If you’re looking for a fun, spooky treat that’s as much fun to make as it is to eat, you’re in the right place! My Monster Mash Halloween Brownies (Kids Recipe) Recipe is a total favorite when the Halloween season rolls around. It’s perfect for baking with kids or just bringing a smile (and some sweet shivers) to the whole family. Packed with rich chocolate flavor and decked out in festive monster-themed frostings and decorations, these brownies really bring the Halloween party to life. Trust me, you’ll want to stick around to see how easy and delightfully messy this all becomes!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Kid-Friendly Fun: The decorating process is super engaging for kids, making baking exciting and creative.
- Deliciously Chocolatey: A combination of dark and white chocolate chips plus cocoa powder gives these brownies a rich, irresistible flavor.
- Festive and Eye-Catching: Colorful frosting and liquorice decorations turn simple brownies into Halloween masterpieces.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: These brownies chill well, making party prep a breeze.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this recipe lies in combining classic brownie ingredients with fun frosting colors and playful decorations. I always recommend using good-quality chocolate—it really makes a difference in the final taste. And for the frosting colors, gel food coloring works best because it won’t thin out your buttercream.
- All-purpose flour: Use fresh flour for a tender crumb.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Gives deep chocolate intensity; I prefer Dutch-processed for smoothness.
- Granulated sugar: Balances the cocoa’s bitterness.
- Unsalted butter: Melted for rich flavor and smooth texture.
- Dark chocolate: Melts into the batter for extra fudginess.
- Large eggs: Bind the batter and add moisture; room temperature eggs work best.
- White chocolate chips: Add sweet pockets of creamy contrast.
- Dark chocolate chips: More rich chocolate bites throughout.
- American buttercream frosting: The base for all your colorful frostings.
- Cocoa powder (for frosting): Adds chocolate flavor to the black frosting.
- Milk (for frosting): Helps achieve the right frosting consistency.
- Gel food coloring: Black, teal, yellow, red, purple, pink—use sparingly for vibrant colors without thinning.
- Liquorice roll: Perfect for spooky monster “hair” and “legs.”
Variations
I love to tailor the Monster Mash Halloween Brownies (Kids Recipe) Recipe depending on who’s joining in on the fun. Sometimes, my kids and I get creative with the frosting colors or swap out liquorice for gummy worms to add more “creepy-crawlies.” Feel free to make it your own! Experimenting is half the joy.
- Gluten-Free Version: I once made this with a gluten-free flour blend, and while the texture changes slightly, it still delivers on flavor and festive fun.
- Dairy-Free Option: Substitute butter and chocolate chips with plant-based versions to accommodate allergies without losing that fudgy goodness.
- Spooky Flavor Add-Ins: Add a pinch of cinnamon or espresso powder to deepen the chocolate flavors—my husband’s favorite twist!
- Alternative Decorations: Instead of liquorice, try pretzel sticks for “bones” or edible candy eyes to personalize your monster faces.
How to Make Monster Mash Halloween Brownies (Kids Recipe) Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Frostings
Before you dive into the brownies, I always start with frosting. Split your American buttercream into seven portions and tint each with the little drops of gel food coloring as instructed. This step helps streamline decorating later — plus, it’s fun to watch vibrant colors come to life. For the black frosting, mix cocoa powder with milk and black gel for that rich, spooky shade. Don’t forget to save a portion plain white to add contrast later on.
Step 2: Mix the Brownie Batter
Heat your oven to 175°C (340°F) fan forced and prep a 32×24 cm baking tin with non-stick spray and parchment paper — this makes lifting the brownies out a breeze. Melt the butter and dark chocolate carefully in the microwave, stirring after each 20-second blast until smooth. Mixing by hand here instead of the microwave’s “defrost” setting prevents burning. Stir in the sugar, then whisk in the eggs one at a time — this keeps your batter silky. Fold in your cocoa powder and flour gently to avoid overmixing, then stir in both white and dark chocolate chips. Yum!
