7 Christmas Brownies That Will Make Your Holiday Parties Unforgettable

Christmas brownies can turn your holiday baking into something a bit magical. They blend the deep, familiar richness of chocolate with festive flavors and decorations that just scream holiday cheer.

Whether you’re after that classic fudgy texture, a cool peppermint swirl, or something a little more artsy, you’ll find a brownie recipe here to make your celebration stand out.

Try a simple ingredient swap to add a hint of holiday spice, or go all out with toppings that look like twinkling lights. These seven ideas cover every skill level and taste.

Classic Fudgy Christmas Brownies

These brownies offer that perfect fudgy bite everyone seems to crave at Christmas. The chocolate is rich and bold, and you can dress them up with festive sprinkles or icing.

You probably have most of the ingredients already—real butter, cocoa powder, the basics. That’s what gives these brownies their deep, chocolatey flavor.

Once they cool, you get to play decorator. Red, green, and white toppings make each square look like a tiny wrapped present.

Complete List of Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
• Red, green, and white candy melts for decorating

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8 inch baking pan.
2. Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat or in the microwave.
3. Stir in sugar until it’s fully mixed.
4. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla.
5. In a different bowl, mix cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Don’t overmix.
7. Fold in chocolate chips if you want extra richness.
8. Pour the batter into your pan and spread it out.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Check with a toothpick—look for a few moist crumbs.
10. Let them cool in the pan.
11. Melt candy melts as directed and drizzle over the cooled brownies for a festive look.

Peppermint Swirl Christmas Brownies

If you want brownies that look as good as they taste, these peppermint swirl brownies are the ticket. The chocolate and peppermint combo just feels like Christmas.

The pink swirl comes from a cream cheese mixture, making each bite rich and a little tangy. They’re a hit at parties and look great in a cookie box.

You can pack them up as gifts, too. People are always impressed with that pretty swirl.

Complete List of Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 3-4 drops red food coloring

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 inch pan with parchment.
2. Melt butter in a large bowl—microwave or stovetop works.
3. Whisk in granulated sugar.
4. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each.
5. Stir in vanilla.
6. In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, and salt.
7. Fold dry ingredients into wet until just combined.
8. Pour batter into your pan and spread evenly.
9. Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.
10. Mix in egg yolk, peppermint, and food coloring.
11. Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter.
12. Swirl with a knife for that marbled effect.
13. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Check with a toothpick for moist crumbs.
14. Cool completely before cutting.
15. If you want cleaner slices, pop them in the fridge for an hour first.

Gingerbread Spiced Brownies

These brownies bring together fudgy chocolate and cozy gingerbread spices. You’ll notice ginger, cinnamon, and molasses in every bite.

The deep chocolate flavor works so well with all those warm holiday spices. It’s a real winter treat.

Serve them at parties or wrap them up for gifts. They’re also great with hot cocoa on a chilly night.

Complete List of Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 4 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment.
2. Melt butter and chocolate together in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir every 30 seconds.
3. Whisk in brown sugar until smooth.
4. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add molasses and vanilla.
5. In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
6. Fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
7. Stir in chocolate chips, but don’t overmix.
8. Pour batter into the pan and spread out.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Toothpick should come out with a few crumbs.
10. Let them cool before cutting into squares.

Christmas Tree Brownie Bites

These brownie bites are just plain fun. You start with a boxed mix, then cut and decorate them into cute little trees.

Cut triangles from the cooled brownies and use green frosting to make them look festive. You can have these ready in about 45 minutes—so easy.

Complete List of Ingredients

• 1 box brownie mix (plus ingredients on the box)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2-3 tablespoons milk
• Green food coloring
• Assorted small candies or sprinkles
• Mini chocolate chips (optional)
• Star-shaped candies

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions

1. Bake brownies as directed in a 9×13 inch pan. Cool completely.
2. Cut brownies into triangles about 2-3 inches tall.
3. Beat powdered sugar and butter until fluffy. Add milk until it’s spreadable.
4. Mix in green food coloring until you like the color.
5. Spread or pipe green frosting onto each triangle, covering the surface.
6. Add candies, sprinkles, or mini chocolate chips for ornaments.
7. Top each with a star-shaped candy.
8. Chill for 15 minutes to set the frosting. Store covered at room temp for up to 3 days.

