Spider Web Layered Bean Dip: A Spooktacular Snack You’ll Actually Feel Good About

Spider Web Layered Bean Dip: A Spooktacular Snack You’ll Actually Feel Good About

Halloween snacks don’t have to be sugar bombs or Pinterest nightmares. This Spider Web Bean Dip from YMCA Nutrition Expert Shawn Borup is the perfect combo of festive, filling, and secretly good for you, aka, that magical combo of fun to make, healthy to eat, and actually kid-friendly.

This weekend, Shawn will be bringing this ghoulishly good recipe to WFMZ-TV69’s Saturday Sunrise, where she’ll whip it up live and share how the Y helps families stay healthy, happy, and balanced long after the candy buckets are empty. During the segment, she’ll also highlight our Before and After School Care and School’s Out programs, the perfect solutions for busy parents looking for safe, engaging, and affordable care during school breaks and holidays.

Oh, and she’s also dropping a little teaser about our Black Friday specials… (Trust us, you’ll want to tune in for that one!)

So grab your spooky snacks and your favorite little goblins, because this one’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Halloween spider web bean dip layered with guacamole, salsa, and cheese on a round platter

Spider Web Bean Dip Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans refried beans

  • 1 cup guacamole

  • 1 cup salsa

  • ½–1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt

  • ⅓–½ cup cheddar cheese

  • Sliced olives and/or jalapeños (optional, but highly encouraged)

Shawn suggests going organic with your ingredients when you can, because better ingredients mean better fuel for your family’s fun (and fewer mystery chemicals in your cauldron).

Instructions:

  1. Spread refried beans on a round platter like you’re creating your edible canvas.

  2. Add a smooth layer of guacamole (the “green goo” of your dreams).

  3. Spread on salsa, sprinkle cheese, and toss on olives or jalapeños if you’re feeling spooky.

  4. Spoon sour cream or Greek yogurt into a small baggie, snip off the corner, and pipe your spider web design on top.

  5. Serve with cucumbers, zucchini, celery, or whole-grain chips or crackers.

  6. Pro tip: Cut the recipe in half if your crowd’s smaller, or double it if your neighbor’s kids “just happened to stop by.”

Why We Love This Recipe (Besides It Being Delicious)

  • It’s easy enough for a weekday, festive enough for a Halloween party.

  • Kids can help “draw” the spider web (and probably eat half the cheese in the process).

  • You can make it ahead, refrigerate it, and pull it out right before the chaos begins.

  • It doubles as a stealthy veggie delivery system.

This snack isn’t just cute, it’s packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats to keep everyone’s energy steady. No sugar crashes, no candy-fueled chaos, just clean, tasty fun.

Don’t Miss It!

Catch Shawn Borup live on WFMZ-TV69’s Saturday Sunrise this weekend for the full cooking segment, plus tips for keeping your family healthy and happy this fall with the YMCA’s Before and After School and School’s Out Care programs.

And while you’re there, keep your eyes peeled for Shawn’s sneak peek at our Black Friday deals, because fitness, childcare, and fun family programs make the best gifts.

About the YMCA of Reading & Berks County

At the Y, we’re here to help families thrive, in and out of the kitchen. From nutritious recipes and youth programs to community events and healthy living initiatives, the Y is your home base for wellness, growth, and connection.

Recipe by: Shawn Borup, YMCA Nutrition Expert

YMCA Fall Highlights: Family Activities, Events, and Giving Season Updates

YMCA Fall Highlights: Family Activities, Events, and Giving Season Updates

Welcome to Fall at the Y

Fall is in full swing at the YMCA of Reading & Berks County, and we’re bringing the fun, fitness, and family spirit all season long! From Halloween favorites like Trunk or Treat and Dunkin’ for Pumpkins to holiday-inspired workouts including Monster Mash, Turkey Burn, and the kickoff of Run, Run, Rudolph, there’s something for every age to enjoy. Plus, our Black Friday specials make this the perfect time to plan ahead, whether you’re saving on membership, swim lessons, or summer camp registration. Stay connected with your community, celebrate the season with friends and family, and find your next favorite Y event below.

Holiday Fitness: Fun, Festive, and Full of Endorphins

This season, we’re turning up the music, turning on the lights, and getting our hearts pumping! From spooky dance-offs to post-Thanksgiving calorie burns, our holiday fitness lineup is the perfect mix of fun and motivation. Trust us, you won’t want to miss these! Click here for more info on all our seasonal fitness challenges. 

10/29 | 6-7:30 PM | Sinking Spring YMCA
Get ready to dance your heart out at our Halloween-themed fitness bash! Join us for an electrifying workout that doubles as a costume party. Enjoy light refreshments, show off your best costume for a chance to win, and bring a non-member guest to score a free smoothie.

