Quick Halloween Potluck for Work Travel

Ingredients

• Puff Pastry: Honestly, the pre-made stuff is your friend here. Don’t be a hero and try to make your own unless you have a whole afternoon. I’ve tried, and it was a sticky, buttery disaster. Just grab a box from the freezer aisle, trust me.
• Sausages (Breakfast or Hot Dogs): I usually go for breakfast sausages because they’re smaller and cook quicker, but sliced hot dogs work too. Just make sure they’re cooked through before wrapping, or you’ll have soggy centers oops, learned that the hard way!

• Egg: This is for the egg wash, which gives your mummies that beautiful golden glow. Don’t skip it, they’ll look pale and sad without it, like they’ve seen a ghost.

• Dijon Mustard: A little smear inside adds a lovely tang and keeps things from being bland. I didn’t expect that it would make such a difference, but it really does!

• Black Sesame Seeds: These are for the eyes! They just stick right on with the egg wash. I tried using peppercorns once, and they fell off everywhere. Sesame seeds are the way to go for these Halloween Potluck Ideas for Work.

• Ketchup/Mustard: For dipping, obviously! No mummy is complete without a little “blood” or “bile” for dunking. It’s all about the presentation, hon!

Instructions

Prep Your Pastry & Sausages:

First things first, get that puff pastry out of the freezer and let it thaw on the counter for about 30-40 minutes. You want it pliable, not frozen solid like a rock, or you’ll get cracks I know, I’ve been there! While it’s thawing, if you’re using breakfast sausages, give them a quick cook in a pan until they’re just browned. If you’re using hot dogs, you can skip this step, but I like a little pre-color. Preheat your oven to whatever the puff pastry box says, usually around 400°F (200°C), and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This is where I always forget the parchment, then regret it!

Slice the Pastry & Add Flavor:

Unroll your thawed puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface. You’re going to cut it into thin strips, about 1/2-inch wide. I usually use a pizza cutter for this, it’s so much easier than a knife, honestly. Try to keep them somewhat even, but don’t stress if they’re not perfect remember, these are mummies, not supermodels! Now, grab your cooked sausages and spread a tiny bit of Dijon mustard on each one. This step adds a surprising zing, and I didn’t expect it to elevate these Halloween Potluck Ideas for Work so much.

Wrap Your Mummies:

Time for the fun part! Take a strip of pastry and start wrapping it around a sausage, leaving a little gap at one end for the “face.” Overlap the pastry slightly as you go, making it look like bandages. Don’t wrap too tightly, or the pastry won’t puff up properly I’ve made that mistake, and my mummies looked squished! Leave the ends open, just like real bandages. This step always makes my kitchen smell like a bakery, which is just lovely.

Egg Wash & Eyes:

Once all your sausages are wrapped up in their little pastry bandages, whisk up one egg in a small bowl. This is your egg wash. Gently brush it all over the pastry-wrapped mummies. This gives them that beautiful golden-brown color when they bake, and it also helps the “eyes” stick! Now, for the spooky part: place two black sesame seeds on each mummy’s “face” for eyes. I usually use tweezers for this because my fingers are too clumsy, and I end up with sesame seeds everywhere!

Bake Until Golden:

Carefully transfer your mummies to the prepared baking sheet. Make sure they have a little space between them so they can puff up without sticking to each other. Pop them into your preheated oven. They’ll need about 15-20 minutes, maybe a little longer, until the pastry is gloriously golden brown and puffed. Keep an eye on them, because ovens can be quirky mine always bakes a little hotter on one side, so I usually rotate the tray halfway through, just to be safe. The kitchen smells divine at this point, honestly!

Cool & Serve Spookily:

Once your mummies are beautifully baked and looking perfectly ghoulish, pull them out of the oven. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. They’ll be super hot and fragile right out of the oven, so be gentle! Serve them warm with little bowls of ketchup and mustard for dipping. I love arranging them on a platter with some fake cobwebs for extra flair. These are always a hit for Halloween Potluck Ideas for Work, trust me, everyone loves a good mummy!

