The Cutest Christmas Present Brownies
Christmas Present Brownies are a delightful holiday dessert that combines rich, fudgey brownies with a festive and decorative twist. These brownies are adorned with colorful frosting to resemble Christmas presents, making them a fun and visually appealing addition to holiday celebrations. Everyone in our family – from kids to adults alike love these cute Christmas brownies.
Christmas-themed Brownies are a whimsical and festive dessert that blends the rich, indulgent goodness of brownies with a decorative twist.
Why We Love Christmas Present Brownies
We love Christmas present brownies because they combine the irresistible taste of fudgey brownies with the joyful spirit of the holiday season. Their festive appearance, with colorful icing decorations, adds a touch of whimsy and excitement to our holiday celebrations, making them a beloved treat for kids and adults.
We also start them with a box brownie mix – for added ease at the holidays! And that is something we can all celebrate, right?
Ingredients
- Boxed Brownie Mix – We typically go for the Betty Crocker Delights Supreme Walnut variety. But not everyone likes nuts so if you are baking for a crowd, it might be best to go without the nuts.
- 2 Eggs
- ¼ cup of water
- ⅔ cup oil
- 2 oz cream cheese
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
- Red cookie icing – The squeezable tubes work great!
Christmas present brownies are like edible gift packages of joy, where the rich, chocolaty goodness hides beneath colorful layers of frosting, delivering a sweet surprise that captures the holiday spirit in every bite.
Storage, Advance Prep, and Reheating Instructions
- To store Christmas gift brownies, place them in an airtight container or cover them with plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out. Store them at room temperature for up to 2-3 days.
- If you need to store them longer, consider freezing them in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. They can stay fresh in the freezer for 2-3 months.
- You can prepare the brownies in advance by baking and decorating them, but it’s best to avoid frosting or decorating with icing until shortly before serving to maintain their freshness and appearance. Store them in an airtight container or wrap the container tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. This way, they can be ready to serve with minimal effort when needed.
- If you prefer your Christmas gift brownies warm, you can gently reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds or in the oven at a low temperature for a few minutes.
Recipe Tips for Christmas Gift Brownies
Use your favorite brownie recipe, ensuring it’s baked to perfection, neither over-baked nor under-baked, to create a moist and fudgey foundation for your Christmas present brownies. If you have a homemade recipe you love, go for it!
Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before cutting them into squares. Chilling them in the refrigerator briefly can make cutting and handling easier, giving you cleaner edges.
Get creative with the decorations. Use vibrant food coloring or gel to create different colored “ribbons” and “bows” for a variety of presents. Edible glitter or sprinkles can add an extra festive touch. Just know the gel icing can smudge so you want to be extra careful not to stack or crowd the brownies for fear the “ribbons” can get smudged and ruin the whole look.
Substitutions and Variations for Christmas Brownies
- Enhance the flavor and texture by adding dried fruits, like cranberries or cherries, or chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, to the brownie batter.
- Experiment with different frosting or icing flavors like peppermint, orange, or espresso to create a unique taste profile.
- Instead of fondant or icing, decorate the brownies with crushed candy canes, chocolate chips, or mini marshmallows for a fun and delicious twist.
- Of course, you can easily use green cookie icing rather than red. Or you can do a combination of both colors!
Christmas Gift Brownies Recipe
Ingredients
For Brownies
- 16.5 oz Brownie mix
- 2 Eggs
- ¼ cup Water
- ⅔ cup Vegetable oil
For Decoration
- 2 oz Cream cheese
- 3 tbsp Butter
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 1½ cup Powdered sugar
- Red cookie icing gel tubes work great
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13×9 baking pan and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together brownie mix, egg, water, and oil.
- Pour brownie batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25 minutes.
- Let brownies cool completely.
- Using a sharp knife cut the crispy edges off the brownies to make a straight edge.
- Precut the brownies into squares and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl whip together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla.
- Add powder sugar to the cream cheese mixture and whip into a soft frosting.
- Frost the brownies in a thin even layer.
- Pull the brownies apart with a spatula and transfer them to a bakers rack.
- Using the red cookie icing start by adding a vertical line to each frosting brownie square.
- Add a horizontal line across each brownie square.
- Lastly add two ovals with tails in order to create the bow shape.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
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