This spooky skeleton veggie tray is a fun Halloween appetizer made with fresh vegetables, creamy ranch dip, hummus, and guacamole. Arrange the vegetables into a skeleton shape for an easy party platter that looks impressive and is simple to customize.
Place the ranch bowl at the top of a large black platter and the hummus and guacamole bowls at the bottom left and bottom right, forming a wide triangle.
Decorate the ranch as a skull: two black olive slices for eyes, a small red bell pepper triangle for the nose, and a row of corn kernels for teeth.
Arrange cauliflower florets down the center for the spine, largest at the top. Lay two full celery stalks across the top for the shoulders, and a short piece of celery behind the cauliflower for support.
Slice the red, yellow, and orange bell peppers lengthwise into thin strips and arrange them in curved, level pairs on both sides of the spine, longest at the top.
Lay cucumber and celery sticks in angled pairs for the arms and legs. Set halved mushrooms at the shoulders, elbows, hands, hips, knees, and feet, and add a cherry tomato at each elbow and knee.
Fill the border with the broccoli, baby carrots, remaining cucumber and celery sticks, extra bell pepper strips, cherry tomatoes, snap peas, and remaining olives, grouped by color.
Tuck fresh parsley into the gaps between the border groups and serve with the dips.
Notes
Cut all vegetables up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate by type with a damp paper towel. Assemble within two hours of serving.
A thin ranch will not hold a face. Use a thick dip or strain a Greek yogurt version.
Bell pepper strips must be under a quarter inch thick to curve into ribs.
To transport, assemble the skeleton at home and add the border at the party.
Leftover cut vegetables keep for 3 days refrigerated in a sealed container.