Spooky Halloween brownies

The Halloween brownies are so much fun and super delicious. Extra fudgy chocolate brownies are topped with delicious cream cheese frosting in spooky, vibrant shades and finished with a scattering of candy eyes. Eat them before they eat you!

The whole recipe is really easy to make, so you'll be sure to get perfectly squidgy, rich brownies every time. First, you'll melt dark chocolate and butter together. Next, you'll whisk in sugar, beaten eggs and vanilla before folding in just enough flour to set the brownies without making them cakey.

Once poured into a lined tin, the batter takes just half an hour to go from liquid to perfect gooey brownie. And while it cools, you can get on with making the cream cheese frosting by whisking butter and icing sugar together, folding in cream cheese and then separating into bowls so that you dye each batch your choice of Halloween colours.

When it comes time to pipe your brownies, you can be as creative as you like. I went for all sorts of designs using any piping nozzles I could find in my baking drawer, from texture swirls and stripes to fur like tendrils made with a grass tip! A few candy eyes completes the spook look for these super fun Halloween brownies.

Instructions

Make the brownies

Preheat the oven to 180C (160C fan).

Put the butter and chopped dark chocolate in a large, heatproof bowl.

Use 30 second bursts in the microwave to melt the chocolate and butter together. Alternatively, you use a bain marie method, placing the bowl over a pan with a little boiling water and allowing the steam to heat the bowl and you stir gently.

Add the sugar.

Whisk the sugar into the chocolate. It's ok if it's grainy at this stage.

Add the beaten eggs and vanilla.

Whisk through.

Sieve the flour into the bowl.

Fold through with a silicone spatula or metal spoon.

Grease and line a 20cm x 28cm (8 inch x 11 inch) non-stick shallow rectangular cake tin. Fill with the brownie batter and level off.

Bake for 30-35 minutes. You can test if it's baked by pushing a skewer into the centre. If under-baked, you'll see wet batter on the skewer. If just right, you'll see sticky crumbs. If over-baked, the skewer may come out completely clean.

Place on a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes, then turn out to cool completely.

Make the frosting

Place the softened butter in a large bowl.

Whisk to loosen.

Sift in the icing sugar.

Whisk until pale, smooth and generously increased in volume.

Add the chilled cream cheese.

Gently fold through.

Divide the frosting into three bowls.

Add food colouring to each one.

Gently stir until evenly coloured. If they seem to have loosened, place in the fridge to firm back up. Transfer to piping bags with a variety of nozzles.

Once completely cooled, transfer the brownie to a board and cut into 12 equally sized squares in a 3x4 pattern.

Space the brownies apart, then pipe the frosting on top of the brownies in any patterns you like: stripes, dots, zig-zags - have fun with it!

Finally, add candy eyes to the tops of your brownies to complete their Halloween look.

Your brownies are now ready to serve!

Enjoy your spooky, chocolatey, Halloween brownies.

Are Halloween brownies easy to make?

This recipe is very easy to make, so if you follow all the steps you’ll get perfectly rich and gooey brownies. The most technical things you’ll need to do are melt the chocolate or whisk the eggs and sugar for your brownie batter. Luckily, you can use a stand mix to do the whisking and save your strength!

Once you’ve put your brownie batter into the oven, it only takes half an hour to cook into a tray of rich chocolatey brownie. Luckily this gives you time to make the cream cheese frosting so it’s a very time friendly recipe. 

The recipe has a step by step guide and there are photos of every step to help you make sure your batter is the right consistency and colour.

Will I need any special equipment to make Halloween brownies?

If you cook regularly, you’ll most likely already have everything you need to make this Halloween brownies recipe. You can make the brownie batter in one large mixing bowl - which importantly saves on washing up! 

To cook the brownies you’ll need a large rectangular baking tin measuring 20cm x 28cm (8 inch x 11 inch). This is a pretty standard-sized tray, so if you don’t have one it will be easy and inexpensive to find one. They’re usually available in the kitchenware aisle of a supermarket or in a kitchenware store. Or if you don’t live near many shops you can find a baking tray this size on Amazon.

