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.

brain shaped shrimp spread with cocktail sauce blood poured over top and knife sticking out.

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!

dip in plastic brain mold

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!

brain shaped shrimp spread with cocktail sauce blood poured over top and knife sticking out.
4.70 from 13 ratings

Brain Shaped Shrimp Spread for Halloween

Author: Carlee
Servings: 24 Servings
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: 15 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Additional Time 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients 

  • ¼ cup water
  • ¼ ounce unflavored gelatin one packet
  • 10 ounces cream of mushroom soup
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 3-4 green onions or a handful of chives
  • 2 cups shrimp roughly chopped
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1-2 dashes hot sauce
  • Cocktail sauce and crackers for serving.

Instructions 

  • Stir the gelatin into the water and set aside.
    ¼ cup water, ¼ ounce unflavored gelatin
  • In a large sauce pan over low heat, mix cream cheese and mushroom soup until completely smooth. Remove from heat.
    8 ounces cream cheese, 10 ounces cream of mushroom soup
  • Stir in the gelatin and water mixture until well mixed.
  • Fold in the rest of the ingredients.
    3-4 green onions, 2 cups shrimp, 1 cup mayonnaise, 1-2 dashes hot sauce
  • Pour into a greased mold. The brain is fun for Halloween, but you could do any shape you'd like.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  • Unmold brain and serve with cocktail sauce and crackers.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 128kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 314mg | Sugar: 1g
“Cooking With Carlee” is not a dietitian or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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4.70 from 13 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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85 Comments

  1. Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond says:

    Oh my goodness it does look like a brain!!! All these scary Halloween recipes look great and I'm sure the kids love them. Thanks Carlee for sharing with us at #WednesdaysWisdom.

    1. Halloween really gives you a chance to make some fun (and cute/creepy) food! I think it is one of my new favorite holidays to cook for!

  2. Carlee, This is just the cutest idea, in a creepy cute way! I love it, and it is the PERFECT Halloween party menu item. Visiting from Miz. Helen's Full Plate Thursday. Thank you!

    1. Thank you so much! It is one of those things that you can only make for certain occasions which makes it all that much more fun! Thanks so much for stopping by!

  3. Anonymous says:

    This is too cute! I've never seen anything like it.

    1. I love making it for new groups of people so I can see their reaction!

  4. THIS IS SO GROSS I LOVE IT!!! I'm sure it tastes wonderful to, but I don't think I could bring myself to cut into it!

    1. It is funny to watch people react to it. Nobody wants to be the first to eat it (much like a pretty cake) but eventually somebody goes for it.

  5. That is so clever Carlee! My family would devour this recipe. Wonderful for Halloween!

    1. Thank you! We always think it is a fun (and tasty) one!

  6. This is such a perfect creepy Halloween food, I love the knife stuck in it!

    1. Thank you! That was a new addition for this year and I thought it really took it to the next level 😉

  7. This is def. creepy looking yet so fun! Love it! This would be perfect at a Halloween party or for a Halloween food day at work!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

    1. It is so much fun to see peoples' reactions! I really should make this for work this month. That would be great!

  8. This is spectacular! Pinning this and looking for a chance to make it this year!

    1. Thank you! It is so much fun to serve!

  9. Ali @ Jamhands.net says:

    Love it – Looks super creepy for Halloween 🙂

    1. I love it too! I think it's a little too creepy for some people, but I think it's fun! Have a great Halloween!

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