Santa Suit Spread with Reindeer Crackers

It’s a celebration for your taste buds— all the flavors of a pepperoni pizza spread on homemade crackers and served with a red wine punch!

CRACKERS 1 cup allpurpose flour 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal 1 Tbs. sugar 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. cracked pepper 1/3 cup olive oil 1/4 cup milk 1 egg, beaten Brown concentrated food coloring 1/2 cup red candy melts, melted 1/2 cup dark cocoa candy melts, melted SANTA SPREAD 3 (3"x1") drained roasted red pepper strips, patted dry Black concentrated food coloring 1 cont. (15 oz.) ricotta cheese 1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese, 6 oz. 1 cup pizza sauce 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped 1/2 cup drained sun- dried tomatoes in oil, chopped 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni, chopped 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 4 (2 1/4"x3/8") yellow pepper strips Fresh basil leaves

Crackers: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, seasoning, salt and pepper. Whisk together oil, milk, egg and dot of food coloring; stir into flour mixture until blended and dough just forms.

On lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8" thickness. Using 2 3/4" and 2 1/4" gingerbread men cookie cutters, cut out shapes. Transfer to baking sheets. Bake 8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let stand 5 minutes. Transfer to racks; cool. Transfer candy melts to separate disposable pastry bags; snip tips. Pipe noses, faces and antlers on crackers. Let dry, 30 minutes.

Spread: For belt decoration, place red pepper strips on paper towels. Dilute a few dots of food coloring with a little water; brush over pepper strips. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate. Let dry at least 1 hour. In bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, 1/2 cup pizza sauce, Parmesan, basil, tomatoes, onion, pepperoni, salt and pepper. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour. Shape mixture into mounded 7" round on serving plate. Spread remaining 1/2 cup pizza sauce over round, leaving 1"-wide strip widthwise across center for belt; arrange pepper strips across spread to make belt. For buckle, arrange yellow pepper strips on belt. Garnish platter with fresh whole basil leaves. Serve with crackers. Makes 12 servings.