If you want to decorate your Halloween brownies like I have you'll need a frosting piping bag. You might have one in the back of a cupboard from decorating an old birthday cake. If it’s old you should check it was properly cleaned and that the nozzle is rust free (if it’s metal). Remember the nozzle shape will give your frosting a different finish, so if you have a particular look in mind do a test of the nozzle first to make sure you’re happy with it 

There’s a full list of suggested equipment on the recipe card below, so make sure to check you have everything you need before you begin.

Where can I buy candy eyes?

Candy eyes are an easy way to make a simple cake look fun at any time of the year. So if you do a lot of baking with your kids (or if you’re just a big kid), then they’re good to have in. You might be able to find candy eyes on the baking aisle of your nearest large supermarket. You can use candy eyes for so many things, so they're generally available all year round in stores.  However, if you can't get to a shop, there are some great online options. 

You might not think of Etsy for cooking ingredients, but there are loads of interesting cake decorations available on there, including candy eyes. Or, if you want to make the most out of that prime membership, Amazon has various styles and sizes of candy eyes available.

Where can I buy good food colouring? What kind should I buy? 

You can buy food colouring in most food stores, kitchenware stores, specialist baking stores and supermarkets. You can also find food colouring on Amazon or specialist baking online retailers. However, the quality and potency will vary depending on the brand you use. 

The brand Progel is available in many baking stores or online retailers in the UK. They’re affordable and offer a really wide range of food colouring, so you can find the exact shade you want. 

Or if you prefer, there are food colourings on the market that are made with all natural ingredients. These food colourings only use vegetable or natural derived ingredients to give them their colour.

You should always make sure that you use food colouring which is in date, as it might become unsafe to eat or unstable over time.

Is food colouring bad for you?

Food colouring can be a bit of a tricky one to navigate if you’re trying to avoid food additives. Many food colourings include additives that can cause hyperactivity in children. 

Sometimes additives are referred to as ‘E numbers’. E numbers have a bit of an unfair reputation because of news coverage. An E number is just a name/number given to the chemicals in food so that European regulators can monitor food quality. So an E number isn’t necessarily always bad for you. Many naturally occurring chemicals and ingredients in food (like Vitamin C) are assigned E numbers. 

The following list of food additives, that might be included in food colouring, can affect behaviour in children; E102 (tartrazine), E104 (quinoline yellow), E110 (sunset yellow FCF), E122 (carmoisine), E124 (ponceau 4R), E129 (allura red). The NHS has a great explainer and list of food additives that can impact behaviour. 

It’s important to remember that all of these ingredients have been deemed safe to eat (in moderation) by regulators. So don’t worry if you use food colouring that includes these additives. This is just a bit of a warning for people who want to make the choice to avoid food additives.

A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. Please seek help from a medical professional if you need further information or have any concerns.

Are Halloween brownies suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, the recipe for Halloween brownies is suitable for vegetarians. However, some of the decorations you use might not be suitable for vegetarians, so you should make sure you check the labels of the candy eyes or food colouring you use.

Candy ingredients can often include an ingredient called ‘shellac’ which gives candy it’s shiny coating. You might be a little grossed out by its origin, as shellac is made from the shells of the lac bug, an insect from India and South East Asia. So if you’re making these Halloween brownies for a vegetarian you should make sure that your candy eyes don’t include shellac.

Double-check all of your ingredients labels to make sure to check that they are suitable for vegetarians. Don't forget to also check anything extra you intend to serve the recipe with.

Are Halloween brownies suitable for vegans?

While this Halloween brownie recipe is suitable for vegetarians, it contains eggs and dairy so it isn’t suitable for vegans. 

Vegetarians can eat eggs and dairy products, but vegans don’t eat anything that comes from an animal, including their milk and eggs. So vegans can’t eat eggs, mayonnaise, honey, milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, chocolate, ghee and other dairy products. 

While that might sound like a bit of a miserable diet, there are so many great vegan alternatives to these ingredients, so you can usually find a way to adapt your recipes. For example, a common way to substitute eggs in a recipe to make a chia seed egg or use vegan egg replacer. There are also a lot of great non-dairy butter which still have a really rich buttery taste and texture.

