Introduction

These Christmas Present Brownies are a festive and delicious treat perfect for holiday gatherings. Rich, fudgy, and topped with colorful candy ribbons, they make a fun gift or party dessert. Easy to prepare and sure to impress!

A white square plate holds nine chocolate brownies, each cut into a neat square. The brownies have a rich, dark brown color with a shiny, cracked top layer that looks slightly crunchy. Each brownie is decorated with colorful icing shaped like a tied bow, resembling a gift wrap ribbon. The icing colors alternate between bright green, red, and white. The bows sit centered on top of each brownie, adding a festive touch. The plate is placed on a white marbled surface, giving a clean and elegant background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 cup (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)
Red, green, and white candy melts (for decoration)
Mini candy bows or holiday sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the sides for easy removal. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Remove from heat and whisk in the sugar until smooth and shiny. Let cool slightly, then whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract until thick and glossy.
Step 2: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture with a rubber spatula until just combined and smooth. If desired, fold in the chocolate chips gently.
Step 3: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Avoid overbaking. Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan.
Step 4: Lift the cooled brownies out using the parchment overhang and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into even squares. Melt the candy melts in separate bowls using 15-second microwave bursts, stirring until smooth. Drizzle or pipe the melted candy in crisscross lines over each brownie to resemble ribbons. Add mini bows or festive sprinkles as desired.
Step 5: Let the candy decorations set at room temperature or refrigerate for 10–15 minutes to harden. Arrange the decorated brownies on a platter or in a gift box lined with parchment paper for a charming presentation.

Tips & Variations

For extra fudginess, add chocolate chips or chunks inside the batter before baking.
Use a sharp knife warmed with hot water to cut brownies cleanly without cracking.
Substitute candy melts with colored royal icing or melted white chocolate tinted with food coloring.
Decorate with crushed peppermint or chopped nuts for added texture and flavor.

Storage

Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate up to a week or freeze the undecorated brownies for up to 3 months; thaw before decorating. Reheat slightly in the microwave if desired, but candy decorations may soften.

How to Serve

A white plate filled with square chocolate brownies that have a shiny, cracked top layer. Each brownie is decorated with colorful icing shaped like gift bows and ribbons in red, green, and white, with ribbons crossing the top and tied in the center to form the bow. One brownie is cut in half showing a dark, moist, and dense inside. The brownies are arranged closely together on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different pan size for baking?

A 9×13-inch pan is recommended for the correct thickness, but you can use a slightly smaller or larger pan. Adjust baking time accordingly and check for doneness often.

What if I don’t have candy melts for decoration?

You can substitute melted white chocolate with food coloring to create ribbons or use colored icing. Sprinkles or small candies also add festive appeal without candy melts.

Christmas Present Brownies Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 68 reviews

These festive Christmas Present Brownies are rich, fudgy, and decorated to look like adorable holiday gifts. With a decadent chocolate base and colorful candy melt ribbons, they make the perfect treat to share during the holiday season or to gift to friends and family. This recipe combines classic chewy brownies with whimsical decoration to spread holiday cheer through deliciousness.

Author: Isabella
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 24 brownies (9×13-inch pan cut into 24 squares) 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Brownie Batter

1 cup (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 for extra fudginess)

Decorations

Red, green, and white candy melts
Mini candy bows or holiday sprinkles (optional but festive!)

Instructions

Prepare the brownie batter: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang on the sides for easy removal. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Remove from heat and whisk in the sugar until smooth and shiny. Let the mixture cool slightly, then add the eggs and vanilla extract while whisking continuously until the batter looks thick and glossy.
Add the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gradually fold the dry mixture into the wet batter using a rubber spatula. Stir until just combined to maintain chewiness. If desired, fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips for extra richness.
Bake the brownies: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the surface with a spatula. Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs but no wet batter. Avoid overbaking. Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before decorating.
Cut and decorate like gifts: Once cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the brownies out of the pan and place on a cutting board. Cut into even squares to resemble presents. Melt the red, green, and white candy melts separately by microwaving in 15-second bursts, stirring until smooth. Drizzle or pipe the melted candy in crisscross patterns over each brownie to mimic ribbons. Add mini bows, candy decorations, or holiday sprinkles on top for a festive touch.
Let the decorations set: Allow the candy melt decorations to harden at room temperature or place the brownies in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes to speed up the setting process. Once set, arrange the Christmas Present Brownies on a platter or in a lined gift box for serving or gifting.

Notes

Be careful not to overmix the batter to keep the brownies chewy and fudgy.
Use parchment paper with an overhang for easier removal of brownies from the pan.
Chocolate chips are optional but add extra gooey texture and flavor.
Melt candy melts in short bursts to avoid burning them.
Decorate brownies once fully cooled to prevent melting the candy ribbons.
Store decorated brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.

Keywords: Christmas brownies, holiday dessert, fudgy brownies, gift-inspired brownies, festive brownies, chocolate brownies, holiday treats