11/28 | 9-1 AM | Adamstown YMCA, Mifflin YMCA, Sinking Spring YMCA, & Tri Valley YMCA

Kick off your Thanksgiving weekend with an energy-packed sweat session that gives back. Bring canned goods for the Reading Y Housing and earn extra Run, Run, Rudolph points while you’re at it.

Turn your workouts into a holiday competition! From November 28 – January 9, join members across Berks County for festive challenges, prizes, and serious motivation to finish the year strong.

Halloween Events at the YMCA of Reading & Berks County

Halloween Events at the Y

Get ready for a frightfully fun time at the YMCA of Reading & Berks County! Our Halloween celebrations are packed with treats, costumes, and creative fun for every age. From family-friendly Trunk or Treats to festive pool parties and senior celebrations, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this spooky season.

Bring your little goblins and superheroes for a FREE safe, family-friendly night of trick-or-treating from car to car. Each branch will have themed trunks, treats, games, and a whole lot of Y community spirit!

Want to get involved? We’re accepting candy donations and volunteers to host trunks, it’s a fun, easy way to spread Halloween cheer and be part of the excitement.

Join the fun! Find all dates, times, and all other Trunk or Treat info here!

NEW this year, a splashy twist on Halloween fun at the Reading Y Pool! On Friday 10/24 from 6-8:30 PM, kids can jump into the pool and “dunk” for floating pumpkins then decorate their favorite to take home. Stay for games, sweet treats, and festive fun. Registration required |  $7/child

Dive in to register!

Our Mifflin Y Seniors are getting spooky, too! After class, join us for a festive potluck and costume contest, prizes, laughs, and plenty of treats (no tricks) included.

Black Friday Specials at the Y

Save big, feel great, and start your new year strong! The YMCA of Reading & Berks County’s Black Friday specials are here to help you and your family stay active, connected, and confident heading into 2026. From giving the gift of summer adventures to starting new fitness goals, these limited-time offers are too good to miss.

Fall Break, Winter Break… the Y Has Your Back!

Smiling kid playing with sidewalk chalk and having fun at the Y's before and after school programs.

When school’s closed but work isn’t, the Y is here to help! Our School’s Out Half and Full Day Y Care is offered at six YMCA locations across Berks County, giving children in kindergarten through sixth grade a safe, fun place to play, learn, and make friends. With creative activities, games, and caring staff, your kids will make the most of every day off, while you work worry-free.

Learn more or register for School’s Out.

Help Fulfill the Wish of a Child in Your Community

The holiday season is about giving  and you can make a difference right here in Berks County! The YMCA of Reading & Berks County’s Kids Gift Program helps bring joy to local children and families in need.

Here’s how to take part:
1. Select an ornament from the Kids Gift Tree in any YMCA lobby or scan the QR code to see our list of gift options.
2. Purchase one of the listed items.
3. Return your unwrapped gift with the attached ornament tag by December 5th.

It’s a small act that makes a huge impact for a child this holiday season.

Spread the joy! Learn more about the Kids Gift Program.

Headlines, Highlights & Spotlights

Community spotlights, news, and stories from our Y association. Read media features and blog posts that spotlight local impact.

Mifflin YMCA Members Mike and Karen Derr, playing pickleball

Local Y Members Mike & Karen Derr Are Living Their Best Retirement Life

Mike and Karen Derr are proof that retirement doesn’t mean slowing down. From traveling to community involvement, these local Y members are living life to the fullest, earning a spotlight in Berks County Living’s “Living Their Best Retirement Lives” feature.

Click here to read their story.

Written by Jon Fassnacht, photos by Heidi Reuter, originally published in Berks County Living, 9/29/25.

Navigating Change & Uncertainty. The Greater Reading Chamber Alliance Article on the YMCA of Reading and Berks County.

Navigating Change & Uncertainty

For 167 years, the Y has been the backdrop for countless firsts, first steps into the pool, first friendships at summer camp, first safe nights for families in crisis, and first chances at recovery. What began in 1858 as a modest reading room has evolved through countless adaptations to meet the changing needs of the times.

Click here to read the full story from the Greater Chamber Alliance.

The Y is more than a gym. It’s your place to connect, grow, and belong. Stay close, stay active, and stay part of something bigger.

Table of Contents

Save the Date

10/24 

Trunk or Treat at Richmond Program Center

10/24

Dunkin' for Pumpkins at Reading Y

10/26

Racquet Sports Open House at Sinking Spring Y

10/27

Trunk or Treat at Adamstown Y

10/29

Trunk or Treat at Mifflin Y

10/29 

Monster Mash Fitness Dance Party at Sinking Spring Y

10/30

Mifflin Y Senior's Spooky Soiree

11/1

Trunk or Treat at Sinking Spring Y

11/7

Kids' Night Out at Mifflin Y

11/14

Kids' Night Out at Sinking Spring Y

11/21

Kids' Night Out at Tri Valley

11/28

Turkey Burn at Sinking Spring Y

11/30

Run, Run, Rudolph Fitness Challenge Begins

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