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Oct 02

Spooky Fudgy Brownies with Marshmallow Ghosts

Rich chocolate brownies topped with adorable marshmallow ghosts make an easy Halloween dessert that looks far more elaborate than it actually is.

Each brownie gets its own little ghost made from a fluffy marshmallow surrounded by a puddle of melted white chocolate. Tiny eyes and mouths give every ghost a different personality—cute, startled, spooky, or downright silly.

These brownies are perfect for a Halloween party dessert table, family movie night, school celebration, or an October baking afternoon. Pair them with more treats from our Halloween Parties and Recipes collection for a complete spooky spread.

👻 Why You’ll Love These Marshmallow Ghost Brownies

There is a lot to love about this Halloween dessert:

  • Rich, fudgy chocolate brownies
  • Easy marshmallow ghost decorations
  • No complicated piping required
  • Fun for kids to help decorate
  • Perfect for Halloween parties
  • Easy to make ahead
  • Each ghost can have its own expression
  • Optional walnuts add the chunky texture seen in the finished brownies

The decoration is especially forgiving. The white chocolate is actually supposed to pool and drip irregularly around the marshmallows, so you don’t need professional decorating skills to make them look good.

🍫 Recipe at a Glance

Prep Time20 minutes
Bake Time25–30 minutes
Cooling TimeAbout 1 hour
Decorating Time20 minutes
Total TimeAbout 2 hours
Yield12 large brownies
Pan9 × 13-inch
Oven Temperature350°F (175°C)

🧈 Ingredients

For the Fudgy Brownies

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, optional

For the Marshmallow Ghosts

  • 12 large marshmallows
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate
  • Black decorating gel, melted dark chocolate, or a black edible marker

🥣 Equipment You’ll Need

  • 9 × 13-inch baking pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Rubber spatula
  • Microwave-safe bowl
  • Sharp knife
  • Toothpick or very small piping bag for ghost faces

🎃 How to Make Halloween Ghost Brownies

1. Prepare the Pan

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Line a 9 × 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little extra parchment extending over two sides of the pan. This makes it much easier to lift the brownies out after they cool.

Lightly grease the parchment.

2. Combine the Butter and Sugar

Melt the butter and place it in a large mixing bowl.

Add the granulated sugar and whisk thoroughly until combined.

Let the mixture cool slightly if the butter is still very hot before adding the eggs.

3. Add the Eggs and Vanilla

Whisk in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Add the vanilla and continue whisking until the mixture looks smooth and glossy.

4. Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together:

  • Cocoa powder
  • Flour
  • Salt
  • Baking powder

Breaking up any lumps in the cocoa now will help create a smoother brownie batter.

5. Finish the Brownie Batter

Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.

Fold everything together gently just until you no longer see streaks of flour.

If you’re using walnuts, fold them in now.

Avoid continuing to mix once everything is incorporated.

🔥 6. Bake the Brownies

Spread the brownie batter evenly in the prepared pan.

Bake for approximately 25–30 minutes.

The edges should look set, while the center should remain moist and soft. A toothpick inserted near the center should come out with moist crumbs rather than wet batter.

Don’t wait for the toothpick to emerge completely clean if you want brownies with a fudgier texture.

❄️ 7. Cool Completely

This step is important.

Allow the brownies to cool completely before decorating them. Warm brownies can cause your marshmallows and white chocolate decorations to soften or melt.

Once cooled, use the parchment overhang to lift the brownies from the pan.

Cut into 12 large squares.

For especially neat slices, wipe the knife clean between cuts.

👻 How to Make the Marshmallow Ghosts

Now comes the fun part.

8. Position the Marshmallows

Place one large marshmallow upright in the center of each brownie.

You can use a tiny dab of melted white chocolate underneath each marshmallow to keep it from sliding around.

9. Melt the White Chocolate

Place the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl.

Microwave in short 20–30 second intervals, stirring thoroughly between each interval.

Stop heating when only a few small pieces remain and continue stirring until completely smooth.

White chocolate can scorch easily, so slow and gentle melting works best.

10. Give the Ghosts Their Bodies

Spoon a small amount of melted white chocolate around the bottom of each marshmallow.

Don’t try to make it perfectly even.

Allow the chocolate to spread into an irregular puddle around the marshmallow and drip slightly over the brownie. Those uneven edges make the chocolate look like the flowing bottom of a little ghost.

You can also drizzle a small amount down the sides of some marshmallows for slightly different ghost shapes.

Let the white chocolate set.

👀 11. Add the Ghost Faces

Use black decorating gel, melted dark chocolate, or an edible marker to give each ghost two eyes and a mouth.

This is where you can give the brownies some personality.

Try making:

  • Happy ghosts
  • Shocked ghosts
  • Sleepy ghosts
  • Screaming ghosts
  • Silly ghosts
  • Grumpy ghosts

Keeping the faces tiny usually gives them the cutest appearance.

🍫 Secrets to Fudgy Brownies

The difference between fudgy brownies and dry brownies often comes down to a few simple details.

Don’t overbake them. Remove the brownies when a toothpick still has moist crumbs attached.

Don’t overmix after adding the flour. Fold the batter only until everything is combined.

