Rich, fudgy, and topped with a spooky-sweet design, Easy Spiderweb Brownies are the perfect Halloween dessert for chocolate lovers. With a simple icing technique and fun cream cheese swirl, you can transform ordinary brownies into a show-stopping treat in minutes.
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This recipe is a spin-off of my homemade brownies. They are way more delicious compared to box brownies. If you like this recipe, make sure to check out my s'mores brownies and red velvet brownies!
Why This Recipe Works
- Festive: Bold red and orange cream cheese swirl adds a Halloween pop of color
- Chocolatey: Fudgy brownie base balances the tangy cream cheese filling
- Customizable: Adjust swirl colors or web design to match your party theme
- Easy: Works with homemade brownies or a boxed mix for convenience
What You Need for Spiderweb Brownies
Dark Cocoa Powder: This gives the brownies a very dark, almost black look. Makes for a great contrast with the cream cheese; however, regular cocoa powder will work as well.
Unsalted Butter: If you use salted butter just omit the extra salt from the recipe.
Espresso Powder: I love adding espresso powder to chocolate baked goods (like my delicious Buttermilk Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Sugar Cookies). It deepens the chocolate flavor; however, if you don't have any, it's okay to skip- the brownies will still be delicious!
Cream Cheese: Make sure this is softened to room temperature for easy mixing.
Coloring: I used Americolor Super Red and Orange to color the cream cheese.
White Frosting: For this recipe, I used store-bought White Buttercream, but you can make and use a half batch of my homemade vanilla frosting or whipped cream cheese frosting!
Plastic Spider: I used one from those packs of fake cobwebs, but you can make your spiders like the ones I made for these spider cookies if you have the time!
Short on Time?
Fast Version: You can easily make brownies using a store-bought box mix, incorporating the cream cheese portion into the batter by following the instructions below. Homemade just tastes WAY better, but store-bought is so easy. Your choice!
Extra Fast Version: Skip the cream cheese mixture, bake the brownies plain, then pipe the spiderweb on. Easy peasy!
How to Make Spiderweb Brownies?
- Step 1: Make the brownie batter. Reserve 1 cup of batter, then place the remaining batter in your greased 9x13 baking dish.
- Step 2: Mix together the cream cheese filling. Divide in half and dye one red and the other orange with food gel.
- Step 3: Add spoonfuls of the different colored cream cheese colors on top of the brownie batter, randomizing the colors, then gently swirl together.
- Step 4: Spoon the reserved brownie batter on top of some of the cream cheese layer. Gently spread over the cream cheese just a bit. This will give it that cracked earth molten look after baking.
- Step 5: Bake brownies for 30-35 minutes. Allow brownies to cool completely, then pipe on the web.
How to Pipe on the Spiderweb?
- Step 6: Starting with the center of your web, pipe a circle/dot about the size of a nickel. I like to make mine a little off center, but you can place yours wherever you want.
- Step 7: Then pipe concentric circles outward of the center every ~1 inch or so.
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- Step 8: Pipe lines perpendicular to the circles, starting from the center and going out, spaced ever ½ -1 inches. I started with making 8 sections (4 lines all the way through), then cut each section in half to give me 16 sections.
- Step 9: Add a plastic fake spider, and you are done!
Spiderweb Brownies Variations
Brownie Mix: Use any type of store-bought brownie mix you like.
Cocoa Powder: Use regular cocoa powder instead of dark for a lighter brown color.
Mix-Ins: Add 1 cup of chocolate chips or your favorite chopped candy bars for a fun addition.
Color: Use any crazy Halloween food gel colors for the cream cheese! Neon Green or Purple would be fun too!
Frequently Asked Questions
Unwrap the cream cheese and place it on a microwave-safe dish. Heat cream cheese for 15-30 second intervals with the microwave power set to 50%, repeat until cream cheese is soft enough to mix!
If you want, you can add a spider web to just the corner of the pan of brownies, or cut the brownies into squares and pipe a web on each one- more work, but also gives everyone a chance for their own spiderweb.
Store brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Try to store in a container where the lid/covering won't touch the top so as to preserve the spiderweb design. Eat within 4-5 days for optimal freshness.
More Spooky Recipes
I have so many Easy Halloween Recipes that I love to make- from Monster Rice Crispy Treats, and Halloween Donuts, to a fun sparkly Witches Brew, Cauldron Cocktail, Graveyard Halloween Cake, Easy Halloween Cupcakes, and accompanying Witches Fingers! Make sure to check them out and let me know your favorites!
If you like this recipe, make sure to give it a 5-star review and leave a comment down below!
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Easy Spiderweb Brownies
Ingredients
Brownies
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ¾ cup dark cocoa powder*
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder optional
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Cream Cheese layer
- 8 oz cream cheese softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- Red and Orange food gel coloring
Spiderweb
- 1 Cup White Frosting
- 1 fake plastic spider
Instructions
Brownies
- Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a microwave-safe dish, melt the butter. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat until the butter is completely melted.1 cup unsalted butter
- Stir cocoa powder into melted butter, making sure there are no clumps. Set aside.¾ cup dark cocoa powder*
- While the butter mixture is cooling, in a separate small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.1 cup all purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt
- In a stand mixer or using a hand mixer, mix together the butter mixture (it's okay if it's still warm), sugar, espresso powder, and vanilla. Then add the eggs one at a time, letting each egg become fully incorporated into the batter before adding the next.2 cups sugar, 1 teaspoon espresso powder, 4 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla
- By hand, with a large rubber spatula or mixing spoon, fold in the flour mixture. Folding in the flour will help the brownie batter keep the air in it.
- Reserve 1 cup of batter, then pour the remaining batter into the prepared baking dish.
Cream Cheese Layer
- Mix together cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Best done with a stand or hand-held mixer.8 oz cream cheese, ¼ cup white sugar, 1 large egg, ½ teaspoon vanilla
- Divide the mixture in half, mixing in red food gel to one half and the orange to the other, and stir until fully mixed.Red and Orange food gel coloring
- Add dollops of cream cheese over batter, alternating between the red and orange, then gently swirl together- just enough to swirl but not so much to mix the colors together or with the batter below.
- Then add spoonfuls of the remaining brownie batter on top and next to the cream cheese. You can leave the pattern blocky or gently spread the batter over the cream cheese a bit.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until set. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
Spiderweb
- Once cool, using a can of store-bought white frosting (vanilla or cream cheese), or using some homemade buttercream frosting, pipe on the spiderweb.1 Cup White Frosting
- To make the spiderweb, place a small circle of frosting on top of the brownies- this will be the center of the web. You can place this off to one side of the brownies or directly in the middle.
- Draw circles around this center about 1" apart, moving out from the center. After all the circles are drawn, pipe a line of frosting perpendicular to the circles starting from the center of the web out, repeat every 1-2'' to fil in the web.
- Add a little plastic spider and then enjoy!1 fake plastic spider
Notes
- How to Soften Cream Cheese? Forget to let your cream cheese come to room temperature? No problem. Unwrap cream cheese and place it on a microwave-safe dish. Heat cream cheese for 15-30 second intervals with the microwave power set to 50%, repeat until cream cheese is soft enough to mix!
- Leftovers: Store any leftovers for 4-5 days in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze for longer- just store in a freezer-safe container.
Lisa Killian says
I love how fun and colorful these brownies are! Definitely spooky with orange and red- not to mention tasty too!