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Floating Ghost Halloween Brownies

These Floating Ghost Halloween Brownies are an easy and adorable Halloween treat! Rich, fudgy chocolate brownies are filled with mini chocolate chips, cut into squares, and topped with cute white ghost icing transfers. Each little ghost looks like it’s floating right on top of the brownie!

I love how simple these are to make. You can bake a homemade pan of brownies or use your favorite boxed brownie mix, then decorate each square with a little ghost. The white ghosts really stand out against the dark chocolate brownies, making these perfect for Halloween parties, spooky dessert trays, or a fun afternoon of Halloween baking.

Easy Halloween Ghost Brownies

These brownies are especially fun because the decorating is so simple. Instead of piping complicated designs directly onto the brownies, you can make the little ghost icing transfers ahead of time and place them on top once the brownies are ready.

The mini chocolate chips add extra chocolate flavor, and the little black eyes and open mouths give each ghost the cutest surprised expression.

Floating Ghost Halloween Brownies Recipe

Servings: 16 brownies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 25–30 minutes
Cooling and Decorating Time: 1–2 hours
Pan Size: 8 × 8-inch baking pan

Ingredients

For the Brownies

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

For the Floating Ghosts

• White royal icing
• Black royal icing
• Parchment paper or acetate sheets
• Piping bags

How to Make Floating Ghost Halloween Brownies

Make the Brownies

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8 × 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and sugar until combined.

Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.

Stir in the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.

Fold in the mini chocolate chips.

Spread the brownie batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.

Bake for approximately 25–30 minutes, or until the edges are set and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting them into squares.

Make the Floating Ghost Icing Transfers

Place a sheet of parchment paper or food-safe acetate on a flat surface.

Using white royal icing, pipe small ghost shapes with rounded heads and little wavy bottoms. Fill each shape with white icing, using a consistency that will settle into a smooth surface.

Allow the white icing to crust over before adding the faces.

Using black royal icing, pipe two little round eyes and one oval-shaped open mouth onto each ghost.

Let the icing transfers dry completely, preferably overnight, until they’re firm enough to lift without breaking.

Carefully peel the parchment away from each ghost.

Decorate the Brownies

Cut the cooled brownies into 16 squares.

Place one white ghost icing transfer on top of each brownie. If needed, use a tiny dot of royal icing or melted chocolate underneath to help secure the ghost.

Arrange the finished brownies on a serving platter and enjoy!

Can I Use Boxed Brownie Mix?

Absolutely! If you want to make these even easier, use your favorite boxed brownie mix.

Prepare the batter according to the package directions, stir in 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips, and bake as directed.

Once the brownies are completely cool, cut them into squares and add the ghost icing transfers.

This is a great shortcut when you’re making several different Halloween treats for a party.

Tips for Making Ghost Brownies

Make sure the brownies are completely cool before adding the ghost decorations. Warm brownies can soften the icing transfers.

Make the ghosts a day ahead so they have plenty of time to dry. They’re delicate when first piped, but become easier to handle once completely hardened.

Keep the ghost shapes slightly smaller than your brownie squares so the dark chocolate brownie shows around the edges.

For clean brownie squares, use a sharp knife and wipe the blade between cuts.

Make-Ahead Halloween Dessert

These brownies are a great make-ahead Halloween dessert because you can prepare the ghost icing transfers several days in advance.

Store the completely dried transfers in a dry, airtight container at room temperature until you’re ready to use them.

Bake the brownies the day before your party, then add the ghost decorations shortly before serving.

How to Store Halloween Brownies

Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3–4 days.

If you’ve already added the icing transfers, keep the brownies in a single layer whenever possible to protect the decorations. Moisture can soften royal icing, so add the ghosts shortly before serving for the prettiest presentation.

Jennie’s Thoughts

I absolutely love how these little Floating Ghost Halloween Brownies turned out! I wanted something really simple that would still look adorable on a Halloween dessert platter, and these were exactly what I had in mind.

I added mini chocolate chips to the brownie batter because I love a really chocolatey brownie, and then I topped each square with a little white ghost icing transfer. The contrast between the dark chocolate brownies and the bright white ghosts is so cute!

I especially love their little surprised faces. They almost look like they’re floating across the tops of the brownies!

These would be perfect mixed into a Halloween dessert tray with decorated sugar cookies, candy corn treats, and other spooky sweets. They’re easy, chocolatey, and such a fun little Halloween baking idea.