticed that sometimes the crescent rolls are not cut all the exact same size. Make sure to take a look ahead of time to be sure the smaller bottoms go with the smaller tops as well as match up with the larger ones.

Don't forget to brush the top crescent roll with the egg mixture.  By doing this, they will be golden and crispy on the outside. 

Place the fun-shaped pepperoni towards the top of the brim of the hat. If you place them closer to the bottom they might not be seen as well after the dough rises.

For the marinara sauce, we like to use our favorite sauce from the grocery store. To warm it up, place it in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it at 15 second increments until it is the temperature you prefer. Stir it after each 15 second increment.

Looking for more Halloween recipes? 

Try some of our other favorite Halloween recipes like Halloween Dirt Cake, Peanut Butter Spider Cookies, and Candy Corn Mix.

If you make this recipe or any of my recipes, I would love to hear from you! If you would be so kind to leave a comment and rating below in the comment section, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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Update Note: This recipe was originally posted earlier in 2018, but was published again in 2020 to include step by step directions and new photos.