If you're looking for a quick and easy way to dress up brownies for this coming Halloween, look no further than these Hocus Pocus Brownies. They're simple to make and will really wow your kids or guests.
You can either make these brownies from scratch, or just simply use a brownie box mix!
For more sweet Trick or Treats we have Halloween Orange Sherbet Punch, Halloween Sugar Sprinkle Cookies, Halloween Snack Mix, Reese's Peanut Butter Fudge, Monster Cookie Truffles, Brain Jello, and Reeses Peanut Butter Cookies. Your party guest will have a spooky time at your Halloween table!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Brownies are very easy to make from scratch, but even faster with a box mix. Either way, these Halloween brownies are an absolute snap to make.
This frosted brownie tutorial is simple enough that your kids can decorate brownies for Halloween. Just mix up the frosting for them and let them have at it. There is really no right or wrong way to decorate these frosted brownies.
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Ingredients
You will bake a batch of brownies in a 9 x 13" pan. If you prefer, just bake a store bought brownie mix! Use a tub of ready made frosting, or make a batch of our Basic Cream Cheese Frosting.
- 9 x 13 Pan Brownies from mix, or homemade. You can double our Hershey Cocoa Brownie recipe also!
- Tub of Vanilla Frosting or recipe
- Candy eyes (sold at Walmart, Amazon, and Michael's, etc)
- Package of baking Reese's Pieces & Mini Cups
- Reese's Peanut Butter baking Chips
- Black Gel food colorant
- Orange Gel food colorant
If you can't find the baking mix of Reese's Pieces and Mini Peanut Butter cups, just buy one individual size bag of Reese's Pieces and another individual size bag of Reese's Mini Peanut Butter Cups. You won't need more than that.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Hocus Pocus Brownies
Make sure the pan of brownies you are using (either homemade or box mix) are completely cooled. This tutorial will show you how to decorate brownies for Halloween.
Step 1. Divide the Frosting
Divide the frosting equally between three small bowls. Two of the bowls will have colorant added and mixed into them. One bowl will remain uncolored. Be sure to buy either the Vanilla or Cream Cheese frosting. If you make our Basic Cream Cheese Frosting, it will be the base creamy white color.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 2. Color the Frosting
Color one of the bowls with some black gel colorant. Don't use liquid colorant, as it will thin our the frosting and make it runny. It won't set up properly on the brownies. If you do have to use liquid black colorant, use some extra powdered sugar to thicken the frosting back up.
Repeat the procedure on a second bowl of frosting with orange gel colorant. You should now have one bowl of white frosting, black frosting, and orange frosting.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 3. Dollop the Frosting on the Brownies
There is no right or wrong way to do this. Just place dollops of each bowl of frosting on top of the brownies. I found the easiest way to get a good 'Camouflage' pattern was to do FIVE dollops of each color, one dollop in each quadrant, and a last dollop toward the center area.
After spooning out the frosting on top of the brownies, blend them together by pressing down with the back of a spoon. Just make sure the edges of each dollop of frosting press into the one next to it, and kind of smear them together to make a layer covering with no brownie showing.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 4. Add the Candy Decorations
Don't worry about being perfect. This is one reason these frosted brownies are perfect for kids to do!
Last, just scatter the Reese's Peanut Butter baking chips and the Reese's Pieces & Mini Cups baking pieces on top of the frosting. Place some candy eyeballs here and there to finish up the look for your very own Hocus Pocus Brownies!
Serving Suggestions
Serve these frosted Halloween brownies for your children, or take them to your next Halloween party.
For more amazing Halloween Party treats see our Sweet and Sour 'Bat' Wings, Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Halloween 7 Layer Dip for a savory Halloween Party menu or buffet spread.
Love brownies? See our Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies, Mummy Brownies, Crinkle Brownie Cookies, and Hershey Cocoa Brownies.
Storage
Cover the pan of brownies with plastic wrap or aluminum foil until ready to serve. Then, slice and set on a platter. Alternatively, you can turn out the pan of brownies onto a platter, and then frost them.
Do not refrigerate with the candy eyeballs on them. When you bring the decorated brownies back to room temperature, the candy eyeballs will condensate with moisture and the black centers can bleed.
Tips for Success
- If making these brownies up ahead of time and freezing or refrigerating, add the candy eyeballs AFTER defrosting or bringing back to room temp. This will prevent the candy eyes from bleeding or weeping the black centers.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can! But, if you have candy eyes on the brownies you freeze, they will discolor when you remove them from the freezer and they defrost.
Yes, you will just have left over frosting.
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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📖 Recipe
Hocus Pocus Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 box brownie mix
- 1 tub Vanilla frosting
- 4 oz Reese's Peanut Butter baking chips
- 4 oz Reese's Pieces candies
- 4 oz Reese's Mini Peanut Butter cups
- candy eye balls
- orange gel colorant
- black gel colorant
Instructions
- Bake the brownie mix according to the package instructions. Let it cool completely before frosting and decorating.1 box brownie mix
- Divide the tub of frosting equally into three small bowls.1 tub Vanilla frosting
- Color one bowl with the black gel food color and blend in well.black gel colorant
- Color the second bowl with the orange gel food color and blend in well. Leave the third bowl uncolored.orange gel colorant
- Create a camouflage pattern with the three frosting colors by making 5 scattered dollops or spoonfuls of each color of frosting on the top of the brownies.
- Using the back of a spoon, smear and blend in the spoonfuls of frosting so that none of the brownie top shows.
- Scatter Reese's Pieces candies on top of the frosting. Scatter Reese's Peanut Butter baking chips on the top of the frosting. Scatter Mini Reese's Peanut Butter cups on the top of the frosting also.4 oz Reese's Peanut Butter baking chips, 4 oz Reese's Pieces candies, 4 oz Reese's Mini Peanut Butter cups
- Last, place the candy eyes on various spots on the top of the brownies, to make your own Hocus Pocus Brownies!candy eye balls
Nutrition
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