If you’re dreaming of the perfect holiday treat that’s both indulgent and fun to make, this Festive Christmas Brownie Cookies Recipe is going to be your new go-to. I absolutely love how these brownies transform into adorable, colorful cookies decorated with buttery frosting and sprinkles — they’re just about the most charming thing you can put on your dessert table this season. Plus, they’re chewy, rich, and guaranteed to get everyone saying “wow!” So grab your apron, and let’s dive into this festive baking joy.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Double Delight: Combines the fudgy goodness of brownies with the fun of decorated cookies.
- Customizable Colors & Shapes: You can make all sorts of festive designs, perfect for holiday cheer.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Bake in advance, chill, and decorate whenever you’re ready.
- Crowd-Pleaser: My family goes crazy for these — they’re a guaranteed hit at parties or cozy nights in.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Festive Christmas Brownie Cookies Recipe shines because of its simple yet quality ingredients that come together beautifully to create chewy, rich brownies topped with creamy, colorful buttercream frosting.
- Brownie Ingredients: Use my tried-and-true chewy brownie recipe—high-quality cocoa powder and good dark chocolate make all the difference.
- Butter: Unsalted butter for the buttercream, softened to get that perfect creamy texture.
- Powdered Sugar: The secret to silky, sweet frosting that pipes beautifully.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, beloved flavor to your buttercream.
- Gel Food Coloring: These vibrant colors won’t thin out your frosting, perfect for festive designs.
- Sprinkles and Decorations: Mini M&Ms, edible glitter, or festive sprinkles to bring your holiday cookies to life.
- Cookie Cutters: Tall metal cutters for clean shapes—Christmas trees, stars, or whatever you fancy.
Variations
One of my favorite things about this Festive Christmas Brownie Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to personalize. I often switch up colors or decorations depending on the occasion or who I’m gifting to—feel free to make it your own!
- Frosting Flavor: Try adding a hint of peppermint extract to your buttercream for that classic Christmas vibe—my kids loved it!
- Gluten-Free: Swap the flour in the brownie recipe with a gluten-free blend; the texture stays just as chewy.
- Festive Themes: Shape and decorate cookies as snowmen, gifts, or reindeer for a playful twist—makes decorating with kids a blast.
- Dairy-Free Option: Use dairy-free butter and ensure your chocolate is dairy-free to accommodate dietary needs.
How to Make Festive Christmas Brownie Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Dreamy Brownies
The first step is doubling your favorite chewy brownie recipe. I like to bake it in a 9×13-inch metal pan lined with parchment paper so that pulling out the whole slab is a breeze. Bake a few minutes longer than usual—about 3 to 5 minutes more—to ensure the thicker layer cooks through evenly. When they come out, patience is key: let them cool completely, then pop them into the fridge if you can. Chilling overnight makes cutting and decorating a far easier and tidier job.
Step 2: Whip Up Your Colorful Buttercream
While the brownies chill, whip up a batch of my Best Ever Buttercream Frosting. I love how forgiving buttercream is—it’s easy to customize and takes food coloring like a champ. Divide it into separate bowls and stir in gel food coloring to create all your favorite festive hues. If you’re in a pinch, just tint the whole batch green for a classic Christmas feel. Pipe bags fitted with your favorite tips get you ready for decorating magic.
Step 3: Cut Out Your Festive Shapes
This part feels like crafting and baking rolled into one. Take your chilled brownie slab out of the pan—parchment paper on the bottom keeps everything intact—and press your cookie cutters in as close together as possible to maximize shapes. Use an offset spatula or a paring knife to gently lift each cut piece from the parchment without breaking. A cold brownie is your best friend here; if they’re too soft, the edges will crumble. I discovered that gently squeezing the cookie cutter sides can help pop out the brownies cleanly without sticking or tearing.
Step 4: Decorate and Delight
Now comes the fun part — frosting and decorating! Pipe your colorful buttercream onto each cookie, then sprinkle on festive decor while the frosting is still soft so it sticks perfectly. Tiny mini M&Ms, holiday-themed sprinkles, or edible glitter add that extra sparkle. I like to decorate as I go so my frosting doesn’t dry and lose its stickiness. Once decorated, either serve immediately or store carefully in an airtight container to keep those chewy edges fresh.
Pro Tips for Making Festive Christmas Brownie Cookies Recipe
- Chill Before Cutting: Cooling brownies overnight makes clean cuts and neat edges so much easier.
- Use Gel Colors: Liquid colorings can make frosting runny; gel colors keep your buttercream thick and vibrant.
- Decorate Fresh: For toppings that stick well, decorate right after frosting while it’s still soft.
- Avoid Overbaking: A slightly underbaked brownie yields that gooey softness, but be careful not to undercook too much or it won’t hold up.
