Divas on a Dime: Spiced Dark Chocolate Brownie
By Patti Diamond
Spooktacular Spiced Dark Chocolate Brownie Pear-fect for Halloween
Are you ready for a ghoulishly delightful and creatively creepy dessert? This recipe may be a little unorthodox, but the results are sure to impress your Halloween party guests. We're taking the classic boxed brownie mix and turning it into something extraordinary. With a few simple tweaks and the addition of sculpted pears, you'll have a dessert that's both delicious and fun.
Since we're on the subject, here's how to give all your boxed brownie mixes a miraculous makeover. To the recipe on the box, consider these enhancements: Replace the oil with melted butter. Add an extra egg or just the yolk for extra richness. Swap out the water with coffee for a flavor boost. Include a teaspoon of flavoring like vanilla or almond. And lastly, always stir the batter by hand, no need for a hand mixer.
Sinisterly Sweet and Spiced Skull Brownie. PHOTO CREDIT: www.JasonCoblentz.com
By making these changes, no one will ever guess that you're using a boxed mix, and you'll end up with a luscious, homemade-like brownie.
This Spooktacular Pear-Infused Dark Chocolate Brownie Cake is a Halloween masterpiece, blending the richness of ginger and dark chocolate with the sweetness of pears in a creative and fun dessert.
GHOULISHLY GOOD SPICED DARK CHOCOLATE & PEAR BAKE
Yield: 12 servings
Total Time: 90 minutes
1/4 cup crystallized ginger, finely minced
2 teaspoons granulated sugar (divided)
1/3 cup melted butter
1 whole egg
1 egg, separated
1 (18-ounce) boxed supreme dark chocolate chunk brownie mix
2 teaspoons dried ground ginger
1/4 cup cold coffee or water
3 fresh unpeeled ripe Bosc pears
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Preheat your oven to 350 F and generously grease a 9-inch springform pan.
Begin by mincing the crystallized ginger with a teaspoon of granulated sugar (this helps prevent sticking). You'll need about 1/4 cup. Set aside.
Melt the butter, set aside. In two small bowls, separate the eggs. Add the second egg yolk and most of the white to the first egg and reserve about a tablespoon of the egg white for later as a glaze.
In a mixing bowl, combine the boxed brownie mix with the dried and crystallized ginger. Add the melted butter, coffee (or water), and the eggs. Stir by hand until just combined. Avoid over-mixing.
Pour the brownie batter into the prepared springform pan and bake at 350 F for 15 minutes.
While the brownie partially bakes, it's time to sculpt the pears into skull shapes.
Wash the pears but do not peel them. Cut them in half lengthwise and use a small spoon or apple corer to remove the core and the vein that runs to the top stem.
Position the halved pear so the flat side is down and the larger end of the pear is on top. Use a small spoon or apple corer to scoop out two holes for the eyes, then cut out the nose with a very small spoon or a straw. Use a paring knife to score the smaller end to look like teeth.
Drain excess moisture by placing them flat side down on paper towels.
By now, your brownie should be partially baked. Remove the brownie and reduce the oven temperature to 300 F.
On a small plate, combine cornstarch with a teaspoon of sugar. Dip the cut side of each pear into the cornstarch mixture before placing them artistically on top of the partially baked brownie. Whip the reserved egg white with a teaspoon of sugar until frothy. Brush this glaze over the skulls.
Return the skull-infested brownie to the oven for 50 minutes.
Your guests will be thrilled by the hauntingly delicious creation you've prepared. Enjoy!
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Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime -- Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com
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