Halloween Lolly-Loaded Blondies (Easy One Bowl Recipe)

Chewy, buttery, brown sugar blondies absolutely stuffed with chocolate and Halloween lollies. Because apparently I’m pairing baked goods with a book about inappropriate pumpkins now. Happy Halloween, I guess.

The Snack for a Book That Has Absolutely No Shame

Right. I need to talk about the pumpkins again.

If you’ve already seen my Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini, you’ll know that this week’s Saturday Night Sip, Snack & Smut is inspired by Hallowpeen by Holly Wilde.

And if you’re wondering why I chose to pair a Halloween baking recipe with a book about sentient pumpkins and some VERY questionable romantic encounters…

Honestly, I think we’re well past the point of questioning my reading choices.

Some books deserve a gorgeous cheese board, a glass of wine and a little sophistication.

This one deserves a tray of blondies covered in Halloween lollies.

And I’m completely fine with that.

Enter my Halloween Lolly-Loaded Blondies.

These beauties are everything I love about a good blondie. Buttery, chewy, a little gooey in the middle and packed with that gorgeous caramel flavour you get from brown sugar.

Then I’ve gone and thrown white chocolate and a ridiculous amount of colourful chocolate lollies into the mix.

Because apparently moderation isn’t something I’m practising this Halloween.

They’re bright, they’re messy, they’re loaded with chocolate and they look like somebody tipped an entire trick-or-treat haul into a baking tin.

Which, let’s be fair, isn’t that far from the truth.

And the best part?

One bowl. No mixer. No complicated ingredients.

Just a ridiculously easy Halloween treat that comes together with minimal effort.

Perfect for when you’d rather be curled up with your Kindle, making questionable fictional choices.

A little warning before we get baking: Hallowpeen is definitely not your typical sweet Halloween romance. We’re talking highly sexualised paranormal content, unconventional themes and sentient objects getting involved in situations they probably shouldn’t. Check the book’s content warnings and your comfort level before reading. The blondies, thankfully, are considerably less complicated.

Now, who’s ready for some sugar?

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What You’ll Need

Makes: 12 generous squares

Prep time: 15 minutes

Bake time: 25 to 28 minutes, plus cooling

Difficulty: If you can melt butter and resist eating all the lollies before they reach the tin, you’re qualified.

Ingredients

• 125 g unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 200 g brown sugar
• 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 150 g plain flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 100 g white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate
• 90 g chocolate-coated lollies (mini chocolate buttons, mini M&M-style chocolates or similar), divided
• Orange sugar pumpkin decorations or Halloween sprinkles, optional

And yes, I fully support buying an extra packet of lollies for quality control purposes.

Someone has to make sure they’re good.

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How to Make Them

Step 1: Get That Oven Ready

Preheat your oven to 170°C fan-forced (190°C conventional).

Line a 20 cm square baking tin with baking paper, leaving a little overhang on the sides.

Trust me on the overhang. It makes lifting your blondies out so much easier later.

Because after going to all this effort, the last thing I want is to be digging them out of the tin with a spoon.

Although, if that happens, I’m certainly not wasting them.

Step 2: Make the Blondie Batter

Grab a large mixing bowl and whisk together your melted butter and brown sugar until smooth.

Add the egg, extra egg yolk and vanilla extract, then whisk again until everything looks lovely and glossy.

Next, add your flour, baking powder and salt.

Gently fold everything together until you can no longer see any dry flour.

And then stop mixing!

Seriously. Put the spoon down.

Overmixing can turn your lovely chewy blondies into something much more cakey, and that’s not what I’m here for.

I’m after those gorgeous, soft, caramel-like centres.

Step 3: Bring on the Halloween Lollies

Now for the fun part.

Fold your white chocolate and half the chocolate-coated lollies into the batter.

Try to distribute everything evenly, although I’m certainly not going to complain if one square ends up with a little extra chocolate.

Spread the batter into your prepared tin.

Then scatter the remaining lollies over the top, along with any orange sugar pumpkins or Halloween sprinkles you’re using.

Press them gently into the surface so they stay put.

Take a moment to admire your creation.

It should look colourful, slightly excessive and like something you’d make after spending far too long in the Halloween confectionery aisle.

Perfect.

Step 4: Bake Until Golden and Gorgeous

Pop your tin into the oven and bake for 25 to 28 minutes.

You’re looking for golden edges and a centre that’s just set but still has the tiniest little wobble.

Don’t be tempted to bake them until they’re completely firm.

Blondies continue setting as they cool, and that slightly soft centre is the secret to getting that lovely chewy texture.

Now comes the difficult part.

You need to let them cool completely in the tin.

I know.

