Description
These festive Christmas Present Brownies are rich, fudgy, and decorated to look like holiday gifts, making them a perfect seasonal treat for celebrations and parties. Classic brownie batter is enhanced with chocolate chips for extra indulgence, baked to perfection, then adorned with colorful candy melt ribbons and mini candy bows for a cheerful finish.
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)
Decoration
- 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 an overhang on the sides for easy brownie removal. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and whisk in granulated sugar until smooth and glossy. Allow to cool slightly before gradually adding the eggs and vanilla extract, whisking continuously until the mixture is thick and shiny.
- Add the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a rubber spatula, stirring until fully combined but not overmixed to maintain chewy texture. If desired, fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips for added richness.
- Bake the brownies: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the surface with a spatula. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs but no wet batter. Avoid overbaking to keep brownies fudgy. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan before decorating.
- Cut and decorate like gifts: Lift the cooled brownies out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang and place on a cutting board. Cut into even squares to resemble gift boxes. Melt the red, green, and white candy melts separately in microwave-safe bowls using 15-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Drizzle or pipe candy melts over brownies in crisscross lines to mimic ribbons. Finish by adding mini candy bows, festive sprinkles, or other decorations as desired.
- Let the decorations set: Allow the candy melt decorations to harden at room temperature or refrigerate the brownies for 10 to 15 minutes to speed up the setting process. Once set, arrange the decorated brownies on a platter or pack them in a gift box lined with parchment paper for a charming holiday presentation.
Notes
- To ensure fudgy brownies, avoid overmixing the batter once the dry ingredients are added.
- Use parchment paper with overhang to easily lift brownies from the pan without breaking.
- Candy melts can be melted gently in the microwave or over a double boiler for smooth consistency.
- Customize decorations with assorted sprinkles or edible glitter to enhance festive appeal.
- Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie (approx. 1/12 of recipe)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
