Traditional Spooky Brownies Recipes

SPOOKY BOO BROWNIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Line 8- or 9-inch square pan with foil, allowing some to hang over edges of pan. Grease bottom and sides of foil with shortening or cooking spray. Make and bake brownies as directed on box for 8- or 9-inch square pan. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1 1/2 hours. Freeze in pan 15 minutes. Using foil to lift, remove brownies from pan, and peel foil away. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.
• Heat frosting in microwavable bowl uncovered on High 20 to 30 seconds, stirring every 10 seconds, until frosting can be stirred smooth and fluid. If frosting becomes too firm while decorating, microwave 5 seconds; stir.
• Top each brownie with 1 large marshmallow. Spoon 1 tablespoon frosting over each marshmallow to coat. Let stand until frosting is set, about 30 minutes. Use black gel to make eyes and mouths.

TRADITIONAL SPOOKY BROWNIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Make and bake brownies in 13x9-inch pan as directed on box. Cool completely. Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows, making 24 brownies.
• Divide frosting among 3 small microwavable bowls. Heat frosting as needed: microwave 1 bowl uncovered on High about 10 to 15 seconds until frosting can be stirred smooth. If frosting becomes too firm while decorating, microwave on High an additional 5 seconds; stir.
• Decorate as directed below, using 8 brownies for each bowl of frosting.

SPOOKY HALLOWEEN BROWNIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325° for dark or nonstick pan). Line 9-inch square pan with foil, allowing some to hang over edges of pan. Spray bottom and sides of foil with cooking spray. Make and bake brownies as directed on box. Cool completely, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Using foil to lift, remove brownie from pan, and peel foil away. Transfer brownies to serving platter or cutting board.
• In each of 2 small bowls, place 1/3 cup frosting; add neon green food color to one, and purple food color to other to desired shades. Spoon each colored frosting into separate small resealable food-storage plastic bag; partially seal bags. Cut off about 1/4-inch corner from each bag. Squeeze frosting into mounds over top of brownie, alternating colors and size of mounds.
• Decorate as desired using candy eyeballs on frosting mounds. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

HALLOWEEN BROWNIES

Steps:

• Brownies: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Line bottom and long sides with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang. Butter and flour parchment, tapping out excess; set aside.
• Whisk together flour and salt. In a large heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pot of simmering water, melt butter. Remove from heat. Add both sugars; whisk to combine. Whisk in cocoa powder. Add eggs, one at a time, and whisk until well combined and glossy. Mix in vanilla. Add flour mixture; stir until just combined (do not overmix). Pour batter into prepared pan; smooth top with a spatula.
• Bake until top is crackly and a tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack. Let cool 30 minutes, then lift brownies out of pan using parchment overhang. Let cool completely on wire rack, then cut into 24 pieces (for spider webs, cut into squares; for mummies, cut into rectangles.)
• Royal Icing: While brownies are cooling, beat confectioners' sugar, meringue powder, and water with a mixer on low speed until fluffy but dense, 7 to 8 minutes.
• To Decorate: To make spider webs, transfer icing to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip (such as Ateco #3). Pipe long lines in corners of square brownies, then connect with icing to create a web shape.
• To make mummies, transfer icing to a piping bag fitted with a small ribbon tip (such as Ateco #44.) Pipe ribbons of icing back and forth to create a mummy pattern, and decorate with candy eyeballs.

SPOOKY BROWNIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Line 9-inch square pan with foil, allowing some to hang over edges of pan. Grease bottom and sides of foil with shortening or cooking spray. Make and bake brownies as directed on box. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1 1/2 hours. Freeze in pan 15 minutes. Using foil to lift, remove brownies from pan, and peel away foil. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.
• Divide frosting among 3 small microwavable bowls. Heat frosting as needed: microwave 1 bowl uncovered on High about 10 seconds until frosting can be stirred smooth. If frosting becomes too firm while decorating, microwave on High an additional 5 seconds; stir.
• Decorate as directed below, using 5 or 6 brownies for each bowl of frosting. Franken-Brownies Add desired amount of green food color to frosting in 1 bowl; mix well. Top each of 6 brownies with 1 large marshmallow. Spoon 1 tablespoon green frosting over each marshmallow to coat. Decorate with green M&M's™ minis chocolate candies for eyes and ears. Use black gel for mouths and centers of eyes. Cut fruit snack to use for hair. Boo-Brownies Top each of 5 brownies with 1 large marshmallow. Spoon 1 tablespoon white frosting over each marshmallow to coat. Use black gel for eyes and mouths. Spider Brownies Add desired amount of purple food color to frosting in 1 bowl; mix well. Top each of 5 brownies with 1 large marshmallow. Tuck gummy worms candies under each marshmallow for legs. Spoon 1 tablespoon purple frosting over each marshmallow to coat. Use orange M&M's™ minis chocolate candies for eyes. Use black gel for mouths, centers of eyes and eyebrows.