Santa Hat Brownies

Jump to recipe. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!! It’s officially that time—November 1st, the start of the Christmas season! This year, I’m kicking things off with a festive twist on a true classic: my Brown Butter Santa Hat Brownies. I take my BEST Brownie recipe and turn them into Santa hats!!

Picture dense, fudgy brownies topped with little Santa hats made of frosting, complete with pink or red frosting, a fluffy marshmallow cream trim, and a cute marshmallow “pom-pom” on top. These are fun, delicious, and a total hit for any holiday gathering.

These aren’t just any brownies, either. My recipe uses a magical combination of cocoa powder, melted chocolate, and a bit of brown butter to give them a depth of flavor and fudgy texture that’s honestly hard to beat. The lack of baking soda helps keep them extra dense!

Here’s the breakdown:

1. Brown the Butter – This step adds an extra layer of warmth and nuttiness, transforming an ordinary brownie into something seriously irresistible.

2. Combine the Chocolate and Butter – Whisk together the warm butter and chocolate until melted and smooth, then let it cool slightly.

3. Bake to Perfection – Pour the batter into a greased, parchment-lined pan, bake until the top is perfectly crackly, and a skewer comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Let them cool completely before cutting.

4. Then comes the fun part! I use canned frosting, tint it pink or red with food coloring, and pipe little Santa hats onto each brownie square. A quick swirl of marshmallow cream creates the "fur" trim, and a marshmallow tops it off like a charm.

These Santa Hat Brownies are sure to bring a little holiday spirit to your dessert table and make the perfect treat to kick off the most wonderful time of the year! 🎅

---

Santa Hat Brownie Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 10 tablespoons butter, sliced

• 6 ounces milk chocolate (chips or chunks)

• ¾ cup granulated sugar

• ½ cup packed brown sugar, light or dark

• 3 large eggs, at room temperature (put them in some hot water for a few minutes)

• 1/2 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• ½ cup (60g) all-purpose flour, spoon and leveled or better yet–weighed

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 1 cup milk chocolate chips or chunks (optional)

• 1 Can of white frosting (or any color!)

• Red food coloring

• Marshmallow Creme

• Mini Marshmallows

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare an 8x8-inch baking pan by greasing it and lining it with parchment paper, leaving a bit hanging over the edges for easy removal later. Set the pan aside.

2. In a medium saucepan, add sliced butter and heat over medium, stirring occasionally. Let it melt and cook until it reaches a light golden brown and gives off a nutty aroma—this should take about 5 to 8 minutes. It will foam up, so keep an eye on it. Once browned, remove from heat and stir in the chocolate until smooth and fully melted. Let it cool slightly.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine both sugars and eggs. Beat the eggs and sugars together until light, fluffy, and pale in color.

4. Add the vanilla, cocoa powder, and slightly cooled butter-chocolate mixture to the egg mix and whisk to combine.

5. Gently fold in the flour, salt, and chocolate chips until just mixed—be careful not to overmix it!

6. Pour the brownie batter into your prepared pan and bake in the center of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is no longer shiny and a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.

7. Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, use the parchment paper to lift them out and cut them into triangles.

8. For decorating, mix red food coloring into the frosting, then pipe it on each triangle to make little Santa hats. Add marshmallow cream for the “fur” trim and top with a mini marshmallow. Enjoy your festive, fudgy Santa Hat Brownies!