Santa Hat Brownies

These cute as a button Santa Hat Brownies are certain to be a holiday rock star. They’re a whimsical two bite dessert that will be the talk of your holiday goodies.

Ingredients to Make Santa Hat Brownies Recipe

I really love to bake from scratch. It’s been a lifelong passion, and due to my love of baking, my family doesn’t often get store bought sweets. When it comes to the hectic pace of the holidays, I give myself permission to use some of the conveniences we have access to and lower my stress level. Plus, in the instance of these cute little chewy santa hat brownies, I can spend more time making the presentation pretty, too. These mini brownie bites are designed to be a simple and delicious small bite dessert for the holidays that anyone can make. Ingredients to make simple Santa Hat Brownies using strawberries:

• Brownies – One 18 ounce package of brownie mix i.e. Ghiradelli Double Chocolate or similar.
• Oil – Vegetable oil adds moisture to the brownie batter.
• Liquid – Cooled coffee or water. Coffee intensifies the chocolate and gives a rich chocolate flavor to the brownies.
• Whole Eggs – Large eggs bind the brownie batter.
• Strawberries – 24 medium fresh strawberries.
• Cream Cheese Frosting – Whipped topping, spreadable plain cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract. This forms the fluffy brim of the Santa Hat and the pom pom.

How to Make the Best Santa Hat Brownies Recipe

• Heat Oven and Prepare Muffin Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray the cups of a 24-cup mini muffin pan with baking spray or line with mini paper holiday liners. set aside.
• Brownies: In a medium size mixing bowl use an electric mixer to beat together brownie mix, oil, coffee and eggs until fully blended.
• Scoop the Batter into the Prepared Pan: Use a small scoop to divide the batter evenly between cups.
• Oven: Bake per the cook time in the recip until a toothpick inserted into the center shows moist crumbs. Cool in the pan, then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.
• Make the Cream Cheese Mixture: Whip together whipped topping, cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract until fluffy and fully combined. Start with 1/2 cup of sugar then taste and adjust the sweetness to your taste. Cover and chill until assembling.
• Remove the Stems from the Strawberries: Hull the strawberries and trim the tip of the opposite end.
• Assemble: Using a piping bag fitted with a small star tip, pipe cream onto each brownie. Gently place one strawberry on top wide side down. Pipe cream onto the smaller end to complete the hat.
• Refrigerate: Chill for at least 2 hours to set before serving.

Tips for Making Santa Hat Brownies

• Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: A stand mixer or a hand mixer, 24-cup mini muffin pan or two 12-cup mini muffin tins, a small scoop, strawberry huller, measuring cups and spoons, medium bowl, large bowl, sharp knife and cutting board, wire rack and a pastry bag with a star tip or a Ziploc bag with the corner snipped.
• Use a Quality Brownie Mix: This recipe utilizes a boxed brownie mix for ease of preparation. I highly recommend using a really good one such as Ghirardelli Double Chocolate or a brand that you already enjoy.
• Follow the Recipe Not the Directions on the Box: It’s important to note that you do not follow the directions on the brownies package follow the recipe for the amounts of oil, coffee or water and eggs in the recipe.
• Hull the Strawberries: When hulling the strawberries, the small scooped out portion actually works well to keep the whipped cream from expanding too much when pressing the fresh strawberry “hat” into place.
• Don’t Use Too Much Cream: When piping the cream for the brim of the hat, allow room for the strawberry to sit and not “squish” all the cream out of place. Less is more.
• Cut the Corner from a Ziploc Bag for a Piping Bag: If you aren’t comfortable working a piping bag, use a Ziploc bag with the corner cut to make the brim of the hat.
• Use Fresh Firm Strawberries: Choose strawberries that are similar in size and have a pretty conical shape to make the best Santa hats.
• Make-Ahead Tip: To expedite assembly, the brownies could be made one day in advance for a timesaver.
• How to Serve Brownie Bites: You can serve these just as is or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the holidays, Christmas desserts, potluck parties and entertaining.

Recipe Variations

• Homemade Brownie Recipe: If you’d like to adapt this using homemade brownies check out my recipe for Ultimate Fudge Brownies as a substitute for boxed brownies.
• Chocolate Chips: You could stir 1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips into the batter for extra fudgy brownie bites.
• Nuts: You could add one cup of toasted pecans or walnuts to the brownie batter.
• Oil: You could use 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter in place of vegetable oil.
• Chocolate Ganache: You may like to dip the tops of the brownies in chocolate ganache prior to decorating. Melt chocolate chips and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl until smooth then dip the tops of the cooled brownies into the warm chocolate. Let set and cool completely before decorating.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Store Santa Hat Brownies in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: You can make and freeze the brownies up to 2 months in advance. Thaw in the fridge and decorate with the strawberries and cream cheese frosting just before serving.

More Easy Christmas Desserts to Make

There is never a shortage of sweet treats around the holidays. More baking inspiration that you may also like to try:’

• Cornflake Christmas Wreath is a full size version of the classic little sweet treat made in a bundt pan.
• Chocolate drizzled Reindeer Munchies for the popcorn fans in your life.
• Chocolate Peppermint Truffles melt in your mouth.
• Pecan Balls dipped in both white and milk chocolate.
• Southern Divinity is a holiday staple.
• Peanut Butter Fudge is drizzled with chocolate ganache and garnished with peanuts.
• 100 of the Best Christmas Cookies recipes has something to satisfy everyone’s taste.
• Festive White Chocolate Snack Mix is addictive!
• Reindeer Oreo Truffles from Walking on Sunshine.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Mini Muffin Pan
• Mixer
• Piping Bag and Tips
• Strawberry Huller