These spider web brownies are going to be your new Halloween favorite. Super moist and fudgy jet black brownies are topped with sweet, ooey-gooey marshmallow spider web for a spook-tacular Halloween treat perfect for the upcoming season.
Although we're only on the tail end of August, Halloween decorations have already popped up in stores, so I figure it's time to put up a tasty Halloween treat for the upcoming season.
I love the Halloween season, and I'm a total girly girl, so I always go for the cute side of things. My costumes are always sassy and spooky. I'm not a fan of the gory side of things, which is why my Halloween-themed gluten-free desserts are always adorable.
All Hallow's Eve is the perfect season for fun, sweet treats, and you'll always find me rolling up to any Halloween party with tasty desserts like this gluten-free Halloween candy cake in tow.
My newest addition to my spook-tacular Halloween recipes collection is these spider web brownies. I use black cocoa powder to make these super moist and fudgy brownies jet black, and I top them with an ooey-gooey marshmallow spider web to make them extra cute and Halloween-y.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Basic Ingredients: These brownies use basic baking ingredients you can find in any grocery store. Even the vegan chocolate chips are commonplace these days.
- Easy: The brownie batter is basic, quick, and easy, and the marshmallow spider web is equally as simple. Even beginners can make this treat, and they only require a few minutes of prep time.
- Super Fudgy: These brownies are made with melted chocolate and four eggs, making them super moist and fudgy.
- A Fun Look: The black brownies and marshmallow webbing on top give these brownies a fun, festive Halloween look.
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Ingredients
I used OliveNation for the black cocoa powder and vegan mini chocolate chips. It's high-quality and always delicious. You'll find links to them in the recipe card. Use code: NK15 for 15% off!
You'll find a complete list of ingredients and their exact amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
Variations
- Regular Ingredients: If you have no dietary restrictions, feel free to use standard flour and chocolate chips for this recipe.
- Add Nuts: Adding chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, almonds, or even pistachios gives these brownies even more flavor and texture.
- Decorations: Try adding a marshmallow ghost or a plastic spider to each brownie for an even more festive look. Don't eat the spider! LOL.
- Add a Pinch of Instant Coffee: Adding a pinch of instant coffee intensifies the chocolate flavor of the brownies.
- Olive Oil: Vegetable oil or any oil with a neutral flavor can be used in this recipe.
- Semi-Homemade: While you won't get the same deep color, you can use your favorite brownie mix for a semi-homemade version.
How to Make Spider Web Brownies
Step 1: Combine 1 cup of chocolate chips and the olive oil in a small saucepan and melt on medium-low heat, stirring often. Then, set it aside. Whisk the dry batter ingredients in a mediumb bowl. Then whisk the wet ingredients in a large bowl. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined and fold the chocolate chips into the batter.
Step 2: Pour the batter into a prepared 8-inch square baking pan and spread it out evenly. Then, bake at 325F until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
Step 3: Microwave the marshmallows at 20-second interavals until melted enough to spread. Then, wearing food-safe gloves, spread the marshmallows with your hands to create the spider web. Watch the video for easy reference.
Step 4: Let the brownies cool. Then, slice and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Loosely spoon your flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife to avoid using too much in your brownies recipe, making them dry.
- Bring your eggs to room temperature for easy mixing, better emulsifying, and the best brownie texture.
- Stir your chocolate frequently while melting it to avoid sticking or scorching.
- Mix your wet and dry batter ingredients until everything is moistened. Don't overmix, or the brownies will be tough.
- I used a light baking pan. If you have dark pans, check your brownies about 5 minutes earlier. Dark pans bake more quickly.
- Wearing food-safe gloves and pulling apart the melted marshmallows is the easiest way to make the spiderweb top for the brownies.
- Leave an overhand on each side of the pan when lining it with parchment paper. These will be your handles, allowing you to easily remove the brownies.
- Your brownies cool completely before slicing them to ensure clean cuts.
Spider Web Brownies FAQ
Microwave your marshmallows at 20-second intervals until they become very soft and partially melted. Then, wearing food-safe gloves, pull the marshmallows apart, creating a stringy, spider web appearance.
To make your brownies black, use black cocoa. The dark black color creates a jet black color perfect for Halloween brownies.
A fudgy brownie has more fat in the form of eggs or chocolate and less flour, creating a denst, moist, chewy texture.
📖 Recipe
Spider Web Brownies
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 ounces vegan mini chocolate chips divided
- ¼ cup Black 10/12 cocoa powder
- 1 cup 1:1 gluten-free flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs room temperature
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup marshmallows
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then, lightly coat the sides of an 8x8 baking pan with coconut oil and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- Melt 1 cup of the mini chocolate chips and the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Set aside while making the rest of the batter.
- Whisk the cocoa powder, flour, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Whisk the eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl. Then, add the melted chocolate and whisk again until combined.
- Mix teh dry ingredients into the wet ingredients with a rubber spatula until just combined. Then, fold in the remaining chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the pan and spread it into an even layer. Then, bake for 34 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool the brownies in the pan on a baking rack for an hour. You will the the top crack and create a flaky crust.
- Microwave the marshmallows in a micrwoaveable bowl at 20-second intervals utnil they're soft enough to stir.
- Using food-safe gloves, pull the melted marshmallows apart to create a spider web effect and place on the brownies.
- Remove the marshmallow-topped brownies from the pan and let them cool compeletely on a wire rack.
- Slice the cooled brownies into nine squares and enjoy!
Notes
- Loosely spoon your flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife to avoid using too much in your brownies recipe, making them dry.
- Bring your eggs to room temperature for easy mixing, better emulsifying, and the best brownie texture.
- Stir your chocolate frequently while melting it to avoid sticking or scorching.
- Mix your wet and dry batter ingredients until everything is moistened. Don't overmix, or the brownies will be tough.
- I used a light baking pan. If you have dark pans, check your brownies about 5 minutes earlier. Dark pans bake more quickly.
- Wearing food-safe gloves and pulling apart the melted marshmallows is the easiest way to make the spiderweb top for the brownies.
- Leave an overhand on each side of the pan when lining it with parchment paper. These will be your handles, allowing you to easily remove the brownies.
- Your brownies cool completely before slicing them to ensure clean cuts.
Leslie says
Not only is this the cutest recipe..it was so good too! I loved using black cocoa for this as well!
Krystle Smith says
These are adorable and totally nail the Halloween vibe without being too spooky. I'm definitely keeping this in mind for our upcoming Halloween get-together.
Maggie says
These are soo cute making for my family!!
Maggie says
So yum! Will be adding to my rotation!
Lindsay Howerton-Hastings says
These are so cute, we have made versions of this recipe for so many parties and they're always a hit!
Nora says
So spooky and delicious—my new Halloween go-to!