Every year I try to make at least one dessert that is fun, festive, and almost too cute to eat. These Santa Hat Christmas Brownies are exactly that. I first saw a version of them online and couldn’t resist trying them out. The little strawberry “hats” sitting on top of fudgy brownies just scream Christmas. And that white layer you saw in the image? It’s usually cream cheese frosting or whipped vanilla frosting that helps the strawberry stick and creates that fluffy Santa trim effect. Super easy but looks incredible.

If you need a holiday dessert that gets instant attention, this is it.

Recipe Details

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 16 brownies
Calories: About 180 per serving

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• They look impressive but are secretly simple.
  When I make these, I always smile because people assume I spent hours decorating them. You will enjoy how quickly they come together and how fun it feels to stack the little hats. It is one of those recipes where the presentation does most of the work for you.
• They mix fresh fruit with rich chocolate.
  My preference is a fudgy brownie because it really pairs well with the juicy strawberry on top. You will notice that each bite has this nice balance of sweetness and freshness, which keeps them from feeling too heavy.
• They are great for parties and sharing.
  I like how these instantly brighten up a dessert table. You will love the reactions you get, especially from kids who tend to grab the ones with the tallest hats.

Ingredients

For the brownies

• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips optional but I always add them

For the Santa hats

• Fresh strawberries, tops trimmed flat
• Vanilla frosting or whipped cream about 1 to 1.5 cups
• White chocolate chips or white candy melts for the tiny pom poms

How To Make Santa Hat Christmas Brownies

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line an 8 by 8 inch baking pan with parchment so you can lift the brownies out easily.
2. Stir the melted butter with both sugars until it looks smooth and glossy. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix again until everything comes together.
3. Add the flour, cocoa powder, and salt, then mix gently until it forms a thick brownie batter. Fold in the chocolate chips if you are using them.
4. Spread the batter into the pan and bake it for about 25 minutes or until the center is set but still soft. Let the brownies cool completely.
5. Once cooled, lift them out and cut them into neat squares. I like smaller squares because they hold the hats better.
6. Spoon or pipe a little round mound of frosting or whipped cream onto each brownie. I try to make it look like the base of a little Santa hat.
7. Place a strawberry on top of that mound, flat side down, so it looks like a pointy red hat.
8. Melt a few white chocolate chips or grab tiny candy melt circles and place one on top of each strawberry so it looks like a pom pom.

Tips For The Best Santa Hat Brownies

• Let the brownies cool completely.
  When I make these, I always wait because frosting on a warm brownie will slide right off. You will get the cleanest cuts and the neatest hats if you let everything cool first.
• Choose strawberries that are similar in size.
  My preference is medium sized berries because they sit nicely without being too heavy. When they match in size, you will get a tray of brownies that look like they were styled for a bakery display.
• Pick your topping based on the occasion.
  I like frosting when I need the hats to hold up for a long time. You will enjoy whipped cream if you are serving right away because it gives a fluffy snowy look that feels very Christmas.

Substitutions

• Use boxed brownie mix if you want something faster.
  When I am in a rush, I grab a box mix and the results are still adorable. You will find that the decorations matter more than the exact brownie recipe.
• Swap the frosting for cream cheese frosting or stabilized whipped cream.
  My preference depends on the crowd. Cream cheese adds tang while stabilized whipped cream gives a lighter bite. You will like either one depending on what you enjoy with chocolate.
• Replace the white chocolate pom poms with mini marshmallows.
  I like this when I want a softer, fluffier look. You will get the cutest little hats without melting anything.