Brownies with Marshmallow Topping

These brownies are all about contrast—the dense, chocolatey base and a gooey marshmallow top. The marshmallows melt and toast, giving you a golden, sticky finish.

It’s a great choice for Christmas gatherings or just a cozy night in. The three layers—brownie, marshmallow, and optional chocolate chips—make this feel extra special.

Complete List of Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, melted
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups mini marshmallows
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 inch pan.
2. Mix melted butter and sugar together.
3. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla.
4. In another bowl, combine flour, cocoa, and salt.
5. Fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
6. Pour batter into the pan and spread it out.
7. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Check with a toothpick for moist crumbs.
8. Take out of the oven and sprinkle marshmallows on top.
9. Return to oven for 3-5 minutes, just until marshmallows puff and turn golden.
10. Sprinkle chocolate chips over the warm marshmallows if you want.
11. Let them cool before slicing into squares.

Chocolate Frosting Christmas Brownies

These rich brownies, topped with smooth chocolate frosting, just feel like the perfect holiday dessert. There’s something about the fudgy base and creamy chocolate topping that really hits the spot.

Every bite packs a punch of intense chocolate flavor. You probably already have most of the pantry ingredients sitting around.

Complete List of Ingredients

For the brownies:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 8 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the chocolate frosting:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• Holiday sprinkles for decoration

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions

1. Set your oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Melt the butter and chopped chocolate in a double boiler or microwave. Stir them together until the mixture looks smooth.
3. Pull the bowl off the heat. Whisk in the sugar until it blends in. Let it cool for a couple of minutes.
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla extract.
5. In another bowl, sift the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
6. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the chocolate mixture. Don’t overmix—just until everything’s combined.
7. Scrape the batter into your prepared pan. Spread it out evenly with a spatula.
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes. A toothpick poked in the center should come out with a few moist crumbs.
9. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan. This takes about 2 hours, so maybe grab a coffee.
10. Beat the softened butter until it turns light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
11. Gradually add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Alternate with splashes of cream.
12. Mix in the vanilla and salt. Keep beating until the frosting looks smooth and spreadable.
13. Spread the frosting over the cooled brownies. An offset spatula makes this easier, but use whatever you have.
14. Toss on the holiday sprinkles while the frosting is still soft.
15. Cut the brownies into squares with a sharp knife. Wipe the blade clean between cuts for neat edges.

Holiday Lights Decorated Brownies

These brownies really capture the magic of twinkling Christmas lights. Just looking at them, you can almost hear holiday music in the background.

You’ll turn a pan of ordinary brownies into something that looks like strings of colorful holiday lights. It’s a fun little twist for your dessert table.

When you arrange colorful candies across the dark chocolate brownies, they pop with color. Guests usually love how these brownies bring some sparkle indoors—almost feels like you’re eating a bit of the decorations.

Complete List of Ingredients

• 1 box brownie mix (plus whatever the box calls for)
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Green food coloring
• Colorful round candies (M\&Ms or similar)
• White chocolate chips or candy melts

Numbered Step by Step Cooking Instructions

1. Bake the brownies following the directions on the box. Let them cool all the way.
2. In a bowl, mix together the butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Now you’ve got buttercream frosting.
3. Add a bit of green food coloring to the frosting. Go slow until you get the shade you like.
4. Spread the green frosting over the cooled brownies.
5. Place the colorful candies in wavy lines across the top to make them look like light strings.
6. Melt the white chocolate. Use a piping bag (or even a zip-top bag with the corner snipped) to draw thin lines connecting the candy “lights.”
7. Wait about 10 minutes so the white chocolate can set up.
8. Cut the brownies carefully so you don’t mess up your decorations.