These pumpkin brownies are actually baked inside a pumpkin! This is a fun and delicious recipe that can be the centerpiece of any fall or Halloween party.
Pumpkin Brownies Baked in a Pumpkin
My blogger buddy Jennifer over at Kitchen Serf wrote this hilarious post about how people go crazy posting pumpkin recipes during the fall.
In the past, I may have made one or two grumpy remarks about the deluge of pumpkin that occurs this time of year.
OK, maybe it was more like one or two dozen remarks. But I digress.
However, I’ve come to something of a détente with pumpkin. It’s grown on me. And I have to admit that I’m quite proud of this pumpkin recipe, simply because it’s ridiculously over the top.
I originally thought about baking brownies in a pumpkin when I was mulling over recipe ideas for a Halloween post. At a loss as to how to go about it, I hit the search engines and found that several people had baked a cake in a pumpkin. Of the ones I looked at, I ended up using the ever-fabulous CakeSpy’s recipe as a jumping off point.
In an uncharacteristic fit of ambitiousness, I also roasted the seeds of the pumpkins.
Please, hold your applause. Really.
And for this task I used a recipe from a fellow blogger over at Oh She Glows.
Feeling ambitious today!
Now, if you’d like to bake the brownies without putting them in a pumpkin, simply see the recipe notes for how to do that. But I think it would be fun to do the pumpkin brownies in a pumpkin and the seed roasting as a group activity for a party. (If you, too, would like to have a fit of ambitiousness.)
Since this is a good recipe for Halloween, too, I’m submitting it for inclusion in the Chocolate Log Blog event called We Should Cocoa, hosted this month by Hannah over at Honey and Dough. This month’s theme is Halloween!
Oh, and one last thing. In the recipe, I mention putting some foil on the pumpkins. Here’s what that looks like:
If you really like pumpkin, then allow me to recommend a few more recipes for your enjoyment in addition to these pumpkin brownies:
And if you love brownies, please also try my very favorite brownie recipe, these Ultimate Deep Dish Brownies.
Pumpkin Brownies - Baked in a Pumpkin!
Ingredients
- 2 pie pumpkins
- 3 oz unsweetened chocolate
- 8 TB unsalted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup cooked and mashed pumpkin I used canned pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie mix
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
- Dash of ginger
- Dash of cloves
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup flour
Instructions
Prep
-
Rinse off the pumpkins and dry them. Using a chef's knife, cut off the top of the pumpkin to create a pumpkin "bowl" with a "lid." Scrape out all the seeds and as much of the stringy stuff as you can. Discard or save the seeds for roasting.
-
Wrap the pumpkin "bowls" with aluminum foil up to the rim. Line a baking sheet or pan with foil or parchment and place the pumpkin bowls side by side but not touching.
-
Preheat oven to 350.
Batter
-
In a microwaveable bowl, microwave the chocolate and butter together in 20 second bursts, stirring in between, until completely melted and smooth.
-
Stir in the sugar, then the pumpkin, then the spices, salt, and vanilla. Taste the batter to see if you want to add more spices.
-
Stir in the eggs until glossy and smooth. Sprinkle the flour over the batter and gently stir until just combined.
Assembly & Baking
-
Scoop the batter into each pumpkin bowl. Smooth it down to make sure the amounts are equal. Place the pumpkin lids on top.
-
Bake for 1 hour, then remove the lids. Continue to bake for at least one more hour. When done, brownies will have a shiny skin on top and will puff up just a bit. They should not feel liquid underneath, but they will be on the soft side because the pumpkin cooks them by steam.
-
Let cool for about an hour. To speed cooling at this point, you may place them in the refrigerator to firm up for slicing.
-
If desired, use a chef's knife to slice each pumpkin into wedges, or simply eat the brownies from the pumpkin. Brownies will be soft like thick pudding when warm, and firm like cheesecake when cold. Be sure to try it both ways!
Recipe Notes
If you want the pumpkin brownies without baking in a pumpkin, use an 8 inch pan and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes at 350. The texture will be more like a traditional brownie than a pudding/cheesecake hybrid.
