Description
Delightfully festive Christmas Present Brownies that combine rich, fudgy chocolate with colorful candy decorations to resemble wrapped gifts. Perfect for holiday parties or gifting, these brownies are moist, chewy, and topped with vibrant red, green, and white candy melts and festive bows for a joyful treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Brownie Batter
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional for extra fudginess)
Decorations
- Red, green, and white candy melts
- Mini candy bows or holiday sprinkles (optional but festive)
Instructions
- Prepare the brownie batter: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang on the sides for easy removal later. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Once melted, remove from heat and whisk in the sugar until smooth and shiny. Let it cool slightly before adding the eggs and vanilla extract, whisking continuously until the mixture looks thick and glossy.
- Add the dry ingredients: In another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a rubber spatula. Stir until everything is well combined and smooth—avoid overmixing so your brownies stay chewy. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, fold in a cup of chocolate chips for that rich, gooey bite.
- Bake the brownies: Pour the batter evenly into your prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for about 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs (not wet batter). Don’t overbake—brownies continue to cook slightly after being removed from the oven. Let them cool completely in the pan before decorating.
- Cut and decorate like gifts: Once the brownies are cool, lift them out of the pan using the parchment paper and place them on a cutting board. Cut into even squares—these will be your “presents.” Melt the red, green, and white candy melts in separate bowls (microwave in 15-second bursts, stirring in between until smooth). Drizzle or pipe the melted candy over each brownie in crisscross lines to resemble ribbons. Add mini bows, tiny candies, or festive sprinkles on top for a finishing touch.
- Let the decorations set: Allow the candy melts to harden at room temperature or speed up the process by refrigerating them for 10–15 minutes. Once set, arrange your Christmas Present Brownies on a platter or in a gift box lined with parchment paper—they look adorable and taste just as delightful!
Notes
- For fudgier brownies, include the optional chocolate chips in the batter.
- Be careful not to overbake to keep brownies moist and chewy.
- Use parchment paper with overhang for easy removal from the pan.
- Allow candy melts to fully set before stacking or packaging brownies.
- Decorate creatively with mini bows and sprinkles for extra festive appeal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie (approx. 3x3 inch square)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
