Dirt Cup Brownies
These Dirt Cup Brownies are made with thick and fudgy chocolate chip brownies covered in creamy chocolate fudge frosting and crushed Oreo “dirt,” then decorated with gummy worms, candy corn pumpkins and your favorite Halloween sprinkles. They're an easy, fun Halloween dessert that looks impressive without complicated decorating.
Servings: 9 brownies
Ingredients
For the brownies:
- ½ cup salted butter melted, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar packed down
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
For the frosting:
- ½ cup salted butter room temperature
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3-4 tbsp heavy cream room temperature
For decorating:
- 12 Oreo cookies
- gummy worms
- candy corn pumpkins
- halloween sprinkles
Instructions
For the brownies:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line an 8×8-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides. Melt the butter in the microwave and allow it to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until well combined. Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk until the mixture is smooth and glossy, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add the cocoa powder, flour and salt. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold everything together until just combined. Don't over mix. Fold in the chocolate chips. Spread the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the edges are set and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist, fudgy crumbs. Begin checking around 24–25 minutes. Do not over bake. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan.
For the frosting:
- While the brownies cool, make the chocolate fudge frosting. Beat the softened butter until creamy. Add the cocoa powder, powdered sugar and vanilla and mix on low until combined. Add the heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time and beat until the frosting is smooth, creamy and easily spreadable. You may not need all 4 tablespoons.
For the toppings:
- Add the Oreos to a food processor and pulse until finely crushed and resembling dirt. You can also add them to a ziplock bag and smash with a rolling pin or other kitchen utensil.
- Once the brownies are completely cool, use the parchment paper to lift them from the pan. Spread the chocolate fudge frosting evenly over the top in an even layer. Generously sprinkle the crushed Oreos over the frosting to create the dirt. Decorate with gummy worms, candy corn pumpkins, Halloween sprinkles and any other spooky candy or decorations you'd like. Slice into 9 squares and serve.