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BOO! Spooky Monster Chocolate Covered Pretzel Brownies. You don’t need to be a professional baker to make these deliciously EASY homemade Halloween treats. These brownies require nothing fancy, use ingredients found in your pantry, and are beyond delicious. Fudgy, heavy on the chocolate, layered with peanut butter “truffle” frosting, and topped with chocolate-covered pretzels. And the best part? You can’t mess these up because mistakes just end up looking even spookier.
It’s Friday, we’re getting close to mid-October, and I finally have some Halloween treats to share! If you’ve been reading HBH for any amount of time, you probably know that I love Halloween (really all holidays from October through December). I love that it’s one of the only times of the year where it’s acceptable for everyone to just be a kid again. It’s such a fun stress-free holiday that always ends with something extra sweet.
In my mind, there’s nothing you couldn’t love about this time of year. But that’s me!
Anyway, how fun and cute are these brownies? I love creating Halloween desserts, but here’s the honest truth, I am by no means a professional baker/decorator. All the “fancy” decorated desserts, they’re just not my thing. I appreciate them, but I cannot create them. What I can do? Make delicious desserts that have things like “spooky” monster pretzels, cute little mini pumpkins, or chocolate jack o lanterns.
Nothing fancy, but still fun, still cute, still easy to make, and still SO GOOD!
Halloween brownies…the spooky details…
Since I’m really all about easy Halloween treats that will not make you want to pull your hair out, I kept things pretty straight forward here. It all starts with my go-to brownie recipe that happens to be made entirely in one bowl, in almost no time. The mix has plenty of butter, eggs, and the usuals like cocoa powder and flour. But my two key ingredients?
Milk chocolate and instant coffee.
The milk chocolate adds a real layer of sweetness and makes for an extra fudgy, extra indulgent brownie. The instant coffee highlights the flavors of the chocolate and really makes the brownies rich. I know many of you might be turned off by the coffee, but hear me out, it only makes the chocolate flavor better. You do not taste coffee, just really good, intense chocolate.
Of course, if you prefer, you can omit the instant coffee, but I do encourage you to try it…at least once. Because you never know until you try!
While the brownies are baking, make the chocolate covered pretzels. If you can melt chocolate, and dip pretzels into the melted chocolate, you can make these monster pretzels…no problem.
My best advice? Use these photos for guidance, BUT do not be afraid “mess up”. Messing up only ends up making your spooky brownies even spookier. Pretty much takes all the stress out of decorating.
To make the pretzels look like owls, mummies, and ghosts, I use melted chocolate and white chocolate, Oreo cookies, Reese’s pieces, some candy eyes, and black licorice. Simple candy isle finds that I don’t normally buy, but tend to make an exception for come Halloween. Because well, it’s Halloween!
We should all just be a kid this month and live a little. Call it self care.
Serious Question Though: does anyone actually like black licorice?! I wonder…
Once the pretzels are assembled, just mix up the “truffle” frosting. A simple mix of melted chocolate, cream, and peanut butter. It’s a peanut butter truffle, but on top of your brownies. Spread this over the brownies, then add your pretzels. The pretzels will sink into the truffle frosting a bit, but will set up in the fridge.
And then? That’s it. Cut into awkward shapes, serve on a super moody platter, and enjoy every last crumb.
If you need something for your Halloween parties, please let these be that something. Trust me, not only will everyone think these brownies are the “spookiest” (or just adorable), but after they take that first bite they will soon realize that these brownies are also sin worthy. Meaning they’re indulgent and every bite is fudgy, chocolatey, salty, and even a touch peanutty.
And with that…make some “spooky” monster brownies and have a frightful weekend. BOO!
If you make these spooky monster chocolate covered pretzel brownies, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
BOO! Spooky Monster Chocolate Covered Pretzel Brownies.
Servings: 16 brownies
Calories Per Serving: 537 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter
- 4 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
Spooky Monsters
- 16 ounces milk or semi sweet chocolate, melted
- 8 ounces high quality white chocolate, melted
- 16 large pretzel twists
- 8 mini pretzel twists
- Oreos, candy eyes, melted chocolate, melted white chocolate, chocolate candy melts, black licorice, fall M&M's
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with parchment paper.2. Add the butter and chocolate to a medium microwave safe mixing bowl. Microwave on 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted and smooth. To the melted chocolate whisk in the sugar, instant coffee, vanilla, and eggs until smooth. Stir in the cocoa powder, flour, and salt until just combined. Try not to over mix the batter, it will be thick.3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading in an even layer. Transfer to the oven and bake for 22-25 minutes, until the brownies are set on top. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.4. To make the Monsters. For the owls, dip each large pretzel twist in melted chocolate and place directly on a parchment lined baking sheet. Split an Oreo in half and use for the eyes. Place the pretzels in the freezer to set for 10 minutes. Once the chocolate is set, add a small dot of melted chocolate to the center of each Oreo and attach the candy eyes. Drizzle a line of chocolate above the eyes for the eyebrows and attach 2 (1 inch) pieces of licorice to each eye. Dot a small amount of chocolate in between the Oreos and insert an M&M to create a nose. Place back in the freezer for 10 minutes to set. The owls can be made with both chocolate and white chocolate covered pretzel twists. 5. For the ghost, dip each pretzel twist in melted white chocolate and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Insert 2 chocolate candy melts to create the eyes. For the mummies, fill in the three pretzel holes by drizzling melted white chocolate inside. Insert 2 candy eyes. Place the pretzels in the freezer to set for 10 minutes.6. To finish, add the semi-sweet chocolate and the cream to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave until melted and smooth, about 1 minute. Stir in the peanut butter. Pour the chocolate over the brownies in an even layer. Arrange the monster pretzels over the ganache. Chill in the fridge 30 minutes or until set. To serve, carefully cut around the pretzels. Brownies can be stored, covered, for up to 3 days.
Oh yum.. these look amazing!
Thank you Hena! xTieghan
Will definitvely make these babies ! And I freaking love black licorice… Does that make me a weirdo ? It’s my favourite candy ever !
NOT AT ALL! These are so perfect for you! I hope you love them, Syrine! xTieghan
I have a halloween party next week and I am definitely bringing these with me! Thank you for sharing!
That is so amazing! I hope everyone loves these, Tara! Thank you! xTieghan
I love black licorice!!!
YES! So perfect for you! xTieghan