These adorable monster brownies are tricked out with loads of treats from frosting to edible cereal eyeballs!

Why this recipe works
Since monster brownies are a kid-friendly Halloween recipe, as well as one where most of the effort should go into the decorating process, we took quite a few shortcuts to make them easier to prepare.
A brownie box mix, prepackaged cookie icing, and decorator gel make them a lot more manageable. Monster brownies are a fun Halloween dessert that kids can have full creative freedom over. Set up a station with all sorts of goodies to choose from and see what they come up with!

Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
BROWNIES – I kept the brownie prep nice and simple by using a box mix, as most of the work will be put into decorating. Here I used Ghirardelli double chocolate brownie mix. You can of course make homemade fudge brownies if preferred!
EYES – The eyeballs on these monster brownies are made with white chocolate dipped cereal topped with a mini chocolate chip. You can just as easily substitute with candy eyeballs to make the process quicker.
ICING – Again, to make things quicker, I used cookie icing, which you can typically find in the baking aisle at the grocery store. Or, substitute with homemade royal icing if you are willing to put in the effort! To add fine lines, such as hair, eyebrows, or smiles, use black decorator gel.
DECORATIONS – Get creative with the edible decorations here! I used various cereals to decorate – Cocoa Puffs, Cheerios, Captain Crunch All Berries, and Oreo Puffs. Pretzels, cookies, nuts, or assorted candies are also great options to decorate with.
How to Make Monster Brownies
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- First, prepare your brownies and allow them to cool. I refrigerated mine so that I could get nice clean cuts. When your brownies are ready to be cut, slice off the edges. Cut the brownies into different sized rectangles and squares. I cut some of the odd shaped leftovers into triangles too.
Make the Eyes
- It’s important to do this step first (after preparing the brownies) to allow adequate time for the glaze to dry. To make the eyes you’ll need any variety of Cheerios, some mini chocolate chips, powdered sugar and a little milk. Place the powdered sugar into a small bowl. Using a spoon, stir in some milk, a little bit at a time, until the consistency is good enough for dipping. Start with about a teaspoon and add a couple drops at a time until you get it where you want it.

- Drop a few Cheerios into the glaze coating the cereal. Use a spoon to lift the cereal out of the glaze and place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet.


- Place a mini chocolate chip, upside down, in the center of each glazed Cheerio. Gently press the mini chip to set. Set aside.

