Spooktacular Pizza Regina

This Spooktacular Pizza Regina is a classic with a Halloween twist. In France, ‘Pizza Regina’ — or ‘Pizza Reine’ — usually means a beautiful Italian-style pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham, and mushrooms. In other parts of the world, like Canada, a ‘Regina-style’ pizza can mean something entirely different — a thicker crust, lots of toppings, and those signature square slices. I love both interpretations, but this version is all about that elegant French-Italian charm. And to make it extra fun, I carved the mushrooms into tiny skulls. It’s festive, delicious, and proof that even a little spooky can still be chic.

Prep Time	Bake Time
25 mins	20 mins
Total Time	Serves
45 mins	6

Ingredients

• 1 sheet puff pastry, store-bought or homemade

•  1/2 cup marinara sauce

•  1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

•  1/2 cup mushrooms, carved into skulls

•  1/4 cup thinly sliced ham

•  1/4 cup black olives, pitted, sliced or whole

•  fresh basil leaves, optional, for garnish

•  salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly roll out one sheet of thawed puff pastry to smooth any creases, keeping it in a rectangular shape. Transfer it to the prepared baking sheet.

   
   

2. Spread a layer of marinara sauce over the center of the puff pastry, leaving space for a crust. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce, followed by thinly sliced ham, and sliced or whole black olives.

   
   

   To make the skull mushrooms:

3. use small to medium whole white or cremini mushrooms.

   
   

4. Using a plastic straw, carefully punch two eye holes near the top of the rounded cap — but don’t press all the way through, just enough to define the eye sockets.

   
   

5. Beneath the eyes, use the tip of a small knife to make two shallow vertical slits for nostrils.

   
   

6. on the stem of the mushroom, carve three or four small vertical lines to resemble teeth.

   
   

7. You can create two faces per mushroom — one on each side. Then cut in half and add them to the pizza.

   
   

   Bake:

8. Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden and crisp, the cheese is fully melted, and the skull mushrooms are lightly browned and holding their spooky shape.

   
   

   Serve:

9. Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool slightly before slicing and serve warm.