Graveyard Brownies: Spooky Halloween Dessert Recipe

Looking for a fun, spooky dessert for Halloween? Try these adorable Graveyard Brownies!

These fudgy chocolate brownies are simple to make using a boxed mix or your favorite homemade recipe. They’re topped with a creamy Nutella layer, decorated with Milano cookie headstones, Oreo “full moons,” crushed Oreo “dirt,” and Halloween sprinkles for an easy, kid-friendly spooky treat.

Ingredients

Makes 9 Graveyard Brownies

• 1 box of brownie mix (18–18.3 oz) or your preferred homemade brownie recipe
• 1 cup + 1 tablespoon Nutella hazelnut spread
• 6 oz vanilla candy coating or almond bark
• 12 mini white fudge-covered Oreo bites
• 6 Milano cookies, halved
• 2–4 standard chocolate Oreos, crushed into fine crumbs
• Assorted Halloween sprinkles such as bats, bones, pumpkins, skulls, and creepy bugs

Equipment Needed

• 9″ x 9″ baking dish
• Heatproof bowl
• Pastry bag or small resealable bag
• Toothpicks
• Oil-based black food coloring (optional for tombstone color) or substitute with black cocoa powder or melted dark chocolate

Tip: Oil-based food coloring works best with candy melts and chocolate. If you can’t find it, dark cocoa or melted dark chocolate will give a similar gray/charcoal tone.

Instructions

There are four parts to making these Graveyard Brownies:

1. Make the brownie base
2. Create the full moon cookies
3. Make the Milano cookie headstones
4. Assemble the graveyard brownies

You can prepare all decorations or only what you have time for—each element is customizable.

Step 1: Make the Brownie Base

Line a 9″ x 9″ baking pan with foil or parchment and grease it. Leave the paper hanging over the edges to create a sling for easy removal.

Prepare the brownie mix according to package directions or follow your homemade recipe. Bake as directed for a 9″ x 9″ pan.

When removed from the oven, let the brownies cool for about 5 minutes. While still warm, spread 1 cup of Nutella evenly across the top with an offset spatula or spoon. Allow the brownies to cool completely before decorating.

Step 2: Make the Full Moon Cookies

Melt the vanilla candy coating in a heatproof bowl in short bursts in the microwave or over simmering water until smooth.

Using a toothpick, spread a small amount of melted coating onto the front of each mini fudge-covered Oreo. Quickly press 2–3 bat sprinkles into the coating so they stick, creating a bat-filled “moon.”

Turn each cookie over and add a dollop of melted coating to the back. Press a toothpick into the dollop to glue it to the cookie, submerging it slightly. Chill in the fridge for 5 minutes to set. Save any leftover melted coating for the headstones.

Step 3: Make Milano Cookie Headstones

Halve the Milano cookies and set up a parchment- or wax-lined tray. Re-melt the reserved vanilla coating until smooth and runny enough for dipping.

Add oil-based black food coloring a little at a time to achieve a tombstone gray. If not using food coloring, stir in a little black cocoa powder or melted dark chocolate.

Use a fork to dip each halved Milano cookie into the gray coating, fully covering it. Shake off excess back into the bowl, then place the dipped cookies on the lined tray to set.

After the coating sets (5 minutes in the fridge helps), put 1 tablespoon of Nutella into a pastry bag or a small resealable bag with the corner snipped. Pipe “RIP” or any design onto the tombstones. Let them sit while you assemble the brownies.

Step 4: Assemble the Graveyard Brownies

Gather your cooled Nutella-topped brownies, crushed Oreos, tombstones, moon cookies, and sprinkles.

Use the parchment sling to lift the cooled brownies from the pan. Trim the edges for an even square and cut into 9 pieces.

Press a cookie tombstone into each brownie to help it stand. Place a full moon behind the tombstone so the toothpick is mostly hidden by the cookie. Sprinkle crushed Oreos in front of the tombstone to mimic fresh dirt.

Finish by adding sprinkles—bugs, skulls, pumpkins, and ghosts—for extra spooky details. Use small dots of Nutella to attach sprinkles to the tombstones if needed.

Top Tip

Have fun and be creative—these don’t need to be perfect. Get the kids involved, make a mess, and enjoy the process!

Storing the Brownies

Loosely cover the decorated brownies with plastic wrap or store them in a deep container. They’re best at room temperature and should be eaten within 1–2 days for optimal freshness.

Make Ahead

All components can be made ahead. The moons and tombstones keep well at room temperature for several days. Baked, unsliced brownies can be wrapped tightly and stored 1–2 days in advance. If you don’t spread Nutella on warm brownies, you can melt 1 cup and pour it over cooled brownies before slicing—just allow it to set first.

Can I make these Graveyard Brownies in a 13″ x 9″ pan?

Yes. A 13″ x 9″ pan will yield about 12 large or 16 smaller brownies. For a larger pan:

• Double your brownie batter or use a family-sized boxed mix.
• Increase Nutella to about 1 1/2 cups to cover the extra surface.
• Make a few more moons and tombstones—melt 8 oz of candy coating instead of 6 oz if making more cookies.

Decorations and Variations

This recipe uses easy-to-find, affordable decorations. Use what’s available locally or swap ingredients to suit tastes—graham cracker rectangles or Biscoff cookies work well as alternatives for tombstones. Any white fudge-dipped mini cookie can serve as the moon. For coloring chocolate, oil-based food color is ideal; otherwise, use dark cocoa or melted dark chocolate to tint white candy melts.

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