Decorate the Brownies
- Use an icing spatula, a rubber spatula, or the back of a spoon to spread the royal icing over the top of each brownie.
- Gently press assorted cereals into the frosted brownies for the monsters’ polka dots. Do so while the frosting is still wet so that your decorations stick.
- Lift the eyes from the waxed paper using a toothpick and gently press onto the frosted brownie. You can use pretzel sticks for arms and legs, and add eyebrows, mouths and hair using decorator gel.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
If you can’t find the prepackaged royal icing colors you are looking for, but are able to get your hands on the white icing, you can simply color it yourself with a bit of gel food coloring. The icing from the bag dried much smoother, so I would definitely recommend buying the colors you want over mixing it yourself. Alternatively, you can use the frosting method I use in my easy decorated sugar cookies recipe by simply warming up a tub of store bought frosting until it’s thinned enough to spread. This method won’t harden, however, so keep that in mind.
Store your brownies in an air-tight container, seperated by layers of parchment paper. Keep at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Serving Suggestions
I think these monster brownies would be extra adorable wrapped in cellophane gift baggies and tied with a Halloween ribbon to use as party favors.
Wrapping them in cellophane will work well if you use royal icing (such as the Betty crocker icing listed in the recipe card), as it hardens when dry. If you also use the decorator gel, do note that it does not harden, so you may want to place the brownie in a pastry box instead.
More Halloween Recipes
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Monster Brownies
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Pin It Rate ItIngredients
- 18 ounce brownie mix prepared according to box directions
- Cookie Icing in desired colors
- 2 cups Cereal such as Cheerios, Cocoa Puffs, or Captain Crunch All Berries
- Mini chocolate chips
- Pretzel sticks
- Red and black decorator gel
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- milk
Things You’ll Need
- Offset icing spatula or spoon
Before You Begin
- The nutrition count on each individual brownie will vary greatly depending upon the amount of decorations you add and how large or small you cut your brownie. The nutrition facts listed here only includes a standard sized baked brownie, please refer to your individual ingredients for more accurate nutrition information.
- The number of brownies you yield will again vary depending upon the shapes you cut them in to. When I make these, I like to use two brownie mixes so I have more wiggle room to be creative.
- You can use any prepackaged cookie icing such as Great Value, Wilton, or Betty Crocker icing. It should be royal icing, not regular frosting (though you can use regular frosting if preferred).
Instructions
- First prepare your brownies and allow them to cool. I refrigerated mine so that I could get nice clean cuts. When your brownies are ready to be cut, slice off the edges. Cut the brownies into different sized rectangles and squares. I cut some of the odd shaped leftovers into triangles too.
Make the Eyes
- It's important to do this step first (after preparing the brownies) to allow adequate time for the glaze to dry. To make the eyes you'll need any variety of Cheerios, some mini chocolate chips, powdered sugar and a little milk. Place the powdered sugar into a small bowl. Using a spoon, stir in some milk, a little bit at a time, until the consistency is good enough for dipping. Start with about a teaspoon and add a couple drops at a time until you get it where you want it.
- Drop a few Cheerios into the glaze coating the cereal. Use a spoon to lift the cereal out of the glaze and place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet.
- Place a mini chocolate chip, upside down, in the center of each glazed Cheerio. Gently press the mini chip to set. Set aside.
Decorate
- Use an icing spatula, a rubber spatula, or the back of a spoon to spread the royal icing over the top of each brownie.
- Gently press assorted cereals into the frosted brownies for the monsters' polka dots. Do so while the frosting is still wet so that your decorations stick.
- Lift the eyes from the waxed paper using a toothpick and gently press onto the frosted brownie. You can use pretzel sticks for arms and legs, and add eyebrows, mouths and hair using decorator gel.
Expert Tips & FAQs
- Store your brownies in an air-tight container, seperated by layers of parchment paper. Keep at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
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wm says
Thank you! I've just been invited to a party where I'm supposed to bring something scary. This might be perfect.
cookies and cups says
So very very cute!!!
madi says
wow i love your nickname well i have a party coming up so i am so going to do that that is a cute idea!
madi says
think that cookies and cups nickname is so cute
buttersweetmelody says
I love them! i love cute monsters! I am really bad at decorating though. I don't knOW if I could make them ):
Yours are so lovely! Thanks!
-Amalia
http://buttersweetmelody.wordpress.com
Beth says
So cute. I love them!
Kudos Kitchen says
These are so funny and cute Amanda!
Barbara @ Modern Comfort Food says
These are super-fun, Amanda! It's such a joy to see what you come up with in recipes when you combine your great cooking with your uber-creative crafter chops.
Marie says
How cute! Great tips here as well! Loved this whole post! xxoo
Katrina says
Love these, Amanda! GREAT job.
Amnah says
Those are so cute!
Nutmeg Nanny says
Awesome! I love these. I will have to make them with the little one I watch :)
Bridgett says
These are so much fun! I definitely want to try these out with my kids. You have great ideas and are so creative. I love these.
briarrose says
Wicked cute!
Valerie says
Really cute! These are going on my treat list! Thanks for sharing
Mo 'Betta says
These are great! My kids would love them.
sugarswings says
so cute! found you from edible crafts (another fav)…will have to try these out…thx for sharing!
Beansieleigh says
Hi Amanda! What a great post! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your brownies!!! Thanks for sharing a how-to, so we can try them too!.. Have a great day! ~tina
Amanda says
Thank you Maria, they were TOTALLY fun! :)
Thank you Jose, you always say such nice things :)
Thanks Sue! Coming from a master cookie decorator like yourself, I am honored by the compliment :)
Sue says
These are ADORABLE, Amanda! Love them! You've done it again:)
jose manuel says
Que bonitos te han quedado. Geniales.
Maria says
SO creative! I love these!!