For more fun with the family, try this math game made with brownies!
Jennifer
Thanks for the shout-out Katie. I love this post, especially your line about the “uncharacteristic fit of ambitiousness.” Those really can be dangerous!
Were you happy with how the brownies turned out?
Katie
Yes, resoundingly. They have this duel personality texture- like pudding when warm, but like cheesecake when chilled. I actually preferred the chilled- it was like really high end chocolate cheesecake, with just enough pumpkin and spice to keep you guessing.
You know, there are some times when I don’t particularly care for something even when I know it came out right- Peanut Butter Brownies are an example, ’cause I don’t like peanut butter in brownies- but, happily, this wasn’t one of them. 🙂
Alida
OMG! I have never seen this before! What a cute idea, perfect for Halloween. I love pumpkin. Great post!
Katie
Thank you! I was trying to do something unique. 🙂
CakeSpy
I love you!! This is so great!
Katie
Thank you! Your article showed me the way! 🙂
Jen @ Blue Kitchen Bakes
What a brilliant idea! I’ve never seen anything like this before, would be great at a Halloween party.
Katie
I thought so too. Before I made it, I thought, “Oh, this is a crazy amount of work,” but then when I actually did it (including roasting the seeds) I thought it was great fun!
Dini @ giramuks kitchen
Love this idea Katie!! This whole pumpkin thing is so new to me, so I am really curious about how pumpkin is used!
I love that this tastes like cheesecake too… my husband would love that! 🙂
Katie
Ha! This time of year, people use pumpkin in everything. It’s like some sort of mad contest to see who can use pumpkin the most. 🙂
Choclette
I couldn’t quite believe this when I first saw it – wow, what a spectacular idea. Love it Katie. I thought I was adventurous with brownies, but I have nothing on you. Brilliant entry for We Should Cocoa too – thank you 🙂
Katie
Thank you! Your kind words mean so much! 🙂
Jacqui @FlightsFancyMom
I am one of those rare freaks that just does not like pumpkin lol! With that said, I admit that this is an interesting way to bake brownies!
Jeanine
Yum what a really neat idea. I’ve never tried pumpkin but I’m super picky so I have always just said I don’t like it but I think I need to give it a try!
Rebecca Swenor
These pumpkin brownies are indeed an awesome Halloween party addition. I will be doing this recipe and cooking the brownies inside the pumpkin. This is such a creative neat idea for a center piece. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
This is hilarious, and I actually really want to try them…with the pumpkin in the same bite. I’m kind of obsessed with the thought, actually.
krystal
I just had to show this to my husband, because we cut open a pumpkin today to make a cooler! I never thought to bake brownies in it! Cool idea.
Bonnie @wemake7
Well isn’t this the most coolest thing I have ever seen! What cool idea. I love this!
Sara
What a creative use of the pumpkin! I never would have thought of making a brownie inside a pumpkin! I will have to try this out for sure.
Aisha Kristine Chong
Now this is so new to me. The first time I saw a brownie pumpkin like this – very interesting and creative,!
Dina Demarest
what a fun and delicious idea! This would be fun to take to the kids parties at the end of October!
Donna Ward
Oh my gosh! What a unique and yummy looking and sounding recipe – Pumpkin Brownies Baked in a Pumpkin – never would have thought of this – it’s spectacular! Thank you
Bites for Foodies
How clever is that?!? That brownie in the center looks so good..I can’t just imagine digging in there with a spoon, even if it’s not that gooey! I would eat it be the spoonful!!!
Emma Spellman
This looks amazing. Hand me a spoon!
rika
This is a very cute idea.. I love brownie… can’t wait to try this recipe
Angela Harris
WOW! This is such an interesting idea, and I have never seen anything like this. Sounds really good too.
Diana Ajih
I love this post! This recipe is so creative and it sounds really good too! I might just try this on Halloween!
Nicole Hood
Wow! What a creative recipe. I’m sure my kids would like this however baking for 2 hours they would prob lose interest!
Aprill
I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. How did it taste?