Jack-o’-Lantern Brownies

Name: Jack-o'-Lantern Brownies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: about 1 dozen.
Ingredients: 3/4 cup butter, melted; 1-1/2 cups sugar; 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 3 eggs; 3/4 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup baking cocoa; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 can (16 ounces) vanilla frosting; Orange paste food coloring; Green and black decorating gel; Candy corn and milk chocolate M&M's, optional

Hosting a Halloween party? Use a cookie cutter to easily cut these homemade chocolate brownies into pumpkin shapes, then give them personality with orange, black and green frosting. Our grandchildren think these are great. —Flo Burtnett, Gage, Oklahoma

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, melted
1-1/2 cups sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 can (16 ounces) vanilla frosting
Orange paste food coloring
Green and black decorating gel
Candy corn and milk chocolate M&M's, optional

Directions

In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until well blended. Beat in eggs. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to butter mixture and mix well.
Line a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan with waxed paper; grease the paper. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool on a wire rack.
Run a knife around edge of pan. Invert brownies onto a work surface and remove waxed paper. Cut brownies with a 3-in. pumpkin cookie cutter, leaving at least 1/8 in. between each shape. (Discard scraps or save for another use.)
Tint frosting with orange food coloring; frost brownies. Use green gel to create the pumpkin stems and black gel and candy corn and M&M's to decorate the faces if desired.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 422 calories, 20g fat (9g saturated fat), 84mg cholesterol, 275mg sodium, 59g carbohydrate (48g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.

Originally published as Jack-O-Lantern Brownies in Quick Cooking September/October 2003

Reviews

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Average Rating:

nleather

Oct 31, 2015

We didn't use the frosting but instead we made these brownies to use as graveyard brownies, with crushed oreos, gummie worms, candy pumpkins, and cookie headstones on top, and they were fabulous. Easy to make and the brownies were very moist.
AmeliaJane36

Nov 1, 2012

I made these last night. I didn't do the frosting on the top, I just made the brownies...and they were fantastic!!! Definitely my new favorite brownie recipe! Super easy and way better than the box mixes
Mamacheese2004

Oct 29, 2011

These are so adorable! They're easy and fun to decorate, and the brownies are so delicious! They have a wonderful soft and chewy texture. Perfect! I'll be making this recipe using other shapes through out the year.
tucker695

Oct 20, 2011

I have made these a couple of times for class parties. I use a box brownie mix for ease, but they are cute. I only use the black gel icing to make jack-o-lantern faces.