Dessert

Halloween Brimstone Bread Recipe

Bymia larkspur October 25, 2025October 25, 2025

Introduction

Celebrate Halloween with this spooky and delicious Easy Halloween Brimstone Bread. Featuring a striking blood-red dough topped with a crackly, black crust, this bread is as fun to make as it is to eat. Perfect for festive gatherings or a creative baking project.

A close-up of a round cookie held by a woman's hand, showing a cracked black outer layer with glowing bright red cracks that look like molten lava underneath. The cookie's surface is rough and textured, and in the blurry background, more cookies with the same cracked pattern are visible, placed on a white marbled surface. The overall look gives a strong contrast between the dark exterior and the fiery red inside, making the cookie appear both crunchy and soft inside. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 box instant bread mix
1 cup warm water (105°F to 115°F)
Red food coloring, as desired
2 tbsp active dry yeast
2 tbsp granulated sugar
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups rice flour
Black food coloring or activated charcoal, as preferred
Additional water for coloring

Instructions

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine the instant bread mix, 2 tablespoons active dry yeast, 1 cup warm water (105°F to 115°F), 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt following the bread mix instructions. Add red food coloring until the dough reaches a deep, dark blood red color and mix thoroughly.
Step 2: Divide the red dough into 12 equal balls and place them evenly on a cookie sheet. Cover with a damp towel and let rise until doubled in size, according to the bread mix directions.
Step 3: While the dough rises, prepare the black topping by combining 2 tablespoons active dry yeast, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 1/2 cups rice flour in a mixer.
Step 4: In a separate bowl, mix black food coloring or activated charcoal with enough water to create a dark, inky liquid. Gradually add this to the dry topping ingredients, mixing until you form a thick, sticky, spreadable black topping. Adjust color if desired.
Step 5: Cover the black topping and let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to activate the yeast and improve adhesion.
Step 6: Once the dough balls have risen, generously smear the black topping over the tops and sides of each ball. Leave them uncovered to rest for another 15 minutes, allowing the topping to adhere well.
Step 7: Preheat the oven following the bread mix instructions. Bake the topped dough balls on the center rack, turning the pan halfway through baking for even browning, until the black topping crackles and becomes crisp.
Step 8: Remove from oven and let the bread cool until easy to handle. Serve warm with butter or as desired.

Tips & Variations

For a more intense black color, add extra black food coloring or activated charcoal to the topping.
Use a stand mixer to combine the toppings thoroughly for a smoother spread.
If you prefer a less sweet bread, reduce the sugar in the topping slightly.
Try adding a pinch of smoked paprika to the topping for a subtle smoky flavor that complements the crust.

Storage

Store leftover brimstone bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To refresh, warm in a preheated oven at 350°F for 5–7 minutes to revive the crispness of the black crust. Avoid refrigerating as it may dry out the bread.

How to Serve

A close-up view of four round buns with a cracked, rough surface, each showing glowing red lines beneath the black crust, resembling hot lava cracks; the buns are arranged closely together on a round ornate silver tray set against a dark background. The texture of the buns is rough and slightly shiny where the red glows break through the black outer layer. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular flour instead of rice flour for the black topping?

Rice flour helps create a lighter, crispier topping but you can substitute with all-purpose flour if needed. The texture might be slightly different, but the flavor will remain delicious.

What if I don’t have activated charcoal or black food coloring?

You can use black cocoa powder as an alternative to achieve a dark color, though it will add a subtle chocolate flavor to the topping, which can be interesting and tasty.