Spider Web Brownies

These spooky Spider Web Brownies are the ultimate Halloween dessert – they’re rich, fudgy and stuffed with homemade salted caramel sauce!

Reasons to love these Spider Web Brownies

• Decorated with an edible marshmallow spider web
• Fudgy texture with a rich chocolatey flavour
• What lies beneath? Salted caramel sauce 😍
• An impressive dessert, perfect for Halloween parties

Tips for making the salted caramel sauce

These Spider Web Brownies are layered with salted caramel sauce for extra indulgence. I love how the caramel oozes out of the brownie and looks deliciously spooky.

Making salted caramel sauce from scratch can be tricky, but after all the trial and error I’ve experienced, I’m hoping these tips that I’ve learnt will make things easier for you:

1. Use a light-coloured stainless steel saucepan – it will heat more evenly and the light colour means you’ll notice the caramels precise colour changes.
2. Use white granulated sugar – the sugar crystals are bigger than finer sugars like caster sugar, so it’s less likely to burn.
3. Watch the sugar at all times – don’t be tempted to multitask when you’re melting the sugar, it can change and burn very quickly. Stay by the saucepan and watch it the whole time.
4. Stir the sugar continuously if using a gas hob – prevent the sugar from burning by using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to move it around the saucepan so it doesn’t stick to the bottom or sides.
5. However, do not stir the sugar if using an induction hob – I’ve tested this caramel on both a gas and induction hob, and found on an induction hob the sugar should be left to melt down without too much interference.
6. Use a whisk to stir in the butter and cream –this is the easiest and quickest way to incorporate the ingredients. Just be careful of any hot caramel splashes.
7. Let it cool and thicken – pour the sauce into a bowl and place in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours to thicken. You should be able to spoon the caramel onto the brownies, rather than pour it on.

How to make the spider web decoration

Whoever thought to use melted marshmallow to make an edible is an absolute genius! It’s so easy and quick, but looks super impressive. Here’s what you’ll need:

White marshmallows.

Yep, that’s it! Just 1 ingredient.

To make the marshmallow spiderweb first melt the marshmallows in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. They will puff up and turn soft and fluffy. Then use your fingertips to grab the melted marshmallow and pull it apart to make a web effect. Drape the web across the brownies and repeat until the top is covered. I also placed some edible eyes in between the web for extra spookiness and because I’m obsessed with finding ways to use them in Halloween baking!

Recipe troubleshooting

• What baking tin should I use? This recipe uses an 8x8inch square baking tin. If you’re using a bigger baking tin, decrease the baking time by 3-4 minutes. If your baking tin is smaller in size, increase the baking time by 3-4 minutes.
• How do I know when to take the brownies out of the oven? The top is no longer shiny or wet, small cracks have started to show around the outside edge, and if you give the baking tin a gentle shake, there should be a slight wobble.
• Do I have to let the brownies cool completely? Yes, this will make them set and turn fudgy. Slice them whilst warm and they will fall apart and be too gooey.
• My brownies were dry and over-baked, what happened? The brownies were in the oven too long. Some ovens run hotter than others, which is why the baking time may not be right for everyone. Next time try reducing it by 3-4 minutes. It might also be a good idea to purchase an oven thermometer, this handy little gadget sits inside your oven and will tell you the correct temperature.

Ingredients & Equipments used to make Spider Web Brownies

Spider Web Brownies

These spooky Spider Web Brownies are the ultimate Halloween dessert – they're rich, fudgy and stuffed with homemade salted caramel sauce!

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Prep Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs

Course Dessert

Cuisine Baking, Halloween

Servings 12

Ingredients

  

For the brownies

• 150 g Unsalted butter  chopped into chunks
• 150 g Dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids) I use Lindt 70% dark chocolate broken into chunks
• 2 Large Eggs at room temperature
• 220 g White caster sugar
• 150 g Self-raising flour

For the salted caramel sauce

• 100 g Granulated sugar
• 40 g Unsalted butter at room temperature and chopped into chunks
• 100 g Double cream  at room temperature
• 0.5 tsp Salt

For the marshmallow spider web

• 100 g White marshmallows
• Edible eyes

Instructions

 

Start by making the salted caramel sauce

• Place the granulated sugar into a medium-sized stainless steel saucepan and set over a medium-low heat on the hob.
• If you're using a gas hob, use a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to continuously stir the sugar until it gradually starts to melt. If you're using an induction hob, leave the sugar to melt on its own and only give the pan an occasional swirl using the handle. The sugar will initially clump up before turning into a clear liquid, and then finally into an amber-coloured golden liquid. Be patient as this can take between 5-10 minutes.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and immediately add the butter, use a whisk to stir it into the melted sugar. The mixture will bubble up so be careful of hot caramel splashes.
• Now pour in the cream and again use the whisk to stir it through. Finally, stir through the salt.The caramel should be smooth, golden in colour and the consistency should coat the back of a spoon.
• Pour the caramel into a bowl and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until the consistency is thick but not solid.

Now make the brownie mixture

• Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan oven).
• Line an 8x8inch square baking tin with greaseproof paper. Set aside.
• Place the unsalted butter and dark chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt in the microwave in 30-second blasts (mixing after each) until smooth. Set the bowl aside for now.
• In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and white caster sugar for 1 minute until pale in colour and frothy.
• Now pour the melted chocolate mixture into the whisked eggs and add the self-raising flour. Fold everything together until it comes together into a thick brownie mixture.

Layer and bake the brownies

• Spoon half of the brownie mixture into the baking tin, spreading it out into an even layer.
  
• Take the caramel out of the fridge and spoon it on top of the brownie layer, leaving a 1 inch gap around the edge.
  
• Spoon the remaining brownie mixture over the caramel and gently spread it out to conceal the caramel.
  
• Bake the brownies for 18-20 minutes until the top is no longer shiny and the edges have started to crack.
  
• Leave to cool completely in the baking tin for at least 4 hours or overnight for best results. If you’re short on time, you can speed this up by putting the brownies in the fridge for two hours.

Add the spiderweb decoration

• Place the marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 20-30 seconds until melted.
  
• Once cool enough to touch, grab a small amount between your fingers and pull it apart to create a spiderweb effect. Drape it over the top of the brownies. Repeat until the top is covered in spider webs.
  
• Place the edible eyes in the small gaps between the spiderwebs.
  

Notes

Your Ghost Brownies will keep at room temperature, in an airtight container, for you to 3 days.

Keyword Butter, Caramel, dark chocolate, Eggs, Flour, Marshmallows

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