Halloween Brownies

These Halloween brownies are perfect for spooky season! They are fudgy brownie layers and topped with orange colored cheesecake. It is also swirled with extra brownie on top. These are a perfect orange and black fun halloween treats!

These Halloween brownies are pretty easy to make and makes such a fun festive treat! My favorite part about these brownies is they are actually marbled cheesecake brownies, but dyed orange! This would be the perfect brownies to make for a Halloween party or for kids.

For more Halloween recipes, try Halloween Pumpkin Ghost Cupcakes, Halloween Candy Chocolate Cake, and Mummy Cookies.

Why This Recipe Works

• Fudgy brownies- The homemade brownie recipe is based on my Better Than Boxed Brownies, but with no chocolate chips. They are super fudgy and incredible.
• Cheesecake layer- The cheesecake layer is creamy and pretty simple with the ingredients. They are just dyed orange!
• Swirled brownies- The top of the brownies has a swirl of brownies. This created using a 1/4 cup of brownie batter and very hot water mixed together.
• Kid approved- When I made these for my 4 year old, he absolutely loved it!

Ingredient Notes

Here are some notes on the ingredients. For a full list of ingredients, check out the recipe card below.

• Eggs- Pull the large eggs out 2 hours before using so it is room temperature.
• Unsalted butter- The butter is melted and cooled before adding to the brownie batter.
• Oil- Use canola oil, vegetable oil, or olive oil.
• Unsweetened cocoa powder- For best results, use dutch-processed cocoa powder. This is the one I used.
• Cornstarch- This helps to make the brownies more fudgy. If you don’t have it, then you can skip it.
• Cream cheese- Use full fat cream cheese. Pull this out 2 hours before baking.
• Orange food coloring- Use a gel food dye. I love Americolor.

Step By Step Instructions

Here is how to make and bake these Halloween swirl cream cheese brownies. You will need a stand mixer with both a whisk attachment and a paddle attachment or use a hand mixer. You will need a 8X8-inch square baking pan.

STEP 1: Mix the sugar and the eggs. First, beat the sugar and eggs on high speed in a large bowl for 5 minutes.

Next, mix in the melted butter, oil, and vanilla extract and mix in low speed.

STEP 2: Add the dry ingredients. Add in the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt. Make sure to mix on low speed until just combined.

Save 1/4 cup of brownie batter into a bowl.

STEP 3: Beat the cream cheese and sugar. Next, in a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar on high speed for 1 minute.

Then, add in the orange food dye and vanilla and mix on medium speed. Add enough food dye to get to the desired orange color.

STEP 4: Add the egg. Add the eggs and mix on low speed. Make sure to add as little air as possible to prevent cracks while baking.

STEP 5: Spread the batter. Spread the brownie batter over the prepared pan. Top with the cheesecake batter.

Heat the water on the stovetop until steaming, then pour on top of the 1/4 cup of brownie batter. Use a whisk to stir until smooth. It will be like liquid.

STEP 6: Swirl the batter. Pour the brownie batter on top of the cheesecake filling. Use a butter knife to very gently swirl it together.

STEP 7: Bake. Bake for 40-50 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out with soft crumbs. If it is gooey, bake for another 5 minutes.

STEP 8: Chill. First, cool completely on a cooling rack. Then, cover in plastic wrap and chill overnight or for at least 2 hours before cutting and enjoying.

Expert Baking Tips

• Flour- Make sure the flour is spooned and leveled. If you stick a measuring cup into the flour, this will compact the flour. Which will dry out the brownies and turn them cakey.
• The sugar and eggs with the brownie batter, needs to be beaten on high for 5 minutes.
• When the flour mixture is almost all the way mixed into the brownie batter, use a rubber spatula to fold the rest of the way. Over mixing the batter will cause the air bubbles to pop and it loose the crackle top and the rise.
• When preparing the pan, make sure to place parchment paper on the bottom and 2 sides of the pan. This will let you be able to remove them easily from the pan after they chill.

FAQ

Storing and Freezing

Store these Halloween brownies in the fridge in an airtight container. Chill up to 5 days.

Freezing

The bars can be frozen, store in an airtight container and freeze up to 30 days.

Thaw for 1-2 hours before eating. They thaw easily if you freeze them in slices.

Other Brownie Recipes To Try

Make sure to leave a STAR REVIEW if you loved this recipe! Make sure to tag me on Instagram @stephaniesweettreats. To get more ideas follow me on Pinterest.