Description
These Bubbling Witch’s Cauldron Brownies are a fun and festive treat perfect for Halloween or any spooky celebration. Mini brownie cups are baked and then hollowed out slightly to hold green buttercream frosting that mimics a bubbling witch’s potion, complete with green sprinkles and optional pretzel stick stirrers for extra charm.
Ingredients
Scale
Brownies
- 1 box brownie mix (including the ingredients listed on the box, typically eggs, oil, and water)
- Non-stick cooking spray (for greasing the mini muffin pan)
Buttercream Frosting
- 1 stick butter (1/2 cup), room temperature
- 1-2 cups powdered sugar
- Green food coloring (e.g., Leaf Green Wilton gel food coloring)
- Large green nonpareil sprinkles
- Small green nonpareil sprinkles
- Pretzel sticks, broken in half (optional, for “stir spoons”)
Instructions
- Prepare the Brownies: Preheat your oven to the temperature specified on the brownie mix box. Lightly spray a mini muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix the Brownie Batter: Prepare the brownie mix according to the package instructions, incorporating any eggs, oil, and water as directed.
- Fill the Pan: Spoon the brownie batter into each mini muffin well, filling them about two-thirds full to allow room for rising and indentations.
- Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a brownie comes out clean.
- Create Cauldron Indentations: Immediately after baking, while the brownies are still warm, use the back of a 1/2 tablespoon to press down the center of each brownie, creating a shallow well for the frosting to sit in.
- Cool the Brownies: Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before removing them to prevent breaking.
- Make the Buttercream Frosting: In a medium mixing bowl, beat the room temperature butter with an electric mixer for about 30 seconds until smooth and creamy.
- Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually add 1 to 2 cups of powdered sugar to the butter while beating, until fully combined and smooth.
- Color the Frosting: Add green food coloring a little at a time, mixing well, until you reach your desired vibrant shade of green.
- Assemble the Cauldrons: Once the brownies are fully cooled, spoon a dollop of the green buttercream into the indentation of each brownie.
- Create Bubbling Effect: Use the back of a spoon or spatula to form wispy peaks in the buttercream, mimicking the look of a bubbling potion.
- Decorate with Sprinkles: Sprinkle large and small green nonpareil sprinkles over the frosting for texture and to enhance the bubbling cauldron effect. Allow some frosting and sprinkles to drip slightly down the sides for an overflowing look.
- Add Pretzel Stir Spoons (Optional): Break pretzel sticks in half and insert them into the frosting of each brownie as whimsical “stir spoons.”
Notes
- If desired, adjust the sweetness of the frosting by adding powdered sugar gradually to suit your taste.
- You can substitute regular-sized muffin pans if mini muffin pans are unavailable, but adjust baking time accordingly.
- Use gel food coloring for a more vibrant green without thinning the frosting.
- These brownies can be prepared a day ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for freshness.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute the butter with a vegan butter alternative and use a dairy-free brownie mix.
