Description
Festive chocolate brownies topped with creamy frosting, snowy coconut, and fresh strawberries shaped like Santa hats, perfect for holiday celebrations and joyful dessert tables.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter: 170 g, melted, for a rich and moist brownie base
- Granulated sugar: 200 g, for sweetness and classic brownie texture
- Eggs: 2 large, to bind and structure the batter
- Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon, to enhance chocolate flavor
- All-purpose flour: 95 g, for structure without making brownies cakey
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: 45 g, for deep chocolate flavor
- Salt: 0.5 teaspoon, to balance sweetness
- Cream cheese: 225 g, softened, for the creamy topping
- Powdered sugar: 80 g, to sweeten and smooth the topping
- Heavy cream: 60 ml, to lighten and fluff the topping
- Fresh strawberries: 12 medium, hulled, for Santa hat decoration
- Shredded coconut: 60 g, for a snowy festive finish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 175°C and line a square baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk the melted butter and granulated sugar until glossy.
- Add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth and well combined.
- Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt, then gently fold into the wet mixture until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the surface, and bake for 28 to 30 minutes until set but slightly fudgy.
- Remove from the oven and allow the brownies to cool completely.
- In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and heavy cream until light, smooth, and fluffy.
- Cut the cooled brownies into even squares.
- Spread or pipe a layer of cream topping on each brownie.
- Press shredded coconut gently around the edges of the topping.
- Place a strawberry point-side up on each brownie and add a small dot of cream on top to finish the Santa hat.
Notes
- Let brownies cool fully before decorating to prevent the topping from melting.
- Use ripe but firm strawberries so they hold their shape.
- Chill decorated brownies briefly for cleaner presentation.
- Sift cocoa powder to avoid lumps in the batter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: Santa Hat Brownies, Christmas brownies, festive brownies, holiday dessert, strawberry brownies, Christmas treats