Description
Delight in these festive Christmas Present Brownies, rich and fudgy treats perfect for holiday celebrations. Made with unsalted butter, cocoa powder, and optional chocolate chips, these brownies are baked to perfection and decorated with colorful candy melts and festive sprinkles to resemble wrapped gifts, adding a fun and delicious touch to your holiday dessert table.
Ingredients
Scale
Brownie Batter
- 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)
Decorations
- Red, green, and white candy melts (for decoration)
- Mini candy bows or holiday sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removal easier.
- Melt Butter and Mix Sugar: Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Once melted, whisk in the granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth. Allow to cool slightly to prevent scrambling the eggs.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract into the butter and sugar mixture until the batter becomes thick and glossy, ensuring proper incorporation for a rich texture.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. This ensures even distribution and a smooth batter.
- Combine Ingredients: Fold the dry ingredients gently into the wet mixture until just combined and smooth. If desired, fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips to add bursts of chocolate throughout the brownies.
- Bake the Brownies: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan, smoothing out the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs, indicating a fudgy center.
- Cool and Cut: Let the brownies cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift them out using the parchment paper and cut into squares to resemble gift boxes.
- Decorate: Melt the red, green, and white candy melts according to package instructions. Drizzle these over the brownie squares to create ribbon-like designs. Add mini candy bows or holiday sprinkles for festive embellishment.
- Set Decorations: Allow the candy melt decorations to set at room temperature or place them in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes before serving to ensure the ribbons harden and hold shape.
Notes
- Be cautious not to overbake; a few moist crumbs on the toothpick indicate perfect fudginess.
- You can substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips with dark or milk chocolate chips based on preference.
- Use parchment paper for easy removal and cleaner edges when cutting brownies.
- Allow brownies to cool completely before decorating to prevent candy melts from melting undesirably.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
