Zombie Brain Brownie Bites

 Halloween Brownie Bites

If you’re a fan of spooky sweets and creepy candies, then these so-gross-they’re-good Zombie Brain Brownie Bites are for you! These bite-sized fudgy brownie cups have a candy “brain” on top that hides a sweet green ganache that oozes when you bite into them.

Let’s break down the 3 main components:

• Brownies: brownies are baked in mini muffin tins so they’re cute and perfectly pop-able. (You could also make this with your favorite cupcake recipe or make them full-size, depending on the size of your brain candy mold.)
• Green goo: it’s a simple mixture of heavy cream and candy melts, but “goo” is so much more fun to say!
• Candy brains: a hollow brain made from candy melts that perches on top of the mini brownies like a jaunty, slightly disgusting cap.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients

This recipe uses a few special ingredients you’ll want to have ready when you start making this dessert. Keep these tips in mind as you start baking. (Links are affiliate links and I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.)

• Boxed brownie mix & the ingredients to make them: Pick your favorite brown mix. I’d suggest using a plain variety that doesn’t have extra chunks, nuts, caramel, etc. You can also use a homemade brownie recipe if you prefer.
• Green candy coating: I recommend using Wilton Vibrant Green Candy Coating. If you can’t find it, you can also use white candy coating and add food coloring to achieve a nice green shade.
• Heavy whipping cream: This forms the base of the ganache. You can also use your favorite coffee creamer if you’d like to add some flavor to the ganache.
• Strawberry jelly: This is the secret to giving the brains that realistic shine! Any fairly smooth jelly will work.
• Green food coloring gel: You will need a little food coloring for the glistening jelly that paints the top of the brain. I highly recommend Americolor Electric Green Food Coloring Gel.

Equipment

• Brain candy mold: This is a must have to make the brain portion of the brownie bites. I can’t find a link to the exact mold I used online, but any brain-shaped mold that is around 2″ (the size of the top of a mini muffin pan) will work. Some options are this silicone brain ice cube tray set, and this brain silicone mold.
• Mini muffin baking pan: A mini muffin baking pan will make these Zombie Bites just the right size.
• Food-safe paint brush:These brushes will make it easy to paint the candy molds.

Instructions

Don’t let these slime-filled brains scare you away. Here’s a quick picture tutorial showing just how easy these Zombie Brain Brownie Bites are to make! Full directions are detailed in the recipe below.

Prepare the Candy Brains

• Melt 8 oz of bright green candy coating, and place a spoonful in the cavity of a brain candy mold. Use a clean, dry food-safe paintbrush to brush the coating up the sides of the mold.
• Once all of the molds are filled, place the tray in the freezer for 10 minutes, then gently remove the brains from the molds. 

Make the ‘Slime’

• Combine 8 oz of candy coating and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat for 1 minute. If you are not using green candy melts, you can add a few drops of green food coloring if needed and whisk until smooth.
• Press a layer of cling wrap directly on top of the ganache and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to thicken it.

Fill the Brains

• Gently press a hole in the top of each brownie bite using your finger or the handle of a wooden spoon.
• Take a teaspoon-sized scoop of ganache and fill the hole in the top of the brownie bite.

Variations

• Make them full-sized: if you don’t want mini versions, bake the brownies in full-sized muffin tins instead.
• Do cupcakes instead: Who says they have to be brownies at all? Try this recipe with your favorite cupcake flavor!
• Add flavors or mix-ins: if you want a little more texture along with your brains, you can add chopped cookies, nuts, or sprinkles when adding the ganache. You can also add some flavoring extract to the ganache if you’d like.
• Gelatin brains: Silicone molds are also great for gelatin, so if crunchy candy brains aren’t your thing, consider making gelatin brains instead! They’re shiny, jiggly, and perhaps a bit TOO realistic – perfect for Halloween! If you go the gelatin route, you’ll probably want to omit the ganache and make solid gelatin brains (instead of just shells) and then attach them to the brownies with a bit of frosting.

Tips and FAQs  

The texture of the green ooze is intentionally loose and fluid. I was really attached to the idea of the brains oozing out once the chocolate shell was cracked, so it never fully sets or hardens. If this kind of squicks you out, which is understandable, I’ve included instructions in the recipe for making the filling firmer.

The outside of the brains is painted with a mixture of jelly and food coloring, to make them glisten with slime. Over time the jelly dries down so it’s tacky and not wet, but it does always transfer a little to the fingers. This step can be omitted if you need to transfer them, or serve them to a group of kindergartners in your pristine white dining room, etc.

More Fa-BOO-lous Halloween Desserts

• Monster Cake
• Bloody Truffles
• Witch’s Brew Halloween Punch
• Melting Chocolate Skulls
• Donut Hole Monster Eyeballs
• Red Velvet Marshmallow Spiderweb Cake