However, this recipe relies on eggs and dairy products to give the brownies their rich texture, so while you could try to adapt this recipe with vegan alternatives, it most likely won’t have the same moist texture. You can still make vegan brownies with a deliciously gooey texture, but you’ll need to follow a recipe where the ingredients are balanced in the right way to get that result. Jamie Oliver has a rich and gooey chocolate brownie recipe specifically designed for vegan ingredients here. 

If you do decide to substitute the non-vegan ingredients with vegan alternatives you should make sure to double-check that all of your ingredients are vegan. Especially the candy eyes. As I said, candy ingredients can often contain non-vegan ingredients.

Don't forget to also check anything extra like ice cream, decorations or sauces that you intend to serve with the brownies.

Are Halloween brownies gluten-free?

These vegan brownies aren’t gluten-free as they contain wheat flour. However, there are plenty of gluten-free flour blends which you could use instead of wheat flour. Most gluten-free flour blends a mixture of wheat alternatives like buckwheat, rice or coconut flour with binding agents. 

You can usually find gluten-free flour on the baking aisle of your local supermarket. However, if you can’t find any in store there are plenty of varieties available on Amazon, or through online health stores and retailers like Whole Foods.

So feel free to give this recipe a try with a gluten-free alternative. Though as you would expect, they will have a slightly different texture if you do this. Remember, if you do use gluten-free flour make sure to check you don’t buy a self-raising version, as this recipe calls for plain flour. 

Double check all of your ingredients labels to make sure that they’re gluten-free. Don't forget to also check anything extra you intend to serve the recipe with.

Are Halloween brownies keto-friendly?

These Halloween brownies contain sugar, flour and chocolate so they aren’t keto-friendly. This recipe relies on the sugar and butter to give them their gooey texture, so you wouldn’t be able to adapt this recipe for a ketogenic diet by swapping the ingredients.

Are Halloween brownies healthy?

These brownies contain sugar and chocolate to give them a moist and indulgent texture, so they’re best enjoyed as a luxurious seasonal treat. However, there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself from time to time as part of a healthy diet. 

Are Halloween brownies safe to eat while pregnant?

There’s nothing in this recipe that would be dangerous to a pregnant person. However, if you’re concerned the NHS has some very clear information about foods that should be avoided while pregnant.

When you’re cooking you need to make sure that all the ingredients you use are in good condition and this meal is prepared safely and hygienically. This is especially important when cooking for someone who is in a vulnerable group (children, people with underlying health conditions, pregnant people, older people).

A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. Please seek help from a medical professional if you need further information or have any concerns.

Are Halloween brownies suitable for babies and toddlers?

These Halloween brownies are fine for children. However, they probably aren’t suitable for babies and toddlers as they contain a lot of sugar and are decorated with candy eyes which might be a choking risk. The NHS explains why you should avoid giving certain foods to babies and toddlers here. 

If you do decide to let an older toddler try the brownies you should always make sure it’s cut down into an appropriate size and shape for them to eat. 

A Mummy Too does not give medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns please speak to a health professional.

What goes well with Halloween brownies?

Halloween brownies are flavoured with chocolate, and depending on who you ask, chocolate goes with anything! 

Many people serve brownies warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (or any flavour you like). You should even use leftover brownies to make a brownie ice cream sundae by layering ice cream and broken bits of brownie in a sundae bowl.

Of course brownies will also go great with cream or custard. You could top them with chopped fruit and nuts.

Can I make this recipe without frosting?

The frosting on these brownies is just for decoration, so if you just want some delicious gooey brownies then feel free to make this recipe without frosting.

 If you’re making brownies at another time of year, you can always give them a non-Halloween themed topping, like a dusting of icing sugar or sprinkles.

I haven’t got cream cheese. Can I leave it out?

The cream cheese is what gives the frosting its body and creamy texture. 

You could just make a classic buttercream frosting, but it will be a different texture and you’ll need to add much more butter to compensate for the loss of cream cheese.

Can I add extra chocolate to my Halloween brownies?

You could add extra chocolate to your brownies if you like, but it will change the texture and outcome of the recipe. 

This recipe has been designed so that there’s a nice balance between the flavours and enough moisture, fat and dry ingredients to ensure the brownies bake nicely. 

