Ingredients:

  • 1 large French baguette, 12–16 oz (340–450 g) — halved lengthwise
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter (28 g), melted
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder or 1 small clove garlic, minced
  • 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara (240 ml)
  • 2 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella (about 8 oz / 225 g)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan (optional) (50 g)
  • 24–30 mini pepperoni slices or 4 oz (115 g) regular pepperoni, halved or layered (or your preferred topping)
  • 1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough (8 oz / 226 g) OR 1/2 cup pizza dough scraps (for bandage strips) — optional
  • 6 string cheese sticks (mozzarella) — sliced into strips (alternative bandages)
  • 12 black olive slices (for eyes) or small olive halves or mini pepperoni dots
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • Fresh basil or chopped parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. If using crescent or pizza dough for strips, unroll, chill briefly, and prepare strips about 1/4 inch (6 mm) wide.
  2. Slice the baguette lengthwise with a serrated knife. Remove excess soft interior if desired. Mix melted butter with garlic or garlic powder and brush the cut sides lightly with garlic butter.
  3. Spoon and spread about 1/2 cup (120 ml) pizza sauce evenly over each half. Sprinkle a thin layer of mozzarella (about 1/2 cup / 50–60 g per half). Arrange pepperoni evenly over the cheese and sprinkle a little Parmesan and dried oregano.
  4. Create mummy bandages: Option A - pull or cut thin strips of crescent/pizza dough and lay across the topped bread in an irregular pattern, leaving a gap for the eyes. Option B - slice string cheese into thin ribbons and lay across toppings. Option C - arrange thin lines of shredded mozzarella to suggest bandages.
  5. Press two olive slices (or small olive halves or pepperoni dots) into the exposed face gap so they won’t slide off when baked. Alternatively, add eyes after baking to avoid over-browning.
  6. Bake on the middle rack 12–18 minutes at 400°F (200°C), until cheese is bubbly, edges of bread are golden, and dough strips (if used) are golden and cooked through.
  7. Remove from oven. If eyes were not added before baking, press them on now. Let rest 2 minutes, garnish with chopped basil or parsley if desired, cut into portions, and serve warm.