Brownie Graveyard!

This fudgy and delicious brownie recipe comes together in one bowl in just a few minutes! With crispy edges, fudgy middle, and a rich chocolate flavor, these homemade spooky brownies will disappear in no time!

Now I know homemade baking can be a scary thing for many people. This recipe ideally skips all of the typical fuss and stress around home baking. A simplified base with a perfectly smooth frosting and some simple decorations is all you need.

Be sure to grab the full recipe & check out the full video tutorial in the recipe card below. And if you try this recipe (I mean you totally should be), tag me on Instagram @imancake and use the hashtag #BakingWithMANCAKE.

Brownie Graveyard

prep time: 30 MINUTES cook time: 35 MINUTES additional time: 15 MINUTES total time: 1 HOUR 20 MINUTES

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup granulated white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar 200g, lightly packed1 cup brown sugar
• 3 eggs room temperature
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 & 1/2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 cup melted butter
• 2 tbsp coffee
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 3 sticks butter at room temperature
• 1 & 1/2 pounds powdered sugar, sifted
• 2 cups cocoa powder
• 2 8oz blocks cream cheese at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• a pinch of salt
• 4 cups crushed Oreo cookies
• Halloween sprinkles
• 1 package of gummy worms
• Candy pumpkins
• 5-6 cookies
• Black piping gel

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and prepare your brownie pans.

For the Brownies

1. You will need to make two batches or simply double the recipe since we will be using two brownie layers.
2. In a large bowl, combine melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and coffee then mix together well.
3. Add the white and brown sugars to the mixture and whisk together well.
4. Sift cocoa powder, flour, and salt into the bowl and mix until just combined
5. Toss in chocolate chips (or chunks) and fold into the batter.
6. Add batter to pan and smooth to the edges. You can add more chocolate chips to the top before baking if desired.
7. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the center is just set. You’ll notice the center does not wiggle when the pan is moved.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Sift confectioners sugar into a large bowl and set aside.
2. Cream butter in a large bowl.
3. Blend in cream cheese to the creamed butter.
4. Add vanilla, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt. Beat together.
5. Add the confectioners sugar 1 cup at a time. Mix until combined. If you’re wanting a thicker frosting, keep adding more sifted confectioners sugar until it’s stiff.

Putting it All Together

1. Top your first chocolate brownie layer with chocolate cream cheese frosting.
2. Add a layer of 2 cups of crushed Oreo cookies followed by halloween sprinkles. Top with gummy worms.
3. Add your top layer of chocolate brownie, inverted (this will help later). Cover your brownie with the remained of your chocolate cream cheese frosting.
4. Top your brownie stack with the remaining 2 cups of crushed Oreo cookies.
5. With black piping gel, pipe on some fun and festive tombstone messages onto your cookies. Press your cookies into the top of your brownie stack.
6. Finish off your brownie graveyard with candy corn pumpkins and some more Halloween sprinkles.

Notes

• Room Temperature Ingredients: Be sure to allow your dairy ingredients to reach room temperature. Room temperature ingredients not only combine more effortlessly (no over-mixing needed) but they also trap air so much better. This trap air will expand and produce a fluffy texture during your baking process.
• Prepared Pan: There will always be the “next best way to prepare your pan” article. Simply put however, the most effective way i find in my kitchen is a light rub of shortening around the sides, parchment paper on the bottom of the pan, & a very light dusting of flour (cocoa powder for chocolate baked goods) all throughout.