Air Fryer Halloween Witch Finger Pretzels
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tube (13.8 oz) refrigerated pizza dough or breadstick dough
- 12–15 sliced almonds (to act as the fingernails)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt or pretzel salt
- 1/4 cup raspberry jam or red decorating gel (for the “blood”)
- Optional: 2-3 drops green food coloring
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Dough. Unroll your refrigerated pizza or breadstick dough on a lightly floured surface. If you want green fingers, knead a few drops of green food coloring into the dough until the color is even. Cut the dough into 12 equal-sized strips, roughly 4 to 5 inches long.
- Step 2: Shape the Fingers. Roll each dough strip into a long, thin cylinder shape to resemble a finger. Don’t worry if they aren’t perfectly smooth; a little texture makes them look more realistic and “witch-like.”
- Step 3: Add Knuckle Details. Use a small paring knife to make three shallow horizontal slits in the middle of each dough strip to represent the knuckles. Repeat this near the top and bottom of the finger for a more detailed, wrinkly look.
- Step 4: Attach the Fingernails. Take a sliced almond and press it firmly into one end of each dough strip. Make sure to press it deep enough so it stays attached during the cooking process. This creates the creepy fingernail effect.
- Step 5: Season and Prep. Brush each “finger” lightly with the melted butter. Sprinkle a small amount of coarse sea salt over the top. Lightly grease your air fryer basket or line it with a piece of perforated parchment paper.
- Step 6: Air Fry to Perfection. Place the fingers in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they do not touch. Cook at 350°F (175°C) for 6 to 8 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches.
- Step 7: Add the “Blood”. Once the pretzels are done and slightly cooled, carefully lift the almond “nail,” dab a little raspberry jam or red gel underneath, and press it back down so the red “blood” oozes out around the edges. You can also dip the blunt end of the finger in jam for an extra macabre look.