Christmas Brownies

Every holiday season, I make time for classics like Christmas cutouts and peanut butter kiss cookies. But I always like to round out my dessert tray with a fun, non-cookie treat like these Christmas brownies. They’re every bit as fudgy and rich as classic brownies, but they’re transformed into an adorable reindeer shape. This is one the kids can help with, too; the thick cap of chocolate frosting and salty crunch of mini pretzels will make up for any off-kilter reindeer noses.

Ingredients for Christmas Brownies

• Chocolate: The best type of chocolate to use for baking is unsweetened chocolate. It’s bitter if eaten straight, but there’s plenty of sugar in this recipe, so it’s perfect for rich, chocolaty brownies.
• Butter: Butter adds both flavor and moisture to the brownies. Use any brand of butter, even non-dairy butter, as long as it can melt.
• Eggs: Enrich the batter by adding room-temperature eggs.
• Sugar: We use plain granulated sugar in our Christmas brownies.
• Vanilla: Add subtle flavor with real vanilla extract.
• Flour: Use all-purpose flour in these brownies, or a gluten-free flour mix if holiday guests have dietary restrictions.
• Chocolate frosting: Use store-bought chocolate frosting here. This shortcut helps to make quick work of decorating.
• Decorations: Candy eyeballs, Red Hots and mini pretzels transform this pan of brownies into a plate of reindeers. You can use other candies, sprinkles and toppings, if you prefer; get creative (or find our suggestions below)!

Directions

Step 1: Prepare to bake

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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with foil, letting the ends extend up the sides. Grease the foil.

Step 2: Melt the chocolate

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In a microwave, melt the chocolate and butter; stir them until they’re smooth. Let the mixture cool slightly.

Step 3: Mix the batter

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Whisk the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt until they’re blended, then stir in the melted chocolate. Gradually stir in the flour.

Editor’s Tip: Overmixing the batter can lead to tougher brownies.

Step 4: Bake the brownies

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Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the edges begin to pull from the sides of pan, 25 to 30 minutes. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.

Step 5: Decorate the brownies

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Lift the foil to remove the brownies from the pan. Spread the frosting evenly across the top. Cut the brownies into 12 squares, then cut each square diagonally to form two triangles. Attach the Red Hots and candy eyes to make reindeer faces. Break the mini pretzels in half and poke them into the brownies for antlers.

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Recipe Variations

• Make Christmas tree brownies: The triangles can be made into trees decorated with colorful candies or sprinkles for ornaments.
• Make Santas: Skip the chocolate frosting and use vanilla instead. Reserve a small amount of the frosting, and mix some red food coloring into it. Cover the brownies with vanilla frosting, then pipe on red hats and suits.
• Change up the toppings: Mini chocolate chips work as eyes, and red M&M’s can stand in for the Red Hots.
• Mix in nuts: Stir toasted walnuts, peanuts or pecans into the batter before baking.
• Make homemade frosting: Whip up a batch of homemade buttercream. It’s easy to do and delivers dividends in terms of flavor.
• Use boxed mix: To keep things simple, use a boxed brownie mix.

How to Store Christmas Brownies

Keep leftover Christmas brownies in an airtight container at room temperature. If you made the brownies with frosting that contains dairy, like buttercream, then keep the brownies in the fridge.

How long do Christmas brownies last?

Thanks to their high moisture content, brownies keep well. On the countertop, they’ll keep for up to four days, and in the fridge, they’ll last for five days.

Can you freeze Christmas brownies?

Yes, freezing brownies is possible! Allow the brownies to cool completely, then wrap them well, ideally in two layers: storage wrap then aluminum foil. You can freeze plain brownies, frosted brownies and even fully decorated brownies. The frosting may weep a little as it defrosts, but it will still taste delicious. The only part of reindeer brownies we don’t suggest freezing are the pretzels, which will get soggy when frozen and thawed.

Christmas Brownies Tips

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What’s the secret to moist brownies?

To keep brownies moist, don’t overbake them! Baking too long is a common mistake when baking brownies, and it will dry them out. Watch the edges of the pan; when they begin to crease and draw inward, that’s a sign that the brownies are done. The middle of the pan may still be a bit soft, but it will continue to bake and firm up out of the oven.

What else can you serve with Christmas brownies?

We love to share Christmas brownies at holiday potlucks, where they offer up a chocolate lover’s dream. Pair them with any type of treat, from classic Christmas cookies to elegant Christmas cakes. And of course, Christmas brownies are a perfect treat to share at school parties or any gatherings for kids.

How can you slice brownies neatly?

Our Test Kitchen has thoughts on the best way to slice dessert bars. For the neatest slices, they prefer to use a bench scraper rather than a knife. This allows you to use an up-and-down motion, rather than a sliding motion, resulting in fewer dragged crumbs. If you do use a knife, wipe it with a wet cloth between slices for the tidiest frosting.