Name: Halloween Brownies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 20 oz The Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix; 1 egg; ¼ cup water; ⅓ cup vegetable oil; 8 ounces cream cheese ((Philadelphia brand used)); ½ cup granulated white sugar; 1 egg; ½ tsp vanilla extract; orange food coloring; non-stick spray

Jump to Recipe

These dark brownies, topped with a creamy orange cheesecake swirl, make for an irresistible and festive treat that’s sure to impress at any Halloween celebration!

Gooey Halloween brownies with a rich, fudgy texture and a gooey orange cream cheese swirl on top, perfect for dessert lovers seeking decadent homemade treats, homemade brownie recipes, sweet baked goods, and dessert ideas.

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 40-45 mins
Total Time: 55-60 mins
Servings: 12

Brownie Ingredients:

20oz Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg

Swirl Ingredients:

8 oz cream cheese-Philadelphia brand used
1 egg
½ cup granulated white sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
orange food coloring
non-stick spray

brownie mix in a black bowl, with white granulated sugar in a blue measuring cup, Orange food, coloring, vanilla extract, and Philadelphia cream cheese all on the white floorboards.

*The egg is not shown in the ingredient photo.

Get the full printable instructions with measurements at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9×9 cake pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.

Step 2: Prepare brownie batter by mixing 1/4 cup water,1/3 cup vegetable oil and 1 egg together. Reserve ¼ cup of batter for swirling; pour the remaining batter into the baking dish and set it aside.

Step 3: Blend cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Add orange food coloring to achieve the desired shade.

Step 4: Spread the cream cheese layer over the brownie batter, then drop teaspoons of the remaining batter on top and gently swirl with a toothpick or knife.

Batter mixed with black food coloring being swirled into melted cheddar cheese in a baking dish, creating a marbled effect for cheese sauce or dip, food coloring, cheesy dish, cooking preparation, Simply Made Dish.

Swirled on top of the dark chocolate brownie batter, the orange cream cheese batter is displayed in a 9 x 9 brownie pan on the white floor.

Swirled on dark chocolate brownie batter on top of the orange cream cheese batter in a 9 x 9 brownie pan on the white floor.

Step 5: Bake for a 9 x 9 pan for 40-45 minutes or for a 9 x 13 pan and bake at 325°F for 30-35 minutes or until the brownies are set. Let them cool completely before slicing. For cleaner cuts, use a plastic knife.

*Caution: The baking pan will be hot when you remove it from the oven!

🍋 Simply Made Suggestions …

A few quick tips before you start:

Store leftover brownies in a covered container for up to 2 days.
We used Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix, but your favorite brownie mix will work too. If you don’t like dark chocolate, Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Brownie Mix works as well.
Baking times can vary from oven to oven, so start checking your brownies toward the end of the suggested bake time.
Nutritional information is based on brownies baked in a 9×9-inch pan.

🎃Before You Go…

Keeping the Halloween treats going? Our Creepy Crispy Eyeball Treats are another fun, easy option for parties, school celebrations, or a spooky movie night.

Halloween Brownies

Gooey chocolate caramel brownies with a rich, fudgy texture and a gooey caramel swirl on top, perfect for dessert lovers seeking decadent homemade treats, homemade brownie recipes, sweet baked goods, and dessert ideas.

These chocolate brownies, swirled together with an orange cheesecake topping, are the perfect spooky treat for any Halloween gathering!

Tara

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1

Servings

Equipment

electric hand mixer
large bowl
9×9 baking pan
plastic knife (for cutting brownies)

Ingredients

20 oz The Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix
1 egg
¼ cup water
⅓ cup vegetable oil
8 ounces cream cheese (Philadelphia brand used)
½ cup granulated white sugar
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla extract
orange food coloring
non-stick spray

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. F. Coat a 9×9 cake pan with nonstick spray.
: Prepare brownie batter by mixing 1/4 cup water,1/3 cup vegetable oil and 1 egg together. Reserve ¼ cup of batter for swirling; pour the remaining batter into the baking dish and set it aside.
Blend cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Add orange food coloring to achieve the desired shade.
Spread the cream cheese layer over the brownie batter, then drop teaspoons of the remaining batter on top and gently swirl with a skewer or knife.
Bake for a 9 x 9 pan for 40-45 minutes or for a 9 x 13 pan and bake at 325°F for 30-35 minutes or until the brownies are set. Let them cool completely before slicing. For cleaner cuts, use a plastic knife.
*Caution: The baking pan will be hot when you remove it from the oven!