Christmas Brownies: 17 Festive Pans That Get Eaten Before the Cookies Do

Christmas brownies are the sweet surprise of this holiday season: one pan, ten minutes of decorating, and they are the first thing gone from the cookie tray. A short video of Santa hat brownie bites passed 2.1 million views on Instagram in about a day this week, and reindeer brownies are racing around the same feeds. The good news is that you do not need a new recipe for each one. Bake one fudgy base, from scratch or from a box, then dress it up with frosting, crushed candy canes, pretzels or a swirl of cheesecake. Below you will find 16 festive pans, each with a short shopping list and simple steps, plus tips for making them ahead and packing them for gifts. Which one goes on your tray first..

Christmas Brownies Start With Santa Hat Brownie Bites

These are the little bites that blew up online this week, and they are easier than they look. Small squares of fudgy brownie get a swirl of whipped cream, a strawberry turned upside down for the hat and one more dot of cream for the pom pom. They take about ten minutes to decorate once the brownies are cool, and kids can help with every step. Make them the same day you serve them so the berries stay fresh. Would your family eat the hat first or the brownie..

You will need: 1 pan of fudgy brownies (9×13) cooled, 24 small strawberries hulled, 1 cup heavy cream, 2 tbsp powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla, or 1 tub whipped topping.

How to make it: 1. Cut the cooled brownies into 24 squares or use a round cutter. 2. Whip the cream with the sugar and vanilla to stiff peaks. 3. Pipe a ring of cream on each square. 4. Set a strawberry on top, point up. 5. Pipe a tiny dot of cream on the tip. 6. Chill and serve within 4 hours.

The Fudgy Brownie Base Every Pan Starts With

Every one of these Christmas brownies starts with one good pan. This version uses melted butter and cocoa for a shiny, crackly top and a soft, fudgy middle. It is easy to double in a half sheet pan for a party. If you are short on time, a family size box mix works too. For more tricks on getting that crackly top, see this brownie tips video from Nick’s Kitchen. Fudgy or cakey: which team are you on?

You will need: 1 cup butter melted, 2 cups sugar, 4 large eggs, 2 tsp vanilla, 3/4 cup cocoa powder, 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 cup chocolate chips.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and line a 9×13 pan with parchment. 2. Whisk the warm butter and sugar for 1 minute. 3. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until glossy. 4. Fold in the cocoa, flour, salt and baking powder, then the chips. 5. Spread in the pan and bake 25 to 28 minutes. 6. Cool completely before cutting or decorating.

Christmas Brownies With Reindeer Faces

Rudolph brownies are the second viral favorite this month. Cut the pan into triangles, flip them so the point is the chin, and give each one pretzel antlers, candy eyes and a bright red candy nose. A little white icing holds everything in place. They are perfect for a class party or a kids’ baking night, and nobody can eat just one.

You will need: 1 pan of brownies cooled, 24 mini pretzel twists, 48 candy eyes, 12 red candy-coated chocolates or red gumdrops, 1/2 cup white or chocolate icing in a piping bag.

How to make it: 1. Cut the brownies into 12 long triangles. 2. Lay each triangle point down like a face. 3. Press two pretzels into the wide top for antlers. 4. Dot icing and stick on two candy eyes. 5. Add a red candy nose near the point. 6. Let the icing set 20 minutes before stacking.

Peppermint Bark Brownies

This is two holiday favorites in one bite. A layer of melted white chocolate goes over the cooled brownies, then gets showered with crushed candy canes before it sets. The cool mint and rich chocolate taste like December. Cut them with a hot, dry knife for clean edges. They also travel well, which makes them some of the best Christmas brownies for cookie swaps.

You will need: 1 pan of brownies cooled, 12 oz white chocolate chips, 1 tsp coconut oil, 1/2 tsp peppermint extract, 6 candy canes crushed.

How to make it: 1. Melt the white chocolate with the coconut oil in 30 second bursts. 2. Stir in the peppermint extract. 3. Spread over the cooled brownies. 4. Scatter the crushed candy canes on top right away. 5. Chill 30 minutes until set. 6. Cut with a hot, dry knife.

Christmas Tree Brownie Wedges

Cut a round or square pan of brownies into tall triangles and you have a forest of little trees. Pipe a zigzag of green or white icing back and forth for garland, add colorful sprinkles for ornaments and push a small piece of candy cane or pretzel into the base for a trunk. They look great standing on a cake board, and they are the most photographed Christmas brownies on any table. Kids love making these with you.

You will need: 1 pan of brownies cooled, 1 cup green or white icing, round sprinkles, star sprinkles, 12 short pretzel sticks or candy cane pieces.

How to make it: 1. Cut the brownies into tall triangles. 2. Fill a piping bag with icing. 3. Pipe a zigzag line across each tree. 4. Add round sprinkles while the icing is wet. 5. Press a star sprinkle on top. 6. Push a pretzel stick into the base for the trunk.

