Description
Delightfully festive Christmas Present Brownies feature a rich, fudgy chocolate base decorated with colorful candy melts to resemble holiday gift boxes. Perfect for holiday parties or gifting, these moist brownies combine classic chocolate chips and swirls of red, green, and white candy for a fun and tasty seasonal treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Brownie Ingredients
- 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)
Decoration Ingredients
- 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 some overhang on the sides for easy removal later. In a medium saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over low heat. Once melted, remove from heat and whisk in the granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and shiny. Allow it to cool slightly before adding the eggs and vanilla extract, whisking continuously until thick and glossy.
- Add the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a rubber spatula, stirring just until well combined and smooth to keep the brownies chewy. If desired, fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips for extra richness.
- Bake the brownies: Pour the prepared batter evenly into the lined baking pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter. Do not overbake as the brownies will continue to set once removed from the oven. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan.
- Cut and decorate like gifts: Once cooled, lift the brownies out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang and place on a cutting board. Cut into even squares to create the “presents.” Melt the red, green, and white candy melts separately in microwave-safe bowls by heating in 15-second bursts and stirring in between until smooth. Use the melted candy to drizzle or pipe crisscross ribbons over each brownie square to mimic gift wrap. Top with mini candy bows, tiny candies, or holiday sprinkles for a festive look.
- Let the decorations set: Allow the candy melts to harden at room temperature or speed up the setting by refrigerating the decorated brownies for 10 to 15 minutes. Once set, arrange your Christmas Present Brownies on a serving platter or package them in a gift box lined with parchment paper for a charming and delicious holiday presentation.
Notes
- For fudgier brownies, do not overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added.
- Chocolate chips in the batter add extra gooeyness but can be omitted if preferred.
- Use parchment paper with overhang to easily lift brownies out of the pan without breaking.
- Be careful not to overbake; brownies should remain moist with slightly gooey centers.
- Candy decorations can be customized with different colors or festive sprinkles to match holiday themes.
- Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie (approx. 3x3 inch piece)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0.1g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
