Festive Santa Hat Brownie Bites Recipe

Jolly Santa Hat Brownie Bites Recipe for Holiday Fun

Chocolate lovers swoon over these adorable santa hat brownie bites that pack a festive punch of deliciousness.

Decadent brownies become the perfect canvas for a whimsical holiday treat.

Each bite-sized morsel delivers a delightful combination of rich chocolate and creamy frosting.

Crafted with simple ingredients, these little desserts bring serious cheer to any seasonal gathering.

Decorative and playful, the santa hat design transforms ordinary brownies into something magical.

Topped with a fluffy white frosting and bright red candy accent, these miniature treats will spark joy at every holiday party.

Dive into this delightful recipe and watch your dessert table come alive with Christmas spirit.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Calories: 150 kcal

Servings: 11

Santa Hat Brownie Bites Ingredient Guide

For The Brownie Base:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and tender crumb, choose unbleached flour for richer flavor.
  • Cocoa Powder: Delivers deep chocolate intensity, opt for Dutch-processed for smoother taste.
  • Unsalted Butter: Creates rich moisture, select high-quality butter for better brownie texture.
  • Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps create crisp brownie edges, fresh and dry sugar works best.
  • Eggs: Bind ingredients and add richness, use room temperature eggs for smoother mixing.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances chocolate flavor, choose pure extract over artificial versions.
  • Baking Powder: Helps brownies rise slightly, ensure it's fresh for best results.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies chocolate notes, use fine sea salt.
For The Topping:
  • Heavy Whipping Cream
  • Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and stabilizes whipped cream, sift to prevent lumps.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds subtle flavor to cream, use pure extract for best taste.
For Santa Hat Decoration:
  • Fresh Strawberries: Creates bright red hat color, choose ripe, firm berries with vibrant red skin.

Tools To Make Santa Hat Brownie Bites Cute And Festive

  • Mini muffin tin: Perfect for creating bite-sized brownie bases with uniform shape and size.
  • Mixing bowl: Essential for combining brownie ingredients smoothly and evenly.
  • Whisk: Helps blend butter, sugar, eggs, and other ingredients without lumps.
  • Piping bag: Allows precise and decorative application of whipped cream for santa hat design.
  • Round or star tip: Creates beautiful cream details for the santa hat topping.
  • Chilled mixing bowl: Ensures whipped cream reaches perfect stiff peak consistency.
  • Toothpick: Helps check brownie doneness by testing center for moist crumbs.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Guarantees accurate ingredient measurements for consistent results.

Steps To Build Santa Hat Brownie Bites For Parties

Steps To Build Santa Hat Brownie Bites For Parties
  • Brownie Base

Whip up a delightful chocolatey foundation using melted butter, sugar, eggs, and classic cocoa powder. Blend ingredients gently in a mixing bowl, ensuring a smooth and rich texture. Pour batter into mini muffin tins, filling each cup about two-thirds full.

  • Oven Magic

Slide the muffin tin into a preheated oven. Bake until the brownies develop a perfect, slightly crackly top and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the mini brownies to cool completely, creating a sturdy canvas for the festive topping.

  • Creamy Clouds

Grab chilled heavy cream and transform it into fluffy white peaks by whisking with a touch of powdered sugar. This cloud-like cream will become the snow-inspired decoration for your brownie bites.

  • Strawberry Santa Hats

Place a fresh, vibrant strawberry atop each brownie, creating a playful holiday character. Pipe delicate cream around the strawberry’s base and add a small cream puff at the tip, mimicking a classic Santa hat design. Chill until ready to delight your guests with these cute and tasty treats.

Toppings You’ll Love On Santa Hat Brownie Bites

  • Brownie Texture Hack: Use room temperature eggs and mix just until ingredients combine to ensure ultra-moist, fudgy brownies without becoming tough or dry.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare brownie bites up to two days in advance and store in an airtight container at room temperature, adding whipped cream topping just before serving to maintain freshness.
  • Dietary Twist: For gluten-free version, replace all-purpose flour with almond flour or gluten-free flour blend, ensuring same measurement proportions for perfect texture.
  • Flavor Adventure: Experiment with different extracts like peppermint or almond in the whipped cream to add unexpected holiday excitement to your Santa Hat Brownie Bites.
  • Dairy-Free Option: Substitute whipped cream with coconut cream and use dairy-free margarine in brownie base to create a delicious allergen-friendly version that everyone can enjoy.

