I wanted to make some snake breadsticks for Halloween so we made some Viennese bread dough that is light & fluffy and not too sweet. You can use any ready-made pastry – pizza, flat bread, puff or shortcrust if you like.

The snakes are very easy to make. You’ll only need some dough, an egg and some decorations (such as dried fruits, sesame seeds, caraway seeds, olives or granulated sugar).

How to make snake breadsticks:

1. Roll out the dough, then cut out 2 cm wide strips using a pizza cutter. Roll each piece with the palm of hands on the worktop until you get a long rope of even thickness.
2. Gently press one end of the rope flat to create the snake’s head. Roll the other end thin to like like a tail.
3. Then roll the rope into a loose coil, looking like a snake.
4. For the eye, press firmly two black sesame seeds, caraway seeds, dried fruits or olive pieces into the snake’s head.
5. Gently move the snakes onto a lined or greased baking tray, with enough space between them. Adjust the coils (they will expand, if your dough has yeast in it).
6. Brush the snakes with a beaten egg and sprinkle some sesame seeds, poppy seeds, salt or sugar on top if you like.
7. Bake them at 180°C for 10-15 minutes until golden.
8. Transfer them to a serving dish and serve.

Tips

• Serve the snakes with a scary dip or as bread rolls with aspooky pumpkin soup.
• The sweet version is very nice with a chocolate custard.