I am most definitely not the most talented decorator of cakes, cookies, and baked goods. But I still like treats that are fun and festive for celebrating the holiday season! These Santa hat brownie bites are right up my alley with fresh fruit, chocolate, and minimal effort to achieve a Christmasy feel without any stress over ending up with a Pinterest fail. Looking for more fun holiday desserts that are quick and easy to make? Be sure to also try our Candy Coated Crispix Mix, Easy Homemade Peppermint Bark, or Oreo Balls (aka Oreo Truffles) next!
Why this recipe works
Even mediocre decorators with modest skills can pull off these cute little Santa hats! You don’t even need a piping bag and decorate tip (although they definitely help). Instead, you could just use a Ziploc bag with one corner snipped off. The combination of chocolate brownie, fresh fruit, and sweetened whipped cream is the perfect little dessert bite that isn’t too heavy. The Santa hat appearance is iconic and easily recognizable. Trust me, if you take these to a cookie exchange or holiday party, these are going to be the first thing to go!
Ingredient Notes
Brownie mix: You know I’m totally loyal to my favorite brownie recipe, which you can absolutely use here. However, there is a time and a place for box mix and with the hustle and bustle of the season I wanted to share a super laidback recipe for holiday entertaining that you can throw together with almost zero effort. But definitely feel free to make these from scratch! Vanilla pudding: I use the vanilla pudding to help stabilize the whipped cream since these brownie bites are typically party fare or taken to a cookie exchange and they get left out a little longer. The pudding not only sweetens the whipped cream but keeps it more firm instead of wilting over time, like fresh cream sometimes does. Strawberries: Try to use the strawberries with a nice cone shape. I will usually buy an extra package of strawberries so there are plenty to choose from (and extras for eating out of hand). In order to pull off the Santa hat appearance, it’s best for the strawberries to be uniform and cone-shaped.
How to Make This Recipe
Recipe Tips
Storage: These brownie bites should be kept in the fridge because of the cream, although they will be fine sitting out at room temperature for about 2 hours. They should be good for up to 3 days, and the brownie bites can be made a couple days in advance, then topped with the strawberry and cream hats just before you plan to serve them. Make sure the brownies are completely cool before decorating! This really is important because even with stabilized whipped cream it will melt if the brownies are still warm in the middle. Let them cool for 15 minutes in the pan, then remove them to a cooling rack so they can finish cooling the rest of the way.
More Christmas Dessert Recipes
Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars Peppermint Bark Cheesecake Gingerbread Cupcakes with Eggnog Buttercream German Chocolate Cake Truffles
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