Candy Cane Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

A ribbon of pink peppermint cheesecake runs through these, so every square looks like a candy cane. The cream cheese layer bakes right on top of the brownie batter, so you only need one pan. A knife dragged through the two batters makes the swirl. Chill them well before cutting and top with a little crushed candy for crunch.

You will need: 1 batch brownie batter, 8 oz cream cheese softened, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1/2 tsp peppermint extract, red gel food coloring, 2 candy canes crushed.

How to make it: 1. Spread most of the brownie batter in a lined 9×13 pan. 2. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, egg and peppermint. 3. Tint half of it pink with the food coloring. 4. Drop spoonfuls of white, pink and the rest of the brownie batter on top. 5. Swirl with a knife and bake at 350 F for 30 to 35 minutes. 6. Chill 2 hours, cut and sprinkle with crushed candy.

Gingerbread Swirl Brownies

Gingerbread spices and dark chocolate are a great match. A spoon of molasses, ginger and cinnamon go into a cream cheese swirl that bakes into the top of the brownies. The house will smell like a holiday bakery. Top each square with a tiny gingerbread cookie if you want to show off. Is gingerbread a favorite in your house, or a once a year treat?

You will need: 1 batch brownie batter, 4 oz cream cheese softened, 2 tbsp molasses, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 egg yolk, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp cloves, mini gingerbread cookies for topping.

How to make it: 1. Spread the brownie batter in a lined 9×13 pan. 2. Beat the cream cheese, molasses, sugar, yolk and spices. 3. Drop spoonfuls over the batter. 4. Swirl with a knife. 5. Bake at 350 F for 28 to 32 minutes. 6. Cool, cut and top with mini cookies.

Red Velvet Christmas Brownies With Cream Cheese Frosting

Red velvet is the color of the season. These bars have a little cocoa, a lot of butter and a bright red color, with a thick layer of tangy cream cheese frosting on top. They look stunning next to dark Christmas brownies on a tray. Cut them small, because they are rich, and keep them in the fridge until the party.

You will need: 1/2 cup butter melted, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 tbsp red gel coloring, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp white vinegar, 2 tbsp cocoa, 3/4 cup flour, 1/4 tsp salt; frosting: 4 oz cream cheese, 2 tbsp butter, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and line an 8×8 pan. 2. Mix the butter and sugar, then the eggs, coloring, vanilla and vinegar. 3. Stir in the cocoa, flour and salt. 4. Bake 22 to 25 minutes and cool fully. 5. Beat the frosting until fluffy. 6. Spread on top, chill and cut into small squares.

Crackly-Top Brownie Cookies for the Tray

Brownie cookies are the cookie tray version of a brownie. They have the same shiny, crackled top and a gooey middle, but they bake in 10 minutes and stack neatly in a tin. One video of these cookies passed 11 million views on Instagram this fall, and it is easy to see why. Underbake them a little so the centers stay soft.

You will need: 6 oz dark chocolate chopped, 4 tbsp butter, 2 eggs, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup flour, 2 tbsp cocoa, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 cup chocolate chunks, flaky salt.

How to make it: 1. Melt the chocolate and butter together. 2. Beat the eggs and sugar for 5 minutes until thick and pale. 3. Fold in the chocolate, vanilla, flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. 4. Stir in the chunks and rest 10 minutes. 5. Scoop onto lined pans and bake at 350 F for 9 to 11 minutes. 6. Sprinkle with flaky salt and cool on the pan.

Brownie Truffle Bites Rolled in Cocoa

Have brownie edges or scraps left over? Crumble them, mix with a spoon of frosting and roll into little balls. Roll them in cocoa for a dark look, or in powdered sugar so they look like snowballs. They need no baking at all and look lovely in mini paper cups. This is the smartest way to use up every crumb in the pan.

You will need: 4 cups brownie crumbs (about half a 9×13 pan), 1/4 cup chocolate frosting or cream cheese, 1/2 cup cocoa powder or powdered sugar for rolling, mini paper cups.

How to make it: 1. Crumble the brownies into a bowl. 2. Mix in the frosting until it holds together. 3. Roll into 1 inch balls. 4. Chill 20 minutes. 5. Roll each ball in cocoa or powdered sugar. 6. Set in paper cups and keep cold.

Red and Green Candy Brownies

This is the simple one kids always ask for. Red and green candy-coated chocolates get pressed into the top of the batter before baking, so they peek out of the crackly crust. No frosting and no piping, just color. A video of this exact idea passed 300,000 views on YouTube in its first week. It is perfect for a busy weeknight bake sale, and the easiest Christmas brownies on this list.