Step 3: Bake and Chill
Pour your batter into the prepared tin and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a pick inserted comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter). This is key for fudgy brownies. I’ve learned the hard way that overbaking can dry them out, so keep an eye on that timer! After baking, let them chill at room temperature for 1 hour, then pop them in the fridge to set for another hour — this firms the brownies up making them easier to cut and decorate.
Step 4: Cut and Decorate Your Monster Mash
Using a 2½-inch square cookie cutter, cut out 12 frozen brownie squares. Now the magic begins! Pipe your green frosting squares around six brownies for Frankenstein, add little monstrous faces with black, yellow, and red frostings, and finish with liquorice “bolts.” For the mummy brownies, use light yellow frosting in thin lines to create the wrapping look, and spooky eyes with yellow and black frosting. Purple frosting frames three for the spider monsters, complete with red fangs and liquorice “legs.” Last, decorate the remaining by piping a widow’s peak with black, filling in white, and adding vampire eyes and mouth details. Watching each unique monster come to life is a total blast for me and my kids.
Pro Tips for Making Monster Mash Halloween Brownies (Kids Recipe) Recipe
- Prep Frosting Early: Color your frostings while the brownies bake to keep things moving smoothly and avoid frosting sitting out too long.
- Don’t Overmix Batter: Mix just until combined after adding flour to keep brownies tender and moist.
- Chill Before Cutting: Chilling your brownies makes cutting cleaner and less crumbly, especially important when using a cookie cutter.
- Use Piping Bags & Tips: Using the right piping tips really helps with precision and makes decorating less messy for kids and grown-ups alike.
How to Serve Monster Mash Halloween Brownies (Kids Recipe) Recipe
Garnishes
I keep things simple but fun by using liquorice sticks—sometimes cutting them into little pieces for “stitches” or long legs. Edible candy eyes from the craft store add an extra spooky touch! If you want some sparkle, a tiny amount of edible glitter dusted over the frosting gives it a subtle magic glow that kids adore.
Side Dishes
These brownies pair perfectly with Halloween-themed fruit like candied apples or a simple glass of cold milk to balance out the rich chocolate. For a party spread, think popcorn tossed with pumpkin spice or pumpkin seed brittle—it complements the monster vibe and satisfies everyone’s sweet tooth.
Creative Ways to Present
When we hosted a Halloween party last year, I arranged the brownies on a black platter lined with fake spider webs and scattered mini plastic spiders around. It made for such a showstopper centerpiece! Wrapping individual brownies in clear bags tied with orange and black ribbons makes a great party favor too. Your kids might love turning the decorating into a contest too—best spooky face wins!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once decorated, I store these Monster Mash Halloween Brownies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Before serving, I let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to take the chill off and soften the frosting slightly—makes them just like freshly made.
Freezing
I’ve frozen undecorated brownies before with great results—wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and foil. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the fridge, then frost and decorate fresh. This really saves time if you want to prepare in advance without compromising freshness.
Reheating
To warm up leftover brownies without melting the frosting, I place them on a plate, cover lightly with foil, and heat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. This refreshes the fudgy texture without messing up the decorations. Perfect for a quick after-school snack!
FAQs
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Can kids help make the Monster Mash Halloween Brownies (Kids Recipe) Recipe?
Absolutely! This recipe is designed with kids in mind—mixing the batter, coloring frosting, and decorating the monsters are all fun activities that children can safely participate in. Just be sure to supervise any oven use and piping to keep things safe and fun.
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How do I prevent the brownies from drying out?
Keeping an eye on baking time is key; bake until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs, not completely clean. Also, chilling the brownies after baking helps retain moisture and makes cutting easier without crumbling.
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How long can I store decorated Monster Mash Halloween Brownies?
Once fully decorated, store brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Bring them to room temperature before serving for best flavor and texture.
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Can I use regular food coloring instead of gel?
Gel food coloring is recommended because it provides vibrant colors without thinning your buttercream frosting. Using liquid food coloring might make your frosting too runny, which can be tricky when trying to pipe detailed designs.
Final Thoughts
Making these Monster Mash Halloween Brownies (Kids Recipe) Recipe has always been a highlight of my October traditions. I love how it brings my family together—from mixing the batter to decorating silly monsters with sticky fingers and big smiles. It’s a recipe that’s as much about the memories as the treats, and I’m confident you’ll enjoy it just as much. Give it a go and watch the Halloween spirit come alive right in your kitchen!
