Marshmallow Ghost Brownies

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9- by 13-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the 2 long sides. Grease paper.
2. Whisk together flour, pie spice, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Melt chocolate chips, butter, and cocoa in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk together sugar, pumpkin puree, eggs, and vanilla in a separate bowl. Add butter mixture to sugar mixture and stir to combine. Add flour mixture and stir to combine. Transfer to prepared pan.
3. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 20 to 22 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely in pan. Run a knife along the two short sides of the pan and lift brownies from pan using parchment. Remove parchment and transfer brownies to a serving platter.
4. Sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water in a bowl to soften. Set aside.
5. Combine sugar and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. When water comes to a boil, stop stirring, and wash down sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush to remove any undissolved sugar and prevent crystals from forming. Boil until the temperature reaches 238°F on a candy thermometer, 4 to 6 minutes.
6. Add sugar mixture to the softened gelatin. Whisk with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes. Increase speed to high and whisk until soft peaks form, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer marshmallow to a heavy-duty zip-top bag with a small hole cut in one corner (or a piping bag fitted with a #12 plain tip).
7. Immediately pipe ghost shapes on brownies. Let dry 1 hour. Pipe black frosting eyes and mouths. Brownies can be stored in an airtight container for 1 day.