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Easy Christmas Brownies Recipe

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4.6 from 109 reviews

These Easy Christmas Brownies are rich, fudgy, and perfectly festive with decorative royal icing. Featuring a deep cocoa flavor enhanced by brewed coffee and finished with a drizzle of smooth royal icing, they make a delightful holiday treat. Walnut chunks and semi-sweet chocolate chips add texture and richness, while optional sprinkles or crushed candy canes bring a cheerful seasonal touch.

Ingredients

Scale

Brownies

  • 3/4 Cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 Cup unsalted butter (melted)
  • 1/2 Cup boiling water + 1 teaspoon granulated coffee (diluted)
  • 2 Cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1 1/3 Cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 Cup walnuts

Royal Icing

  • 2 Cups confectioners sugar (sifted)
  • 3 Tablespoons meringue powder
  • 6 Tablespoons water (room temperature)
  • 1–2 drops food coloring (optional)
  • Decorative sprinkles or crushed candy (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a square baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy cleanup and lightly dust the pan with cocoa powder to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix Cocoa and Baking Soda: In a large bowl, stir together the cocoa powder and baking soda to help bloom the cocoa and deepen the flavor in your brownies.
  3. Add Butter and Coffee: Add half of your melted butter and the brewed coffee to the cocoa mixture. Stir until the mixture thickens slightly and gains a glossy appearance.
  4. Incorporate Sugar, Eggs, and Remaining Butter: Mix in the granulated sugar, egg yolks, and the remaining melted butter. Stir the mixture until fully smooth.
  5. Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, salt, and vanilla extract. Mix just until combined; it’s okay to leave a few streaks to avoid cakey brownies.
  6. Fold in Chocolate Chips and Walnuts: Gently fold in the semisweet chocolate chips and walnuts to evenly distribute them without overmixing.
  7. Pour and Spread Batter: Pour the batter into your prepared baking pan and spread it evenly to all corners for uniform baking.
  8. Bake the Brownies: Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the top appears set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs.
  9. Cool and Cut: Let the brownies cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, carefully remove and cut into 16 squares or use cookie cutters for festive shapes.
  10. Prepare Royal Icing: In a small bowl, stir together sifted confectioners sugar, meringue powder, vanilla extract, and a small amount of water until smooth. If desired, add 1-2 drops of food coloring before adjusting the consistency with water.
  11. Decorate Brownies: Transfer the royal icing to a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe festive designs such as Christmas trees or snowflakes on top of each brownie.
  12. Add Final Decorations: Decorate the iced brownies with sprinkles or crushed candy canes for a festive and colorful finish.
  13. Set Icing: Allow the icing to set at room temperature before stacking or storing the brownies to prevent smudging.

Notes

  • Use room temperature eggs to ensure smooth batter.
  • Do not overmix after adding flour to keep brownies fudgy.
  • Cooling brownies completely before icing is crucial to prevent melting.
  • Optional food coloring and decorations can be adjusted according to your holiday theme.
  • For a stronger coffee flavor, increase coffee granules slightly but keep water amount constant.
  • Store decorated brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Keywords: Christmas brownies, fudgy brownies, holiday dessert, royal icing brownies, chocolate walnut brownies, festive treats

Find it online: https://www.sanacooks.com/easy-christmas-brownies-recipe/