How to Serve Festive Christmas Brownie Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I love garnishing my festive brownies with simple, joyful touches—think red and green mini M&Ms, silver and gold edible glitter, or a scatter of tiny snowflake sprinkles. It turns these treats into little edible holiday gems, and the colors just pop beautifully against the rich chocolate and creamy buttercream.
Side Dishes
Pair these brownie cookies with a mug of hot cocoa or a cup of freshly brewed coffee—especially spiced latte or peppermint mocha for the full festive experience. They’re also fantastic alongside a simple vanilla ice cream to balance the richness.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I like to display these brownie cookies on tiered platters surrounded by fresh pine sprigs and twinkling fairy lights. Wrapping a stack in cellophane tied with red ribbon also makes for a charming homemade gift. You could even turn them into edible place cards—just pipe each guest’s name on the buttercream!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover festive brownie cookies store best in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. I’ve learned that cutting them close to serving time helps keep the edges from drying out. If you have to store cut cookies, keep them sealed well to maintain that chewy texture.
Freezing
One trick I’ve used successfully is freezing the uncut brownie slab wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil — you can thaw it slowly in the fridge before cutting and decorating. Individual cut brownies freeze well too, but I prefer to frost them fresh after thawing for best taste and texture.
Reheating
If you’re reheating leftovers, a quick 10-15 second zap in the microwave does wonders to soften the brownie without melting the frosting too much—just keep an eye on it! This way you get that fresh-baked feel even days later.
FAQs
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Can I use store-bought brownies for this recipe?
You absolutely can! Just make sure they are thick, fudgy brownies so they hold their shape when cut and decorated. For the best results, chill them first so they’re easier to handle.
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What kind of cookie cutters work best for these brownie cookies?
Tall, sharp metal cookie cutters are ideal because they cleanly stamp through the brownie slab without squishing the edges. Avoid plastic ones that may not cut through as cleanly or cause crumbling.
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How far in advance can I bake and decorate these cookies?
You can bake and chill the brownies a day or two ahead. Decorating is best done the same day you plan to serve so the buttercream stays fresh and toppings stick well.
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Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes! Simply substitute with your favorite gluten-free flour blend in the brownie recipe. The texture remains deliciously chewy and the frosting needs no adjustments.
Final Thoughts
When I first tried this Festive Christmas Brownie Cookies Recipe, I was amazed at how it took a classic brownie to a whole new festive level. It’s so fun to cut and decorate because you get that satisfying mix of baking and artistic creativity. If you want to wow your friends and family this holiday season with something a little different but absolutely delicious, this recipe is your golden ticket. Trust me, once you make these, they’ll become your holiday tradition, just like they did mine!
Print
Festive Christmas Brownie Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 10 to 15 brownies, depending on the size of your cookie cutter
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Celebrate the holiday season with festive Christmas Brownies, featuring chewy homemade brownies cut into holiday shapes and topped with colorful, piped buttercream frosting and festive decorations. These treats are perfect for holiday parties, gift-giving, or a fun family baking activity.
Ingredients
Brownies
- Double batch of Best Chewy Brownies ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, salt, baking powder)
Buttercream Frosting
- Butter
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Milk or cream
- Gel food coloring (various colors as desired)
Decorations
- Festive sprinkles
- Mini M&Ms or other edible decorations
Instructions
- Make the Brownies: Prepare a double batch of the Best Chewy Brownies by doubling all ingredients from the original recipe. Pour the batter into a 9 by 13-inch metal baking pan lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Bake according to the original instructions, adding 3 to 5 minutes to the bake time. Allow the brownies to cool completely and chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours or overnight to firm up.
- Make the Buttercream: Prepare the Best Ever Buttercream Frosting following the original recipe. Divide the buttercream into separate bowls and tint each with gel food coloring as desired. Transfer the colored buttercream into disposable piping bags fitted with preferred piping tips.
- Cut Out the Brownies: Carefully remove the cooled slab of brownies from the baking pan, leaving the parchment paper or foil underneath. Use a tall metal cookie cutter to cut out Christmas shapes, spacing them as closely as possible. Gently slide an offset spatula or paring knife beneath each cut brownie shape to release it from the parchment paper or foil. Press the brownie shapes out of the cookie cutter using your fingers, ensuring they are cold for easier removal.
- Decorate the Christmas Brownies: Pipe the colored buttercream frosting onto each brownie shape using the piping bags. Immediately add festive sprinkles, mini M&Ms, or other edible decorations while the frosting is still soft. Allow the buttercream to set slightly before serving, or store the decorated brownies in an airtight container to keep them fresh and prevent drying.
Notes
- Store decorated Christmas Brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to prevent drying out, especially at the cut edges.
- For freezing, freeze unfrosted brownies either as a whole slab or individual cut shapes. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to one month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for a few hours at room temperature before frosting and serving.
- The buttercream frosting colors can be customized to match any holiday theme or preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie (approx. 60g)
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