You’ve just spent the last half hour smelling brown sugar, vanilla and melted chocolate, and now I’m telling you not to touch them.

Cruel, really.

But giving them time to cool means they’ll set properly and slice into gorgeous squares instead of falling apart.

Once cooled, lift them out using the baking paper and cut into 12 squares.

And yes, you’re absolutely allowed to claim the slightly wonky corner piece as a baker’s reward.

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Cosy Kitchen Notes

Not all Halloween lollies belong in the oven.

Stick with chocolate-coated lollies for the batter and topping. They tend to hold their shape and colour better during baking.

Hard sugar lollies can melt into sticky little puddles, which is not quite the Halloween surprise we’re going for.

If you want to add those, press them onto the blondies just after baking while they’re still warm.

Don’t overbake them.

I cannot stress this enough. A good blondie should be chewy, soft and slightly fudgy in the middle.

If you’re waiting for the centre to look completely firm, you’ve probably gone a little too far.

Remember, they’ll continue to set as they cool.

Want those perfect bakery-style squares?

Once your blondies have cooled, pop the whole slab into the fridge for about 30 minutes.

Then use a sharp knife, wiping it clean between cuts.

You’ll get lovely neat squares with all those colourful little chocolate pieces showing through.

Of course, if you’re just making these for yourself and your Kindle, I fully support cutting them into whatever shapes your heart desires.

Make them ahead of time.

These blondies keep in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

And here’s a little bonus: they’re actually even chewier on day two.

Assuming they survive that long.

A little extra Halloween flair.

Orange, purple, green and black chocolate-coated lollies look particularly fun for Halloween.

Add some little sugar pumpkins on top and you’ve got a dessert that looks like it belongs at a very colourful, slightly chaotic Halloween party.

Although, given the inspiration behind this recipe, I’m not entirely sure I can look at those innocent little sugar pumpkins the same way anymore.

Don’t forget the cocktail!

I’m serving these alongside my Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini.

And honestly? The combination is ridiculously good.

You’ve got all that sweet, buttery brown sugar and white chocolate in the blondies, balanced by the rich coffee flavour and warming spices in the martini.

The coffee cuts through the sweetness beautifully, and the cinnamon and nutmeg make the whole pairing feel wonderfully Halloween-inspired.

Not drinking alcohol? There’s a creamy Pumpkin Spice After Dark mocktail version in the same recipe.

Because everyone deserves a delicious drink to go with their questionable reading material.

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The Last Bite

Look, I’m not going to pretend these blondies are an elegant, sophisticated dessert.

They’re not.

They’re covered in colourful lollies, absolutely loaded with chocolate and probably contain more sugar than any responsible adult should be encouraging.

But you know what?

It’s Halloween. I’m reading a book about sentient pumpkins. I think we left responsible behaviour behind several chapters ago.

And that’s exactly why I love this pairing.

Sometimes I want a beautiful, atmospheric reading night with candles, a gorgeous cocktail and a book that completely destroys me emotionally.

And sometimes?

I want to sit there eating a blondie covered in Halloween lollies while wondering how an author came up with a story quite this outrageous.

Both are perfectly acceptable ways to spend a Saturday night, if you ask me.

These blondies are easy, chewy, buttery and absolutely packed with chocolate.

They’re perfect for Halloween movie nights, book club gatherings or just curling up on the couch with your Kindle and pretending you don’t have an ever-growing TBR waiting for you.

Pair them with a Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini, get comfortable and prepare for a reading experience that might permanently change your relationship with Halloween decorations.

I’m not saying you’ll never look at a pumpkin the same way again.

But I’m also not saying you will.

Now, I have questions for my bookish besties.

First, are you a white chocolate blondie lover, or are you firmly on team brownie?

And second, what’s the most completely outrageous book you’ve ever read?

I’m talking the kind of book where you finish a chapter, stare at your Kindle for a moment and think, what on earth did I just read?

Because I feel like Hallowpeen might be making a very strong case for my list.

And if you’re looking for more delicious excuses to abandon your responsibilities and spend Saturday night reading, you’ll find plenty more in my Saturday Night Sip, Snack & Smut series.

A good book, something delicious to eat and a drink within reach.

Bonus points if the book is completely unhinged.

Inspired by Hallowpeen by Holly Wilde. This is an independent EmberSas reading-night creation, not an official collaboration or sponsored recipe.

Shop the Spooky Reading Mood

The reading-night menu is sorted. Here are a few things from my EmberSas shop for a Kindle case and bookshelf with equally questionable Halloween plans.

The Kindle inserts are printable digital downloads with PDF and PNG files. No physical insert, case or device is included. Shelf signs are physical items. Check the individual product pages for sizing, options and care instructions.