You will need: 1 batch brownie batter or 1 family size box mix, 1 1/2 cups red and green candy-coated chocolates, 1/2 cup chocolate chips.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and line a 9×13 pan. 2. Stir 1/2 cup of the candies and the chips into the batter. 3. Spread in the pan. 4. Press the rest of the candies into the top. 5. Bake 25 to 30 minutes. 6. Cool fully before cutting.

Mint Frosted Christmas Brownies

Chocolate and mint is a classic holiday pair. A layer of pale green mint buttercream goes on the brownies, then a thin layer of melted chocolate goes on top. You get three layers in every bite. Chill between each step so the layers stay neat. Cut them small: they are very rich, and a little goes a long way on a dessert table.

You will need: 1 pan of brownies cooled, 1/2 cup butter softened, 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tbsp milk, 1 tsp peppermint extract, 2 drops green gel coloring, 1 cup chocolate chips, 3 tbsp butter.

How to make it: 1. Beat the butter, sugar, milk, peppermint and coloring until fluffy. 2. Spread over the cooled brownies. 3. Chill 30 minutes. 4. Melt the chocolate chips with the 3 tbsp butter. 5. Spread over the mint layer. 6. Chill until set and cut with a hot knife.

White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies

Not everyone wants chocolate, and these are the white Christmas option. Blondies are the brown sugar cousin of brownies, chewy and buttery, with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries for red and white color. They are easy to mix in one bowl. For more holiday tray ideas, see our Christmas cookie box everyone wants to receive. They are a perfect partner for dark Christmas brownies.

You will need: 1/2 cup butter melted, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 3/4 cup white chocolate chips, 1/2 cup dried cranberries.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and line an 8×8 pan. 2. Whisk the butter and brown sugar. 3. Beat in the egg and vanilla. 4. Stir in the flour, baking powder and salt. 5. Fold in the chips and cranberries and spread in the pan. 6. Bake 22 to 25 minutes and cool before cutting.

Salted Caramel Pretzel Brownies

Sweet, salty and crunchy, these are the brownies grown ups fight over. Thick caramel sauce gets drizzled over the warm brownies, then broken pretzels and a pinch of flaky salt go on top. Store bought caramel sauce is fine. Let them cool fully so the caramel sets before you cut. They might be the most grown up Christmas brownies here. Do you like your desserts sweet, or sweet and salty?

You will need: 1 pan of brownies baked, 1/2 cup thick caramel sauce, 1 cup mini pretzels lightly broken, 1/2 tsp flaky sea salt, 1/4 cup chocolate chips melted.

How to make it: 1. Bake the brownies and let them cool 10 minutes. 2. Warm the caramel sauce a little. 3. Spread or drizzle it over the brownies. 4. Press the pretzels on top. 5. Drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with salt. 6. Cool fully and cut with a warm knife.

Christmas Brownie Trifle for a Crowd

A trifle is the easiest way to turn one pan of brownies into a party dessert. Layer brownie cubes, chocolate pudding, whipped cream and berries in a big glass bowl, and the layers do the decorating for you. It feeds 15 people and can be made the night before. Top it with strawberries and chocolate curls just before serving.

You will need: 1 pan of brownies cubed, 2 boxes (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding made with 4 cups milk, 2 cups whipped cream, 2 cups strawberries sliced, chocolate curls.

How to make it: 1. Make the pudding and chill 5 minutes. 2. Put a third of the brownie cubes in a trifle bowl. 3. Add a third of the pudding, then a third of the cream. 4. Add a layer of strawberries. 5. Repeat twice. 6. Chill at least 4 hours and top with berries and curls.

How to Make Christmas Brownies Ahead

Brownies freeze better than almost any holiday treat. Bake the plain pans two or three weeks early, cool them, wrap them whole and freeze. Thaw them in the fridge overnight, then cut and decorate on party day. Cold brownies cut much cleaner, so this trick also makes them look better. Wipe the knife between every cut for sharp edges.

You will need: Plastic wrap, foil, a large freezer bag, parchment paper, a sharp knife, a cup of hot water and a towel.

How to make it: 1. Bake and cool the brownies completely. 2. Lift them out of the pan with the parchment. 3. Wrap tightly in plastic, then foil. 4. Freeze up to 3 months. 5. Thaw overnight in the fridge. 6. Cut cold with a hot, dry knife, then decorate.

Packing Christmas Brownies for Gifts

Brownies make wonderful gifts because they stay moist for days. Cut them cold, line a box or tin with parchment and stack them in single layers with parchment between. Keep frosted and plain ones apart. Tie the box with ribbon and add a little tag with the name of each kind. Which of these Christmas brownies will you give away first?

You will need: Cookie tins or boxes, parchment or wax paper, mini paper cups, ribbon or twine, gift tags.

How to make it: 1. Let all brownies cool and set fully. 2. Cut them cold into even squares. 3. Line the tin with parchment. 4. Place brownies in one layer with parchment between layers. 5. Put frosted ones in paper cups. 6. Close, tie with ribbon and keep cool until giving.