Storage Tips

These mummy sausage rolls are honestly best served warm, fresh out of the oven. But if you have leftovers (which, let’s be real, is rare!), you can totally store them. Pop them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Now, reheating is where you gotta be careful. I microwaved them once, and the pastry went all soggy and sad so don’t do that, lol. The best way to bring them back to life is in a toaster oven or a regular oven at about 300°F (150°C) for 10-15 minutes until they’re heated through and the pastry crisps up again. They don’t quite get that fresh-baked puff, but they’re still tasty. These are great Halloween Potluck Ideas for Work because you can make them the day before and just reheat!

Ingredient Substitutions for Halloween Potluck Ideas for Work

You know, I’m all about using what you have in the fridge. If puff pastry isn’t your jam, or you just can’t find it, crescent roll dough works pretty well! It’s not as flaky, but it still gets the job done and tastes good. I tried it once, and it worked… kinda, just a different texture. For the sausages, feel free to use plant-based hot dogs or veggie sausages for a vegetarian option, just cook them according to their package directions first. Instead of Dijon, a little bit of spicy brown mustard or even a touch of barbecue sauce inside would be fun for a different flavor profile. And if black sesame seeds are elusive, tiny dots of cream cheese or even mustard can be piped on for eyes after baking. Don’t be afraid to play around with these Halloween Potluck Ideas for Work!

Serving Suggestions for Halloween Potluck Ideas for Work

These mummy sausage rolls are fantastic on their own, but they really shine with the right dips. Ketchup and mustard are classic, of course, but think outside the box! A little bowl of green relish can be “slime,” or a smoky BBQ sauce could be “swamp goo.” For a more grown-up gathering, a spicy Sriracha mayo or a sweet chili sauce adds a nice kick. I love serving them on a big platter, maybe with some plastic spiders scattered around for extra creepiness. Pair them with a simple green salad for balance, or honestly, just a big bowl of chips. And for drinks? A sparkling cider or even a homemade “witch’s brew” punch would be perfect for Halloween Potluck Ideas for Work. These are also great alongside a hearty chili.

Cultural Backstory

While mummy sausage rolls might feel like a modern Halloween invention, the idea of wrapping sausages in pastry has roots in classic “pigs in a blanket” or sausage rolls, which are staples in British and American comfort food. “Pigs in a blanket” have been around since at least the 1950s in the US, often served as appetizers. The Halloween twist, turning them into mummies with pastry “bandages” and sesame seed eyes, is a creative, fun adaptation that’s popped up in the last couple of decades as themed party food became more popular. It’s a brilliant way to take something familiar and give it a playful, seasonal spin, making it a go-to for many, like me, looking for easy Halloween Potluck Ideas for Work that still feel special and festive. It’s just a simple idea that brings a smile.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I make these mummy sausage rolls ahead of time?

Oh, absolutely! That’s what makes them such great Halloween Potluck Ideas for Work. You can assemble them completely, brush with egg wash, and then chill them in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking. I’ve done it many times, and it saves so much last-minute stress!

→ What if I don’t have puff pastry?

No puff pastry, no problem! I’ve used crescent roll dough in a pinch, and it works pretty well. The texture is a bit different, less flaky, but still tasty. Just unroll the dough, cut into strips, and wrap as usual. It’s a solid backup for these spooky treats.

→ My mummies aren’t getting golden brown, what am I doing wrong?

Hmm, that happened to me once when I forgot the egg wash! Make sure you brush them generously with a whisked egg. Also, check your oven temperature, sometimes they run a bit cool. A slightly higher temp or an extra few minutes usually does the trick for these fun appetizers.

→ How do I transport these to a potluck without them getting squished?

I usually let them cool completely, then arrange them in a single layer in a sturdy container with a lid. If you need multiple layers, put parchment paper between them. They travel surprisingly well! Just don’t stack them warm, or they’ll get soggy. These are hardy potluck choices.

→ Can I make these vegetarian for a Halloween Potluck Ideas for Work?

Yes, totally! I’ve swapped out the regular sausages for vegetarian hot dogs or plant-based sausages before. Just make sure to pre-cook them if the package suggests it. They turn out just as fun and delicious, and everyone gets to enjoy the spooky treat!