Witch Cauldron Brownies

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These Witch Cauldron Brownies are cute little Halloween brownies baked in muffin tins, pressed into mini cauldrons and filled with colorful cream cheese frosting.

They start with boxed fudge brownie mix, so they’re easy enough for a last-minute Halloween party but still look like you put in full spooky-season effort.

The purple frosting, creepy sprinkles and candy eyes make them fun for kids, dessert tables, classroom parties or Halloween movie nights.

Add a pretzel stick or Pocky “stirring spoon” and suddenly your brownies are giving full witchy little potion vibes.

Why This Recipe is a Winner!

• They start with boxed brownie mix. You get rich, fudgy brownies without having to make everything from scratch.
• They look adorable on a Halloween dessert table. The mini cauldron shape, purple frosting and spooky sprinkles make them instantly party-ready.
• They’re easy to decorate. Candy eyes, bone sprinkles, Halloween colors and optional pretzel “stir sticks” make these fun without needing fancy decorating skills.
• They’re kid-friendly and party-friendly. These little brownie cauldrons are easy to pick up, serve and eat.
• You can change the colors. Purple, green, orange or any spooky shade will work, so you can match them to your Halloween theme.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Fudge brownie mix: I used an 18.2 ounce box of fudge brownie mix for the base of these brownie cauldrons. You will also need the ingredients listed on the box to prepare the batter.
• Butter: Softened butter helps create a smooth, rich frosting. Make sure it is softened before mixing so it blends easily with the cream cheese.
• Cream cheese: Use a brick of softened cream cheese, not the spreadable kind from a tub. This gives the frosting that thick, creamy texture and a little tang to balance the sweet brownies.
• Vanilla extract: Adds extra flavor to the cream cheese frosting.
• Powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting so it is sturdy enough to spoon into the brownie cups.
• Purple gel food coloring: Gel food coloring gives the frosting a bold Halloween color without adding too much liquid. You can also use green, orange or another spooky color if you prefer.
• Halloween sprinkles mix: Use a festive sprinkle mix with Halloween colors, candy eyes, bones or other spooky shapes. If your sprinkle mix does not include candy eyes, you can add them separately.

Printable Recipe Card with a Full List of Ingredients and Instructions is Located at the Bottom of the Post.

Be sure to read through the entire post so that you don't miss out on any important tips and tricks!

Step By Step Instructions

 STEP 1: 

I prepared a box of brownie mix according to the package directions.

 STEP 2: 

I spooned the brownie batter into a greased mini muffin tin and then baked the brownies until a toothpick inserted into the center came up clean.

 STEP 3: 

I used a tablespoon to create an indent in the brownies to hold the frosting and then I set the brownies aside to cool.

 STEP 4: 

I dropped butter, cream cheese and vanilla extract into a mixing bowl and used an electric mixer to cream them together until smooth.

I added some powdered sugar to the bowl and continued mixing.

 STEP 5: 

I added purple gel food colouring to the bowl and continued mixing until it was fully incorporated.

 STEP 6: 

I topped each of the brownies with frosting and sprinkles.

These Witch Cauldron Brownies are rich, fudgy and creamy with that perfect little crunch from the Halloween sprinkles on top.

Every bite feels like a sweet spooky treat with soft brownie edges, tangy frosting and just enough Halloween fun to make dessert feel extra magical.

If you are looking for a fun and festive treat for Halloween, then you need to try these Witch Cauldron Brownies!

• Spray the muffin tins really well. Use baking spray, not regular cooking spray, so the brownies release more easily from the pan.
• Don’t overfill the muffin cups. About 3-4 tablespoons of batter per cavity is enough to give you brownie cups with room for frosting.
• Press the centers while the brownies are warm. Use the back of a tablespoon to gently press down the middles as soon as they come out of the oven.
• Let the brownies cool completely before frosting. If they are still warm, the frosting can melt and slide right out of the cauldrons.
• Use softened butter and cream cheese. This helps the frosting mix up smooth and creamy without lumps.
• Add the food coloring slowly. Start with 2-3 drops of gel food coloring, mix, then add more until you get the Halloween color you want.
• Use gel food coloring. Gel color gives you a bold shade without thinning out the frosting.
• Run a knife around the edges if needed. Once the brownies are cooled, gently loosen the edges before lifting them out of the muffin tin.
• Add the sprinkles right before serving if making ahead. This keeps the candy eyes, bones and sprinkles looking fresh and crisp.
• Make them extra witchy with a stir stick. Stick a pretzel stick or Pocky into each frosted brownie cauldron for a cute little potion spoon look.