Serving Santa Hat Brownie Bites For Guests

  • Festive Flavor Fusion: Pair these adorable Santa Hat Brownie Bites with a rich hot chocolate for a cozy holiday treat that delights both kids and adults.
  • Holiday Party Showstopper: Arrange these cute brownie bites on a festive platter with sprinkled powdered sugar for an eye-catching dessert that will impress guests at any Christmas gathering.
  • Sweet Gifting Idea: Package these brownie bites in clear cellophane bags tied with red ribbons as charming homemade gifts for neighbors, teachers, or holiday hosts.
  • Dessert Platter Perfection: Create a stunning holiday dessert display by mixing these Santa Hat Brownie Bites with other seasonal treats like peppermint bark and gingerbread cookies for a delightful visual and taste experience.

Keeping Santa Hat Brownie Bites Fresh Overnight

  • Refrigeration Strategy: Store Santa Hat Brownie Bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep them separated by layers of parchment paper to prevent whipped cream from smearing.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare brownie bases and whipped cream separately up to 2 days in advance. Assemble strawberry hats just before serving to maintain crisp, fresh appearance and prevent soggy textures.
  • Freezing Tips: Freeze plain brownie bites without cream and strawberries for up to 4 weeks. Thaw at room temperature and decorate shortly before serving to ensure maximum freshness and visual appeal.
  • Portion Control Trick: Consider creating smaller batches by halving the recipe or preparing only the number of bites you plan to consume within 48 hours. Fresh ingredients guarantee the best taste and most delightful presentation.
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Festive Santa Hat Brownie Bites Recipe

Festive Santa Hat Brownie Bites


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4.6 from 26 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 11 1x

Description

Santa hat brownie bites bring festive cheer to holiday dessert tables. Chocolate brownies topped with creamy frosting and fresh strawberries create a playful, merry treat you’ll love sharing with family and friends.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (melted, 113 g)
  • ⅓ cup cocoa powder (35 g)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour (60 g)
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream (240 ml)
  • 2 tbsps powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1215 small fresh strawberries (hulled)

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and prepare mini muffin tin with grease or paper liners for smooth brownie extraction.
  2. Batter Mixing: Whisk melted butter and sugar until smooth, then integrate eggs and vanilla extract to create a silky base, ensuring no sugar crystals remain.
  3. Dry Ingredients: Fold cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder into the wet mixture using gentle strokes to maintain a light, airy texture.
  4. Baking Process: Fill muffin cups two-thirds full and bake for 12-15 minutes, verifying doneness with a clean toothpick insertion.
  5. Cooling Phase: Allow brownies to cool completely in the muffin tin, facilitating easier removal and proper setting.
  6. Cream Preparation: Chill a mixing bowl, then whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form distinctly.
  7. Decoration Setup: Transfer whipped cream to a piping bag with a round or star tip for precise application.
  8. Assembly: Place a cream dollop on each cooled brownie, position a hulled strawberry with pointed end upward, and pipe a delicate cream border around the strawberry’s base.
  9. Finishing Touch: Add a small cream accent at the strawberry’s tip to complete the Santa hat design.
  10. Storage: Refrigerate brownie bites until serving to maintain structure and enhance flavor profile.

Notes

  • Prevent Overmixing: Stir batter gently to maintain a light, tender brownie texture and avoid dense, tough results.
  • Temperature Control: Ensure butter and eggs are at room temperature for smooth blending and consistent baking performance.
  • Check Doneness Carefully: Use the toothpick test to avoid overbaking, which can dry out the brownie bites and compromise their rich, fudgy quality.
  • Stabilize Whipped Cream: Chill utensils and bowl beforehand to help cream whip faster and hold its shape more effectively for precise decorating.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 11
  • Calories: 150
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 50 mg
  • Fat: 9 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 15 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Liam O’Sullivan

Liam O’Sullivan

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development​, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education​

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.​

Ballymaloe Cookery School

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.​

Isabella brings a global spark to the Craft Meats table. Born in Florence and trained at the Apicius International School of Hospitality, she blends classic Italian flavor with modern writing that’s easy to follow and hard to forget. 

Her additional training at the Italian Chef Academy fueled her love for well-crafted dishes, especially ones that spotlight beautiful cuts of meat.

She’s a food writer with heart, and a deep love for storytelling through single recipes. Her goal? To help you cook with more confidence and a little more joy, no matter where you start.

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