Description

These festive Santa Hat Brownies combine rich, fudgy chocolate brownies with fresh strawberries and creamy vanilla frosting to create a delightful holiday treat that looks as good as it tastes. Perfect for Christmas parties or any winter celebration, these brownies feature moist, chocolate-rich squares topped with strawberry ‘hats’ accented by dollops of sweet vanilla frosting.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Wet Ingredients

2 large eggs
3/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided

Toppings

1/2 cup vanilla frosting (store-bought or homemade)
9 fresh strawberries, stems removed

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Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and set it aside.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda until evenly combined. Set this mixture aside for later incorporation.
Whisk Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, light brown sugar, and vegetable oil vigorously for about 2 minutes until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
Add Water and Vanilla: Add the water and vanilla extract to the wet mixture and whisk until fully incorporated and the batter is uniform.
Combine with Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients while whisking gently just until the ingredients come together. Avoid overmixing to keep the brownies tender.
Melt Chocolate Chips: Place 1 cup of the semi-sweet chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth, approximately 60 seconds total.
Mix Melted Chocolate: Whisk the melted chocolate into the brownie batter until it is fully incorporated and smooth. Next, fold in the remaining 1/2 cup of chocolate chips to add texture and bursts of chocolate.
Bake: Pour the brownie batter evenly into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
Cool: Remove the brownies from the oven and transfer the baking pan to a wire rack. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan before cutting to ensure clean edges.
Assemble the Santa Hats: Once cooled, cut the brownies into 9 equal squares. Using a piping bag or a spoon, place a small circle of vanilla frosting on top of each brownie. Position a fresh strawberry, stem side down, onto the frosting so it resembles a Santa hat. Finish by piping a small dollop of frosting on the tip of each strawberry to complete the festive look.

Notes

Use fresh, firm strawberries for best results when assembling the Santa hats to ensure they hold their shape.
If you don’t have vanilla frosting, you can make a quick frosting by mixing powdered sugar, a little milk, and vanilla extract.
For a fudgier brownie, reduce baking time slightly, but be careful not to underbake.
Make sure to cool brownies completely before decorating to avoid melting the frosting.
The brownies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American