I think Christmas baking is always more fun when you give a normal dessert a festive makeover. These Christmas Present Brownies pack all the things we love about a rich chocolate brownie into each little edible gift square. They’re a happy addition to holiday dessert trays, with colourful decorations that look like ribbons and bows.
The best thing about Christmas brownies is, you don’t need an elaborate cake decorating setup. A good brownie base and a little design thought can produce something that looks special enough for a party or homemade gift box.
It’s all about the brownies and decorations working together. And that’s the most important part. Soft brownies are difficult to slice neatly, and frosting that is too loose may not hold the ribbon design. Paying a little attention to texture can really improve the look of the finished presents.
What Are Christmas Present Brownies?
Christmas present brownies are decorated brownie squares made to look like wrapped holiday presents. The brownies are the base, and the frosting, chocolate or edible decorations make them look like ribbons and bows.
They are part of the broader classification of Christmas brownies which includes holiday-themed brownies decorated to resemble trees, ornaments and other festive designs.
The design of the gift works especially well because brownies are naturally cut into rectangles or squares. The dark chocolate colour also makes a nice contrast to bright frosting.
The finished dessert should be just as beautiful to eat as it is to look at. Usually a rich brownie with a moderate amount of decoration is better than a thick layer of over sweet frosting.
Why Making Christmas Present Brownies Is So Much Fun
It’s a familiar dessert, made fun with the decoration. Each brownie can have a different ribbon colour, making the platter look cheerful, not necessarily all the same.
They are also a great choice for family baking activities. Simple decorating duties can be divided, and someone comfortable with frosting can handle the more intricate details.
It is easier to serve individual brownies than a big decorated cake. Guests can choose a piece without cutting a dessert at the table.
Christmas present brownies also work well in homemade gift boxes. They are convenient to pack, if the decorations are strong enough to survive handling, due to their compact shape.
What is the Best Brownie Recipe Base for Brownies for Christmas Gifts?
A fudgy brownie base is particularly appealing, as that rich chocolate flavour complements the sweet holiday decorations. But it needs enough structure to support a neat square.
Super gooey brownies are hard to cut and can flex when touched. Very dry cake-like brownies are easier to maintain their shape but may not have the rich texture people expect.
A well-balanced brownie should feel moist, dense, but not underbaked. That makes it easier to decorate and more palatable to eat.
The brownie’s surface is important, too. If the top is very fragile, you can break it when you put the frosting on it, but a stable surface provides a better base for the ribbon design.
Choose a brownie recipe that will give you clean-cut pieces – not a recipe that is meant to be served warm and spooned from the pan.
What Kind of Frosting Is Best For Decorating Christmas Present Brownies?
It can be coloured and piped into ribbons or bows. Because of this, it is a popular choice for decorating. The right consistency helps the design stand out.
A very soft buttercream can be spread over the brownie, but an excessively stiff frosting is more difficult to pipe smoothly. The aim is a texture that holds its shape but isn’t unpleasantly thick.
Royal icing has a more firm finish, but the texture is different than buttercream. It might be useful for some details when the recipe is built around it.
You can also make decorative lines with melted chocolate or candy coating, but those finishes set up differently.
The best frosting should be one that enhances the brownie flavour and maintains its appearance during storage and serving.
How to Make the Fudgiest Christmas Present Brownies Every Time
The secret to fudgy brownies is the right ratio of fat, sugar, flour and baking time. If you use too much flour they can be dry and if they are underbaked they can be hard to cut.
This is especially important for decorated brownies, as they cool. A warm brownie can make frosting soft and cause the edges to crumble when handled.
The chocolate flavour should still be the star. Rich brownies don’t need to be overly sweet and prettied up to feel festive.
And you want to be consistent with cutting. Use squares of a similar size for a neater holiday platter and to make the gift design appear purposeful.
The brownies should be tender and fudgy in the middle, but still have enough structure to hold the toppings without falling apart when cooked.
How to Decorate Brownies to Look Like Christmas Gifts
Each brownie has a distinctive ribbon pattern to give the gift-box effect. Simple lines crossing can imply wrapped ribbon and a small decorative bow is a festive finishing touch.
The surface need not be decorated in its entirety. Exposing some chocolate adds contrast, and a reminder to everyone that the dessert beneath is a brownie.
Different ribbon colours add interest to the platter. Some use red decorations while others use green or white decorations.
Edible accents add personality, but heavy decorations can overwhelm the brownie or be hard to eat.
The best-looking designs are usually clean and simple, with enough space for the ribbon pattern to show off.
What are the best colours for brownie decorations for Christmas presents?
Red and green are traditional colours, as they naturally bring to mind Christmas. Both look gorgeous against dark chocolate brownies.
White frosting provides a cleaner and more elegant look. It can look like ribbon on a dark gift box and works well with small red or green accents.
Edible decorations in gold can be a festive touch, but only if the product is specifically marked edible. You can’t always tell from the label whether or not an ornamental dust is edible.
If you want to make a cohesive dessert table, use a small colour palette instead of using every colour in the rainbow. A few consistent colours make the brownies look more finished.
How far in advance can you make Christmas brownies?
Brownies can often be made ahead, but the ideal timeline depends on the frosting and decorations. Some finishes remain stable for days, others soften and change appearance in storage.
The brownie base may firm up when cooled which helps to cut it cleanly. But refrigeration can also alter the texture of eating.
If you are making brownies for gifts, be sure that the decorating has hardened sufficiently before packaging.
Storage should be according to the most perishable component. Frostings with cream cheese or other perishable ingredients may need to be refrigerated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Present Brownies
Can I use a boxed brownie mix?
Yes, a boxed brownie mix makes a great base. Pick one that’ll make brownies firm enough to cut and decorate. Brownies that are very gooey may be more difficult to work with.
Why do my brownies crumble when I cut them?
Brownies can fall apart if they are too dry, are still warm and/or are very delicate. How cleanly they cut depends on the ingredient balance in the recipe and the cooling conditions.
Can I decorate Christmas brownies using melted chocolate?
Yes. Make pretty ribbon designs with melted chocolate or suitable candy coating. The finish will behave differently to buttercream, especially as it sets and when stored.
Can You Freeze Decorated Brownies for Christmas?
You can freeze some of the decorated brownies, but the frosting or candy decorations may not hold up after thawing. Freezing the un-decorated brownie base might be a more reliable way to preserve the presentation.
More No Fuss Christmas Brownie Recipes
If you love Christmas present brownies, Christmas tree brownies are another festive way to decorate a simple chocolate base. For a taste of the seasons, try peppermint brownies, or if you’re looking for a more classic dessert, chocolate fudge brownies are the way to go.
For a holiday dessert tray, try combining decorated brownies, Christmas cookies and small pieces of fudge. The combo is a nice variety without having to make multiple elaborate cakes.
Christmas Present Brownies
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a baking pan.
- In a mixing bowl, combine melted butter and sugar; mix until smooth.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Let the brownies cool completely in the pan.
- Once cooled, cut the brownies into squares.
- Spread a layer of buttercream frosting over each brownie square.
- Using melted chocolate or candy coating, create ribbon designs on top.
- Add edible decorations as desired.
