Description
A fun and spooky twist on a classic cheeseburger, perfect for Halloween gatherings or family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 tablespoons salted butter (softened)
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 3/4 cup lukewarm water (100-110°F)
- 32 ounces ground beef (80/20)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon butter, lard (turkey bacon fat), or vegetable oil
- 8 slices cheese (American, Cheddar, Provolone, Havarti, etc.)
- Burger toppings: tomato, lettuce, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, onions, pickles
Instructions
- Prep the Skull Pans: Use 1 tablespoon of butter to liberally grease 8 skull cavities in your Nordic Ware skull pans.
- Mix the Dough: Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into small pieces and place them in a mixing bowl with the flour, egg, sugar, salt, and yeast. Pour the lukewarm water over the ingredients and mix until well blended.
- Knead the Dough: Knead the dough either with a stand mixer or by hand on a lightly floured countertop for 5-7 minutes, until the dough springs back when poked.
- Let the Dough Rise: Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise until it doubles in size, roughly 1-2 hours.
- Shape the Buns: Deflate the dough and divide it into 8 even pieces. Press the dough into the greased skull cavities.
- Second Rise: Cover the skull pans with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise for another hour.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) toward the end of the second rise.
- Bake the Buns: Bake the buns for 14-18 minutes, rotating the pans midway through baking.
- Brush with Butter: Remove the pans from the oven, let them cool, then brush melted butter over the buns.
- Make the Skull-Shaped Cheeseburgers: Divide ground beef into 8 portions and shape them into skull shapes. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
- Cook the Burgers: Season the burgers and cook in a skillet for about 3 minutes on each side.
- Melt the Cheese: Place a slice of cheese over each burger and cover to melt.
- Assemble Your Burgers: Place a burger on a skull bun and add your favorite toppings. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Feel free to customize the toppings and ingredients for personal preferences. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cheeseburger skull
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 70mg