Brownie batter is more forgiving than say, a cake, so if you add more chocolate it won’t be a disaster. However, I haven’t tested this so let me know how it goes if you do decide to make extra chocolatey brownies.

If you just want some extra chocolate flavour without the risk of experimenting with the brownie recipe, you could just add hot chocolate powder to your frosting (though remember this will affect the colour).

How should I store Halloween brownies?

You can store these brownies in a few ways as long as they’re kept in an airtight container. 

If you are storing your brownies without any frosting, you can keep them on the counter, in a cupboard, or you can store them in the fridge or freezer. As long as they’re kept somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight (in the pantry or cupboard would be ideal), they will last for up to a week. You can keep them for longer if you store them in the fridge, but they'll be at their best if eaten within the first day or two.

If you have already decorated your brownies with the cream cheese frosting, you’ll need to store them in the fridge so that the cream cheese and butter doesn’t spoil. Decorated 

How long do Halloween brownies keep?

Your undecorated Halloween brownies should keep for up to a week if you store them in an airtight container in a cool dark place. 

As brownies are moist and full of sugar, they tend to last and taste better for longer than other baked goods. However, 

Can I leave Halloween brownies out on the counter?

It’s fine to leave your undecorated brownies out on the counter as long as you keep them in an airtight container and out of direct sunlight. 

However, if you’ve already decorated your brownies with frosting then you’ll need to keep them in the fridge or freezer. This is because the frosting contains cream cheese and butter which can spoil if left at room temperature.

Can I make Halloween brownies ahead?

Yes, you could make your brownies ahead of time in a couple of ways. The best way would be to make the brownies up to 3 months in advance and freeze them. Then put them in the fridge to defrost the night before you want to serve or decorate them. Then you’ll only need to make the frosting to complete them.

You can also make the frosting a day ahead and keep it in the fridge, though it will be easier to work with if you make it fresh.

You can also make your brownies and decorate them before freezing them. However, they might look a bit scruffy when they defrost as the frosting might split or the colours might run. 

So it’s best to make them fresh, or freeze the brownies before decorating them and then use fresh frosting to decorate your defrosted brownies. 

Can I keep Halloween brownies in the refrigerator?

Yes, keeping your decorated brownies in the fridge is the best way to keep them fresher for longer. The frosting contains cream cheese and butter so it needs to be kept in the fridge so the butter or cream cheese doesn’t spoil. 

Remember to leave them out of the fridge for 30 minutes or so before serving so they can come to room temperature.

Can I freeze Halloween brownies?

You can freeze your Halloween brownies with the frosting on but it’s probably best if you freeze them undecorated as buttercream can split when it defrosts. 

If you do freeze them with the frosting, then you can freeze them in a flat layer, frosting side up of course, on a sheet or freezer-safe plate. Then once they’re frozen you can put them into a sandwich bag or container and store in the freezer. This method lets you freeze the brownies intact so they don’t stick together as they freeze. 

If frozen, your Halloween brownies should last for up to three months.

What is the best way to defrost Halloween brownies?

When you want to defrost your Halloween brownies, you just need to take them out of the freezer, but leave them in the airtight container until fully defrosted. This is so that the buttercream in the frosting doesn’t melt before the brownies have defrosted.

Can I make Halloween brownies in a different quantity?

Yes, if you want to make more or less of this recipe go ahead. I have a helpful tool in the recipe card below that can help you change the portion size while keeping the ingredient ratios the same.

To use the tool scroll down until you get to the recipe card below. Towards the top of the card you’ll see a serving size section. To change this to the number of brownies you want to make just click on it and a little slider will pop up. You can then move the slider up or down to get the amount you want to make. All the ingredient quantities will update automatically for you so that everything is in the right ratios. 

However, this tool doesn’t change the cooking time in the recipe. If you increase the size of the brownie recipe you might need to cook the brownies for a shorter or longer time on a lower heat. Luckily as long as you don’t burn the top, brownies can be quite forgiving when it comes to cooking time.

