Description
These festive Christmas Brownies are a delightful holiday treat, combining the rich, chewy texture of homemade brownies with colorful, creamy buttercream frosting. Perfectly cut into Christmas-themed shapes and decorated with sprinkles and mini M&Ms, they make a fun and delicious dessert for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Brownies
- Ingredients for Best Chewy Brownies (typically includes flour, sugar, cocoa powder, eggs, butter, and vanilla extract) – doubled to fit a 9×13-inch pan
Buttercream Frosting
- Ingredients for Best Ever Buttercream Frosting (usually includes butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk or cream)
- Gel food coloring (various colors or green for single-color frosting)
- Festive sprinkles
- Mini M&Ms or other edible decorations
Instructions
- Make the Brownies: Prepare a double batch of the Best Chewy Brownies by doubling all the ingredients. Bake them in a 9 by 13-inch metal baking pan lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil, adding 3-5 minutes to the usual baking time until done. Allow them to cool completely and chill for at least two hours or overnight if possible for best texture and easier cutting.
- Make the Buttercream: Prepare the Best Ever Buttercream Frosting. Then separate it into bowls and add gel food coloring to create as many colors as desired, or keep it all green. Transfer the colored buttercream into disposable piping bags fitted with desired piping tips.
- Cut Out the Brownies: Remove the cooled brownie slab from the pan, keeping the parchment paper or foil underneath. Use a tall metal cookie cutter to stamp out festive shapes as close together as possible. Carefully wedge an offset spatula or paring knife under each piece to release it from the paper. Gently press each brownie shape out of the cutter with your fingers, ideally when the brownies are cold to prevent breakage.
- Decorate the Christmas Brownies: Pipe buttercream frosting onto each brownie shape as desired. Quickly add festive sprinkles, mini M&Ms, or other edible decorations while the frosting is still fresh so that toppings stick well. Serve immediately or store brownies in an airtight container to keep edges from drying out.
Notes
- Brownies taste best the day they are baked and decorated but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to 5 days refrigerated. Ensure airtight storage to prevent drying of cut edges.
- For freezing, freeze unfrosted brownies either as a whole slab or pre-cut shapes. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place inside a freezer bag or airtight container for up to one month. Thaw overnight in the fridge or for a couple hours at room temperature before frosting and serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie (approximate)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