Substitutions and Variations

• Use homemade brownies. If you have a favorite homemade brownie recipe, you can use that instead of boxed brownie mix.
• Try a different frosting. Store bought vanilla frosting or homemade buttercream frosting will both work if you want a shortcut or prefer a sweeter frosting.
• Change the frosting color. Purple looks cute and witchy, but neon green, orange or black would also be fun for Halloween.
• Use different sprinkles. Any Halloween sprinkle mix will work, so choose one with colors and shapes that match your frosting.
• Add candy eyes separately. If your sprinkle mix does not come with candy eyes, just sprinkle them on top after frosting.
• Make them extra chocolatey. Stir mini chocolate chips into the brownie batter before baking for even more chocolate flavor.
• Add a cauldron stir stick. Press a pretzel stick, Pocky stick or chocolate-covered pretzel into each brownie cauldron after decorating.
• Use different brownie mix flavors. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, fudge or triple chocolate brownie mix would all be delicious.
• Swap the frosting flavor. Add a little almond extract, peppermint extract or orange extract to the frosting for a different flavor twist.
• Make them less spooky. Use regular colorful sprinkles and a pastel frosting color for birthday parties or other celebrations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use homemade brownies instead of boxed brownie mix?

• Yes, you can use your favorite homemade brownie recipe instead of boxed brownie mix. Just make sure the batter is thick enough to bake up into sturdy brownie cups.

Do I have to use cream cheese frosting?

• No, you can use store bought vanilla frosting or homemade buttercream frosting if you prefer. Just make sure the frosting is light enough in color if you want to add food coloring.

Can I make these brownies ahead of time?

• Yes, you can bake the brownie cups ahead of time and store them in an airtight container. For the freshest look, add the frosting and sprinkles closer to serving time.

How do I keep the brownies from sticking to the muffin tin?

• Use baking spray that contains flour and spray the muffin tin cavities generously. Once the brownies have cooled, you can gently run a knife around the edges to help release them.

Can I use regular liquid food coloring?

• Gel food coloring is best because it gives you bold color without adding too much liquid to the frosting. Liquid food coloring can thin the frosting or affect the texture if you need a lot of it.

How should I store Witch Cauldron Brownies?

• Store the brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator because of the cream cheese frosting. Let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving so the brownie texture softens slightly.

Can I freeze these brownies?

• You can freeze the brownie cups before frosting them. Thaw them completely, then add the frosting and sprinkles before serving.

Witch Cauldron Brownies

Yield: 15 brownies

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 14 minutes

Cooling Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 14 minutes

Witch Cauldron Brownies are fun and spooky Halloween brownie cups made with fudge brownie mix, purple cream cheese frosting and creepy cute Halloween sprinkles.

These easy brownie cauldrons are perfect for Halloween parties, classroom treats and festive dessert tables.

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Ingredients

• 18.2 oz fudge brownie mix, plus ingredients on box to make it
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 8 oz brick cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• Purple gel food coloring
• Halloween sprinkles mix (with eyes or bones)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Generously spray the cavities of the muffin tins and set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, prepare the brownie mix according to box instructions.
3. Pour about 3-4 tablespoons of prepared batter into each of the cavities in the prepared muffin tin.
4. Transfer to the oven and bake for 14-18 minutes until the brownies rise and when a toothpick inserted in the center of the brownie comes out clean.
5. Remove the brownies from the oven and then use a tablespoon to press the centers down to make room for frosting. Once the indents are made, set brownies aside to cool for at least 45 minutes.
6. In a large mixing bowl, add the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract. Use an electric hand mixer and beat until smooth and creamy.
7. Gradually add the powdered sugar and continue to beat until incorporated.
8. Add food coloring 2-3 drops at a time and mix together, adding more drops as needed, until desired color is reached.
9. Fill each of the brownies with 2 tablespoons of frosting.
10. Top the frosting with the Halloween sprinkles mix and serve!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 467Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 10gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 218mgCarbohydrates: 67gFiber: 1gSugar: 49gProtein: 3g

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