In the spirit of Halloween, these Pumpkin Smoked Salmon Sandwiches make the perfect healthy snack or meal for your kids and family.
We are officially in the thick of Halloween season people! We are BIG Halloween fans in my household, which means from now on most foods being turned out of my kitchen must have a spooky lil twist. In other words – I am pumping the Halloween sandwich ideas, starting with these adorable pumpkin smoked salmon sandwiches. These adorable sandwiches not only make the perfect quick & easy snack for kiddos, but they are guaranteed to make you the Halloween queen in your household (or at the very least, mother of the year).
Table of contents
Why This Recipe Works
Whether you are serving these for lunch or need Halloween sandwich ideas for your next party, these pumpkin smoked salmon sandwiches are guaranteed to be a hit! We love this recipe because it’s:
- Packed with protein (~13 grams per serving)
- A great way to get kids involved in the kitchen
- Easy to make – only requires 5 ingredients
- Quick to assemble – only 3 simple steps!
Key Ingredients
Whole grain bread – to keep things in line with the Halloween pumpkin theme, we opt for any bread that is round in shape – whether thats english muffins, pita, rice cakes, or heck if you’re in a pinch you can even cut a circular shape from whatever bread you have on hand.
Cream Cheese – We usually use regular cream cheese because my boys are not big fans of anything super garlicky or with a lot of herbs and spices. So we keep it super basic, but feel free to experiment here if you want to add more flavour and it is well tolerated by your families taste preferences.
Smoked Salmon – this is the key ingredient that will give the sandwich its orange colour to represent the “face” of the pumpkin. If your family isn’t huge fans of smoked salmon, you can use you choice of deli meat instead (while it wont exactly be orange, we can still decorate it as such).
Celery – this will be the pumpkin stem and is a fun way to sneak a bit of extra crunchy veg.
Olives – this is where the kids get to experiment and have fun! Cut up the olives in all sorts of fun shapes to make the eyes, nose, and mouth of the pumpkin. Get creative!
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1: Using a large round object like a large jar lid, cut out circles from the bread.
Step 2: Smear with the cream cheese. Add a piece of the celery to the top of the circle. Cover with the smoked salmon.
Step 3: Cut the olives into shapes and make a face on the sandwich.
Expert Tips
If your little one is picky when it comes to fish, I recommend introducing them to smoked salmon because of it has a different texture and rich flavour compared to regular salmon. Smoked salmon is also rich in the omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, vitamin D, B vitamins, magnesium and selenium which all play important roles in your kid’s growth.
Recipe FAQs
Yep, just use gluten free bread and you’re good to go!
Of course, there are lots of dairy free cream cheese options now, or you can use hummus or avocado for an even more nutritious spread.
Yes! They keep surprisingly well in the fridge over night. I would prepare them completely except putting the face on and then let the kids decorate their own pumpkin face. I can attest that it is a super fun Halloween activity for the kiddos.
You could totally go the ghost route and stick with just cream cheese!
Other Recipes You Might Like
Looking for more fun Halloween recipes to wow any crowd? Check out some of my favorite recipes below!
- Halloween Blood & Guts Chocolate Cups
- Snickers Bars (Vegan)
- Candy Corn Overnight Oats (Vegan)
- Banana Ghosts & Clementine Pumpkins
- Apple & Almond Butter Alien Smiles
Now I want to hear from you, parents! Do you like to add a Halloween twist to your toddler’s meals and snacks? Got any Halloween sandwich ideas to share? Let me know in the comments below!
Halloween Pumpkin Smoked Salmon Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 4 slices whole grain bread
- 1/2 cup lite cream cheese
- 150 grams smoked salmon
- 4 small pieces celery
- 1/4 cup black olives pitted
Instructions
- Using a large round object like a large jar lid, cut out circles from the bread.
- Smear with the cream cheese. Add a piece of the celery to the top of the circle. Cover with the smoked salmon.
- Cut the olives into shapes and make a face on the sandwich.
Nutrition
Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian (RD), regulated by the Ontario College of Dietitians. She is a mom, YouTuber, Blogger, award winning cookbook author, media coach specializing in food and nutrition influencers, and a frequent contributor to national publications like Healthline and on national broadcast TV shows.
Kampus Swasta Unggulan says
How long does it typically take to prepare these sandwiches, and are they suitable for make-ahead preparations?
Abbey Sharp says
It only takes about 5 minutes and can be made ahead of time. Just store in the fridge in an airtight container.
Natalie says
This looks delicious. I absolutely love how fun this looks too. I will definitely put this on our family halloween menu. Can’t wait to make this with my family.
Abbey Sharp says
Awesome! Enjoy
Stephanie McKercher says
I love this idea for a fall party. So fun! I bet adults would also love one of these sandwiches. They sound delicious!
Abbey Sharp says
Totally.
Leslie says
I have never seen sandwiches like this before. How incredibly cute! Best part is my kids always eat 100% of the recipes they help make! This is perfect!!!
Abbey Sharp says
Amazing!