Last Minute Halloween Treats - Owl Cupcakes and Oreo Brownies

Halloween is just around the corner so I am re-posting two of my favorite last minute Halloween treats.

I love the creativity Alan Richardson and Karen Tack presented in their book Hello, Cupcake.  These owl cupcakes are extremely easy to make and they are fun for Halloween.

The brownies are delicious!  The Halloween Oreos add bright colors to the brownies.  I was a bit disappointed this year, however, to see that the Halloween Oreos do not have fun pictures printed on the cookies like past years.  Hopefully they will bring back the pictures again next year!  For a change, these brownies can also be made with mint Oreos.

Halloween Oreo Brownies


1 1/4 cups chocolate chips
3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 cup butter
3 eggs
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour (+2 Tablespoons)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
20 Halloween Oreo Cookies

Add butter, cocoa and 1 cup chocolate chips to a saucepan.  Melt over low heat.

In a large bowl combine eggs, vanilla, sugar, 1/2 cup flour, baking powder and salt.  Add melted chocolate.

Coarsely chop 12 oreo cookies.  Coat cookies with 2 Tablespoons flour.  Add the cookies to the batter.

Halloween Oreos when they had fun pictures!

Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips.

Spoon the batter into a parchment lined 9x14 pan.

Chop 8 Oreo cookies.  Sprinkle cookie pieces on top of the brownie batter.

Bake 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted 3 inches from the edge comes out clean.

When the brownies are cool, cut into desired size and remove from pan.  Wrap individual brownies in plastic wrap.  Store wrapped brownies in an air-tight container.

Hot out of the oven

Try making this recipe using Cool Mint Oreos

Halloween Owl Cupcakes

Supplies Needed:

24 cooled chocolate cupcakes (regular size)

chocolate frosting (make it easy and buy the frosting pre-made)

48 Junior Mints

24 pieces of yellow candy for the beak  (I used a yellow M&M since I did not have banana shaped Runts as mentioned in the book)  A candy corn could work as well

48 Oreo Cookies

Process:

Frost the cooled cupcakes with the chocolate frosting.

Take two Oreo cookies and separate the two halves.  Be careful not to break the cookies.  The cookies will separate easier if you place them in the microwave for a few seconds.

Take the frosting side of each cookie and place it frosting side up on the cupcake to create the eyes.  (Save the plain chocolate side for the owl's ears).  Place a little bit of frosting on the back of a junior mint and attach it to the white part of the Oreo cookies.  Add the beak (yellow M&M or other candy)

Take the other half of the Oreo cookie (the plain chocolate side) and cut off the top third.  Arrange this piece of the cookie on the top of the owl above the eyes to create an ear.  Cut off the bottom third of the chocolate cookie to create the other ear (see photo).  

Place some chocolate frosting in a decorating bag and pipe on top of the plain chocolate cookie ears.

If desired pipe a small dot of melted white chocolate onto the junior mint eyeball.

Mini Owl Cupcakes

Follow the same directions as listed above but use mini cupcakes, mini Oreo cookies and mini M&M's instead of Junior Mints.  A small yellow mini M&M can be used for the beak.

For added fun, spread some white cotton candy on the serving dish.