 If you’ve changed the recipe size, just make sure to do a skewer test to make sure your brownies are cooked through. You can do this by poking a knife or skewer into the centre of the brownies once they come out of the oven. If the knife comes out without any wet batter then the brownies are safe to eat (there might be some melted chocolate on there even if they’re cooked). 

Can I make Halloween brownies in individual portions?

This recipe has been designed to be sliced into individual portions. However, if you don’t want to make 12 brownies, you can use the tool in the recipe card (described in the answer before this one) to adjust the portion size. 

If you just want one brownie, you could pour some of the brownie batter into individual-sized tin or ramekins to make individual portions.

It’s best to follow the recipe instructions as they are because that is the number of ingredients I have tested the recipe with. You can always freeze any excess brownies so they don’t go to waste.

Can I make Halloween brownies in a different tin/tray?

I haven’t tested this recipe in a different tin or tray, but feel free to experiment.

As long as the brownie batter is cooked at the same depth and similar size, the cooking time should remain the same. 

However, if you split them into individual tins, or into moulds with smaller areas (e.g a person-shaped mould) then some areas will cook before the larger areas are cooked through, so bear that in mind. 

Can I make Halloween brownies in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

Yes, using a stand mixer will save you some strength when it comes to whisking the eggs and mixing the sugar and butter. However, you should gently fold the sifted flour into the mix using a spatula and mixing by hand as you don’t want the flour to get overworked.

Overworking your flour will cause extra bonds to form between the gluten molecules. This is what you want for bread, but not for a cake or brownie. If you overwork the flour in your brownie batter then you’ll end up with dense, tough brownies which might even take longer to cook.

Can I make Halloween brownies with a food processor?

You could mix the sugar and butter together in a food processor for the batter or the frosting, but it’s probably best to use a stand mixer or do it by hand as getting it out of the food processor can be a bit fiddly.

As above, you should avoid using a food processor to mix the brownie batter once the flour has been added as you don’t want overworked flour.

How can I make sure my Halloween brownies are perfectly cooked?

To make sure your brownies are perfectly cooked you should follow the recipe instructions to the letter and check the photos to make sure your batter looks right as you go along. 

Once you think your brownies are cooked, you can do a skewer test to check they’re cooked through to the centre. Once cooked, your brownies should be moist and a little squidgy to the touch, but not wet or viscous. As they contain chocolate they will be a dark colour, but make sure they’re a dark brown colour, rather than black and burnt.

Why did my Halloween brownies turn out dry/hard/burned/overcooked?

If your Halloween brownies turned out dry or burned it’s most likely because you cooked them for too long or the temperature of your oven was too high. 

Always use a timer when baking so you don’t lose track of time. It’s best to set a timer for 10 minutes before the end of your bake so you can check it isn’t burning or cooking too quickly. If it is looking too cooked you can take it out or turn the oven down. It’s a good idea to use a timer on your phone as well as the oven, just in case you get caught up doing something in another room and you don’t hear the oven.

However, if you cooked your brownies at the right temperature and for the right amount of time and you find that a lot of your meals and bakes are turning out overcooked, then your oven might be running higher than the temperature dial/screen states.

If you want to check that your oven is working at the right temperature you can use an oven thermometer to get a read on the temperature your oven is actually running at. 

Most kitchenware stores or department stores with a kitchen section will have oven thermometers in stock. However, if you don’t live near a store like this you can find various oven thermometers on Amazon like this one.  

Why did my Halloween brownies turn out wet/soft/undercooked?

If your Halloween brownies turned out too wet or undercooked then it means that they weren’t cooked for long enough, or the temperature was too low. 

If you cooked your brownies for the right amount of time and you had the oven set to the right temperature it may mean that your oven has an inconsistent temperature or is running lower than the dial states. As I said above, you can check that your oven is running at the right temperature by using an oven thermometer. 

Why didn’t my Halloween brownies rise?

Your brownies shouldn’t really rise very much at all, as there’s no rising agent in the recipe. The egg in the recipe should help some air bubbles form and help the brownies to rise a little, but not much. You should have a sheet of cooked brownie that isn’t much higher than the batter you poured in.  

These brownies should be a little dense, gooey and moist, rather than light and airy, so it’s fine if they didn’t rise.