PrintMonster Mash Halloween Brownies (Kids Recipe) Recipe
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 brownies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Monster Mash Halloween Brownies are a fun and festive treat perfect for kids and Halloween parties. Rich, fudgy brownies are baked and then decorated with colorful American buttercream frosting to create spooky characters like Frankenstein, Mummies, Spiders, and Dracula. The brownies combine dark and white chocolate chips for extra texture and are finished with playful details using various food gels and licorice for a creative and delicious Halloween dessert.
Ingredients
Brownies
- 1/2 cup (75 g) all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup (75 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 cups (300 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cups (300 g) dark chocolate, melted
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup (200 g) white chocolate chips
- 1 cup (200 g) dark chocolate chips
Frosting
- 1 1/4 batches American buttercream frosting
- 1/4 cup (20 g) cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp milk
- 10 drops black food gel
- 3 drops teal food gel + 3 drops yellow food gel (green frosting)
- 2 drops yellow food gel (light yellow frosting)
- 5 drops yellow food gel (yellow frosting)
- 10 drops red food gel (red frosting)
- 10 drops purple food gel + 5 drops pink food gel (purple frosting)
Decorations
- 20 cm roll of licorice
Instructions
- Prepare Frosting: Divide the American buttercream frosting into 7 portions. Mix 2 portions with teal and yellow food gel to make green frosting. Mix 1 portion with cocoa powder, milk, and black food gel for black frosting. Color one portion light yellow, half a portion yellow, half a portion red, and one portion purple using the respective food gels. Leave the last portion white for decoration.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Tin: Preheat a fan-forced oven to 175°C (340°F). Spray a 32cm x 24cm baking tin with non-stick spray and line it with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Melt Butter and Chocolate: Place butter and dark chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring after each, until smooth and fully melted.
- Make Brownie Batter: Add granulated sugar to the melted butter and chocolate mixture and whisk until fully combined. Add eggs one at a time, whisking thoroughly after each addition. Sift in cocoa powder and flour, then fold gently with a spatula until just combined. Fold in white and dark chocolate chips.
- Bake Brownies: Pour batter into the prepared baking tin, spreading evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out with moist crumbs. Remove from oven and allow to cool at room temperature for 1 hour, then chill in the fridge for an additional hour.
- Cut Brownies: Use a 2 ½ inch square cookie cutter to cut out 12 brownie squares carefully.
- Decorate Frankenstein Brownies: Fit a piping bag with Wilton #8 tip, pipe a square of green frosting around the edge of 6 brownies. Smooth with a small offset spatula. Using a #3 tip, pipe eyes, mouth, monobrow, and stitches on the mouth with black frosting. Fill eyes with yellow frosting and black pupils. Finish with small licorice pieces on the sides as ears or scars.
- Decorate Mummy Brownies: Using green-frosted brownies, pipe lines of light yellow frosting across the brownies with a Wilton 2B tip to mimic mummy wraps. Use black frosting (#3 tip) to pipe eyes, then outline the eyes with yellow frosting and finish pupils with black frosting.
- Decorate Spider Monster Brownies: Pipe a purple frosting border around 3 brownies using Wilton #8 tip and smooth with an offset spatula. Pipe a black smile with the #3 tip and add red fangs. Use green eyes piped with a #3 tip frosting bag. Attach long licorice legs to the sides.
- Decorate Dracula Brownies: With two piping bags fitted with Wilton #8 tips, pipe a widow’s peak with black frosting on the remaining 3 brownies, then fill the rest with white frosting. Decorate eyes and mouth similar to mummy and spider brownies with respective colored frostings to create Dracula’s face and fangs.
Notes
- Storage: Store brownies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Serving: For best flavor and texture, thaw the brownies at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
- Customization: You can adjust frosting colors or decorations to personalize your monster brownies.
- Equipment: Use piping bags and tips for detailed decorating effects.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie (approx. 75g)
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
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