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These Witch Cauldron Brownies are a fun and easy Halloween treat made with fudgy brownie cups, purple cream cheese frosting, and colorful spooky sprinkles. They’re cute, chocolatey, and perfect for Halloween parties or a spooky dessert table.
“I love that they start with a boxed brownie mix, so they’re simple to make but still look adorable on a Halloween dessert table. Add candy eyes, bones, or your favorite Halloween sprinkles to make them extra spooky.”
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These brownies are easy to make, fun to decorate, and perfect for Halloween parties. Starting with a boxed brownie mix saves time, and you can easily change the frosting color and decorations to make your own spooky little cauldrons.
If you love this recipe, be sure to try my fun Halloween Monster Cake Mix Cookies, colorful Halloween Bark, adorable Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats, sweet and salty Halloween Chex Mix, and spooky Mummy Hot Dogs.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Fudge brownie mix: plus the ingredients on the box to make it.
- Butter: softened.
- Cream cheese: softened.
- Vanilla extract: Be sure to try this homemade Vanilla Extract for amazing flavor!
- Powdered sugar
- Purple gel food coloring: Add a few drops at a time until you reach the color you want.
- Halloween sprinkles mix: Use a mix with candy eyes, bones, or other Halloween shapes.
The full list of ingredients and instructions is in the recipe card below.
Variations
- Change the color: Purple is perfect for a witch’s cauldron, but neon green or neon orange frosting would be fun too.
- Use homemade brownies: Use your favorite homemade brownie recipe in place of the boxed brownie mix.
- Switch the frosting: Store bought white frosting or homemade buttercream can be used instead of the cream cheese frosting.
- Add a stirring stick: Stick a pretzel stick or Pocky into each cauldron after decorating to look like a little stirring stick.
- Change the sprinkles: Use any Halloween sprinkle mix you like. If your mix doesn’t include candy eyes or bones, you can add them separately.
How to Make Witch’s Cauldron Brownies
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously spray the cavities of two 12-cavity muffin tins with baking spray. In a large mixing bowl, prepare the brownie mix according to the instructions on the box.
- Pour about 3-4 tablespoons of prepared brownie batter into each cavity of the prepared muffin tins.
- Bake for 14-18 minutes, until the brownies rise and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove the brownies from the oven. Use a tablespoon to gently press down the centers to create an indent for the frosting. Set the brownies aside to cool for at least 45 minutes.
- Add the softened butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer until combined. Gradually add the powdered sugar and continue beating until creamy. Add purple gel food coloring 2-3 drops at a time and mix until you reach your desired shade of purple.
- Fill each cooled brownie with 2 tablespoons of frosting.
- Top with Halloween sprinkles, candy eyes, or bones, and serve.
Tips
- Let them cool: Allow the brownies to cool for at least 45 minutes before frosting them so the frosting doesn’t melt.
- Use baking spray: Baking spray contains flour and will help prevent the brownies from sticking to the muffin tins. Regular cooking spray won’t work quite the same way.
- Remove them carefully: Once the brownies have cooled, gently run a knife around the edges if needed to help release them from the pan.
- Use gel food coloring: Gel food coloring is more concentrated, so it gives you a bright color without adding too much liquid and changing the texture of the frosting.
- Add color slowly: Start with 2-3 drops of food coloring and add more as needed until you get the shade you want.
FAQs
Yes. If you have a favorite homemade brownie recipe, you can use it instead of the boxed brownie mix. Just keep an eye on the baking time since it may vary slightly.
Yes. Store-bought frosting is an easy way to save time. Choose a white frosting if you want to add your own purple, green, or orange gel food coloring.
Yes. You can make the brownie cups ahead of time and wait to frost and decorate them until you’re ready to serve. Make sure the brownies are completely cool before adding the frosting.
Storage
Store Witch’s Cauldron Brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator because of the cream cheese frosting. They will stay fresh for about 3-4 days. You can also make the brownie cups ahead of time and store them unfrosted, then add the frosting and Halloween decorations before serving.
More Easy Halloween Recipes
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Halloween Cake Mix Cookies
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Turkey Leg Rice Krispie Treats
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Witch Cauldron Brownie Bites
Equipment
- Muffin Pans
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 Box Fudge brownie mix , 18.2 ounces- plus the ingredients on the box to make it. Mine needed oil, water, and an egg.
- 1/2 cup Butter, 1 stick, softened.
- 8 ounces Cream cheese, softened.
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 3 cups Powdered sugar
- Purple gel food coloring: Add a few drops at a time until you reach the color you want.
- Halloween sprinkles mix, Use a mix with candy eyes, bones, or other Halloween shapes.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously spray the cavities of two 12-cavity muffin tins with baking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, prepare the brownie mix according to the instructions on the box.
- Pour about 3-4 tablespoons of prepared brownie batter into each cavity of the prepared muffin tins.
- Bake for 14-18 minutes, until the brownies rise and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove the brownies from the oven. Use a tablespoon to gently press down the centers to create an indent for the frosting. Set the brownies aside to cool for at least 45 minutes.
- Add the softened butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar and continue beating until completely incorporated.
- Add purple gel food coloring 2-3 drops at a time and mix. Continue adding a few drops at a time until you reach your desired shade of purple.
- Fill each cooled brownie with 2 tablespoons of frosting.
- Top with Halloween sprinkles, candy eyes, or bones, and serve.
Notes
- Let them cool: Allow the brownies to cool for at least 45 minutes before frosting them so the frosting doesn’t melt.
- Use baking spray: Baking spray contains flour and will help prevent the brownies from sticking to the muffin tins. Regular cooking spray won’t work quite the same way.
- Remove them carefully: Once the brownies have cooled, gently run a knife around the edges if needed to help release them from the pan.
- Use gel food coloring: Gel food coloring is more concentrated, so it gives you a bright color without adding too much liquid and changing the texture of the frosting.
- Add color slowly: Start with 2-3 drops of food coloring and add more as needed until you get the shade you want.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These brownie bites make the cutest Halloween treats!