Why is my cream cheese frosting runny?

There are a couple of reasons why your cream cheese frosting is runny. 

The first reason is to do with the ingredients. If you use too much fat (butter, cream cheese)  or liquid (vanilla extract) your frosting won’t hold its shape. So make sure you follow the ingredient quantities closely to get the right consistency.

Another point to note is how wet your cream cheese is. If you open your cream cheese and it has a bit of excess liquid in the tub, you should pour that away before using the cream cheese. 

The second reason your cream cheese frosting might be runny is due to over-beating.  Your frosting can collapse if you over beat the cream cheese, so you should avoid using a food processor to mix the frosting and you should only whisk it until you have the right consistency.

I usually find that frosting made entirely from UK cream cheese doesn’t hold it’s shape well, which is why I added butter to this recipe. Butter complements the flavour of cream cheese and it’s obviously firmer, so it helps the frosting to hold together better. So if you’re trying to reduce the amount of butter you include, you won't get the right consistency if you only use cream cheese.

The final reason your frosting is too runny is because it could be too warm. The frosting is made with softened but still chilled butter. Butter melts as it gets warm and cream cheese gets softer, so if the kitchen is too hot or you used melted butter then your frosting will be runny. 

But don’t worry! You could always try to fix this by cooling the frosting in the fridge for half an hour or in the freezer for 15 minutes. This might firm up your frosting and make it easier to pipe.

As you’re piping make sure you aren’t holding the frosting bag too much with warm hands as this will melt the butter and could make your frosting runny again.

Why did my cream cheese frosting split?

If your cream cheese frosting has split it is most likely due to overbeating or the temperature being too high or too low. 

Cream cheese frosting is especially prone to splitting if it is too warm, too cold or has been overbeaten. When cream cheese is overbeaten it affects the fat, liquid and protein in the cream cheese and can cause them to separate which results in splitting.

If you’ve overbeaten your cream cheese frosting you can try to rectify things by adding a little full-fat milk or extra cream cheese and gently mix it through then chilling the frosting. This should help to rebalance the protein, fat and liquid content and repair the split cream cheese. 

If you still aren’t sure there’s a great video here that shows you how to save split frosting.

Why were my frosting colours dull?

If your frosting colours were dull it might be because the concentration of food colouring wasn’t enough. Food colouring strength can vary between brands, so sometimes it’s best to judge your food colouring by eye rather than following the recipe exactly, especially if you have used a different brand.

Just make sure to gradually add a drop at a time to test the strength of your colouring. Otherwise, the food colouring might become too intense.

How can I add/change the flavours in my Halloween brownies?

If you want to change the flavours of your brownies there are a few simple ways to do so without affecting your cooking time or gooey texture.

You could add the zest of an orange to the brownie batter to make chocolate orange flavoured brownies. Or you could add a couple of drops of mint food flavouring for a mint chocolate flavoured batter. 

Or if you know that the people you’re cooking for don’t have any allergies you could add a handful of chopped hazelnuts to the batter and this shouldn’t affect the baking time. 

You could also add some chopped dried fruit like cherries, which are a match made in heaven when teamed with chocolate. However, if you use dried fruit they might absorb some of the liquid from the batter and affect the texture. So you might want to add a few tablespoons of milk to the batter to counteract this.

Where do brownies originally come from?

As with most indulgent tray bake favourites, brownies were thought to be invented in the United States in the late 1800’s. According to some historians, a baked dessert which was similar to modern brownies was originally made by the chefs in a Chicago hotel for the wife of the owner. 

However, the first instance of brownies (as we know them today) in a recipe book was a few years after this story. The recipe was slightly different to the Chicago version (it didn’t contain fruit) and was called ‘Brownie’s food’. This recipe was credited to a woman from Wisconsin. However, there are also early brownie recipes credited to a ‘housewife’ in Maine.

It wasn’t until the 20th century when the name ‘brownie’ became widespread that we started to see chocolate brownies in the traybake form we make today.

So while it’s possible that they were invented for that lucky hotel owner’s wife, they may also have been invented in Wisconsin or Maine. Ultimately, it’s just safer to say that brownies are probably one of the best American inventions of all time.

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