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–+ servings
Close-up of one Hocus Pocus spellbook brownie out of 5 on a wooden tray surrounded by Halloween imagery.

Hocus Pocus Spellbook Brownies

40aprons.com/hocus-pocus-spellbook-brownies/
A simple cookie icing and a few candy eyes turn your favorite boxed brownie mix into a delightfully spooky Halloween treat. It's like magic!
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Decorate 30 minutes
Total 1 hour 15 minutes
Recipe Makes (Approximate): 8 spellbook brownies

Equipment

  • parchment paper
  • Baking pan
  • large mixing bowl
  • 2 whisks or hand mixer
  • Knife
  • Flour sifter
  • medium mixing bowl
  • Silicone spatula
  • piping bag with small tip or plastic zippered bag, or squeeze bottle
  • Scissors if using plastic zippered bag

Ingredients

For the Brownies

  • 1 box brownie mix (see Notes)
  • ingredients needed to prepare boxed brownie mix

For the Icing

  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar (sifted, see Notes)
  • 1 teaspoon light corn syrup (see Notes)
  • 3 tablespoons room-temperature water (plus more as needed)
  • 2 teaspoons activated charcoal powder (or black food coloring)

For Decorating

  • large candy eyes (see Notes)

Instructions

For the Brownies

  • Line baking pan with parchment paper. Leave excess parchment paper hanging out sides of baking pan.
  • Prepare brownies according to instructions on box or in recipe of choice.
  • After removing baked brownies from oven, let brownies cool 10 to 15 minutes, then carefully and gently lift brownies out of baking pan using excess parchment paper. Let brownies rest on parchment paper until completely cooled.
  • Once brownies are completely cooled, cut sheet of brownies into 8 rectangles. Separate brownies slightly for easier decorating.
    Overhead view of a sheet of chocolate brownies, cut into 8 rectangles before being decorated.

For the Icing

  • Sift confectioners' sugar into medium mixing bowl. Add light corn syrup, 3 tablespoons water, and charcoal powder (or 1 to 2 drops black food coloring). Whisk vigorously until ingredients are well combined. Note: mixture will be very thick.
  • Add more water in ½ tablespoon increments, whisking well between each addition, until icing mixture is smooth but still thick. If usign
  • To test for ideal icing consistency, lift small amount of icing out of bowl with whisk. Hold whisk over bowl and let icing drizzle back into bowl. Consistency is ideal when drizzled icing remains on surface of icing in bowl for 2 to 3 seconds before melting back into icing.

To Decorate Brownies

  • Scrape icing into piping bag fitted with small tip, into plastic zippered bag, or into squeeze bottle. If using plastic zippered bag, gently press icing toward one corner of bag, then twist or tie bag closed, removing as much air as possible. Snip very small piece of corner off bag to create small piping hole.
  • Working one-by-one, pipe icing onto brownies to resemble Hocus Pocus spellbook. Start by piping two side-by-side vertical rows down left edge of brownie to create book spine. Next, pipe dime-sized dot in middle of right edge of brownie, to create spot for eye. Last, pipe 3 curvy lines coming off of book spine or eye in organic shapes to resemble book's stitches.
  • While icing is still soft, gently press candy eye into icing dot. Let icing dry 2 to 3 minutes, then pipe hash marks across curved stitch lines to complete stitches.
    Close-up view of Hocus Pocus spellbook brownie decoration with icing and candy eye.
  • Repeat process until all brownie books have been decorated. Let icing dry completely before stacking or serving brownies.

Recipe Notes

  • Brownie Mix: Use your favorite! I used Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix and everyone who tried them thought they were homemade from scratch.
  • Candy Eyes: Use the largest candy eyes you can find. I used Betty Crocker's Large Candy Eyeballs.
  • Make it Paleo: Use my paleo brownie recipe for the actual brownies. Replace the confectioners' sugar with coconut sugar, leave out the corn syrup, and use activated charcoal powder rather than food coloring. The candy eyes contain several types of sugar so don't eat those!
  • Make it Keto: Use your favorite keto brownie mix or recipe for the actual brownies. Replace the confectioners' sugar with Confectioners' Swerve and leave out the corn syrup. The candy eyes contain several types of sugar so don't eat those!
  • Storage: Leftover brownie books can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature 4 to 7 days.

Nutrition Information (Approximate)

Serving Size: 1spellbook brownieCalories: 354calProtein: 4gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 218mgPotassium: 18mgTotal Carbs: 71gFiber: 3gSugar: 52gNet Carbs: 68gVitamin A: 68IUCalcium: 7mgIron: 2mg
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
https://40aprons.com/hocus-pocus-spellbook-brownies/