Let them cool before cutting. The brownies continue to set as they cool, giving them a denser texture and making them easier to slice.

Measure the flour carefully. Too much flour can quickly turn a fudgy brownie into a cakier one.

🕸️ How to Get the Ghost Effect Just Right

You don’t need to completely cover the marshmallows in white chocolate.

In fact, leaving much of the marshmallow visible creates the cute rounded ghost heads seen in these brownies.

Concentrate most of the melted chocolate around the base of the marshmallow and encourage it to spread outward.

Let some ghosts have long flowing chocolate “sheets” and others have shorter ones. The small differences make a whole platter of ghosts look especially fun.

Spooky fudgy Halloween brownies topped with adorable marshmallow ghosts, flowing white chocolate, and tiny chocolate faces. | Blizniuk Daria

🌰 Walnuts or No Walnuts?

Either works beautifully.

Chopped walnuts add little pieces of texture throughout the dark brownies and create a rustic homemade appearance.

For nut-free brownies, simply leave them out.

You could also substitute chocolate chips for an extra-chocolate version.

When serving these at parties, be sure to clearly identify brownies containing nuts.

🧛 Marshmallow Ghost Brownie Variations

Once you have the basic brownie, there are plenty of ways to customize it.

Orange and White Ghost Brownies

Add orange Halloween sprinkles around the white chocolate before it sets.

Graveyard Brownies

Add crushed chocolate cookies around the marshmallow ghosts to create edible “dirt.”

Monster Brownies

Replace the ghost faces with colorful candy eyes and green, purple, or orange candy melts.

Extra-Chocolate Brownies

Fold 1/2 to 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips into the brownie batter.

Spiderweb Brownies

Drizzle thin lines of melted white chocolate over the brownie itself before adding the ghost.

Mini Ghost Brownies

Cut the brownies into smaller squares and use mini marshmallows to create bite-sized versions.

🎉 How to Serve Marshmallow Ghost Brownies

These little ghosts are made for a Halloween dessert table.

Arrange the brownies on a dark platter, slate serving board, or black cake stand so the white ghosts stand out against the background.

Surround them with a few seasonal accents such as:

  • Mini pumpkins
  • Candy corn
  • Orange napkins
  • Black-and-white plates
  • Paper bats
  • Spiderweb decorations
  • Halloween confetti

Keep non-food decorations separate from anything guests will actually eat.

For a larger dessert buffet, add Spooky Chocolate Bat Cookies, Spooky Meringue Ghosts, and Halloween Marshmallow Crispy Rice Treats.

🧙 Can You Make Them Ahead?

Yes.

For the easiest party preparation, bake the brownie layer a day ahead and keep it tightly covered.

You can then cut and decorate the brownies closer to serving time.

This also gives the brownies plenty of time to cool completely before you start working with the white chocolate.

📦 How to Store Marshmallow Ghost Brownies

Once the decorations have completely set, place the brownies in a covered container.

If you need to stack them, place parchment or wax paper between layers—but ideally store these in a single layer so the marshmallow ghosts stay intact.

Keep them away from excessive heat, which can soften the white chocolate.

🧒 Can Kids Help Make These?

Absolutely. Decorating the ghosts is one of the best parts of this recipe for children.

Depending on their ages, kids can help:

  • Measure ingredients
  • Stir the batter
  • Position marshmallows
  • Spoon white chocolate around the ghosts
  • Make funny ghost faces
  • Arrange the finished brownies on a platter

Adult supervision is important around the hot oven and melted ingredients.

And although brownie batter may be tempting, uncooked batter containing raw flour and eggs shouldn’t be eaten.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my brownies dry?

They were most likely baked a little too long or had too much flour added. Start checking the brownies before the maximum baking time and remove them when the center still produces moist crumbs.

Can I use a boxed brownie mix?

Yes. If you’re short on time, prepare your favorite brownie mix according to its package directions, allow the brownies to cool, and decorate them with the marshmallow ghosts.

The ghost decoration is really the star of the Halloween presentation.

Can I leave out the walnuts?

Definitely. They are entirely optional.

Can I use candy melts instead of white chocolate?

Yes. White candy melts can be particularly convenient for decorating because they’re designed for melting and coating.

What can I use for the ghost faces?

Black decorating gel is probably the simplest choice. You can also use an edible marker or tiny dots of melted dark chocolate applied with a toothpick.

Why is my white chocolate thick?

White chocolate can become thick if it gets too hot. Melt it gradually in short microwave intervals and stir frequently rather than heating it continuously.

Should I decorate the brownies while they’re warm?

No. Let them cool completely first. Otherwise, the marshmallows may soften and your white chocolate ghost bodies can melt into the brownies.

🕯️ The Perfect Cute-and-Spooky Halloween Dessert

There is something wonderfully funny about a tray filled with tiny marshmallow ghosts staring back at you.

The dark chocolate brownies create the perfect background for the bright white ghosts, while their tiny faces turn an ordinary dessert into something unmistakably Halloween.

Best of all, these brownies don’t require elaborate frosting skills or specialty molds. Bake a pan of rich brownies, add marshmallows, give them flowing white chocolate sheets, draw on a few little faces—and your haunted dessert table suddenly has twelve new residents.

Boo! 👻

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