Santa hat brownies are delicious and delightful on a holiday dessert table! Plus, the iconic chocolate and strawberry flavor combo is always a crowd-pleaser!
Everyone craves a warm, fudgy brownie from time to time. This recipe takes it to the next level. Topping brownies with juicy fresh strawberries and smooth cream cheese frosting creates an adorable, festive treat for the holiday season!
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Why you'll love this recipe
✔️ Santa hat brownies are fun and festive. This easy recipe is fun to make with the kids during their holiday break from school!
✔️ This recipe calls for store-bought brownie bites, or you can make homemade brownies depending on the time and effort you wish to spend.
✔️ Delicious and totally post-worthy on social media, get ready for this fun, easy Christmas recipe to become a new yearly tradition!
Ingredients
Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements.
- 24 brownie bites pre-made or homemade, your choice!
- fresh strawberries
- unsalted butter
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
- pure vanilla extract
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions, scroll down to the bottom.
- Clean and hull the berries. Dry them off completely. Cut the tips off the top of the berries to create the Santa hat shapes.
- Cream cheese Frosting:
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Add powdered sugar gradually, beating well after each addition.
- Stir in vanilla extract and continue to beat until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
- Assemble the Santa Hat Brownies:
- Place the pre-made brownie bites on a serving platter.
- Add a small dollop of homemade cream cheese frosting on the top of each brownie bite.
- Gently press a strawberry, with the cut side down, onto the cream cheese frosting to create the Santa hat shape.
- Use a piping bag (or a Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off) to pipe a small amount of cream cheese frosting around the base of each strawberry to resemble the hat's brim.
Watch and learn: recipe video
Equipment
- sharp knife
- piping bag
- star tip
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FAQ's
Storing fresh strawberries in the fridge helps them last longer. Many people also recommend washing/drying and placing the berries in a new container when you bring them home from the store.
Most food experts recommend eating strawberries closer to room temperature than straight-from-the-fridge cold. I like to pull the Santa hat brownies out of the fridge 20-30 minutes before enjoying them.
If you're running low on time, I would substitute cream cheese frosting for some canned whipped cream or store-bought buttercream frosting. You'll keep the same A+ presentation while saving time!
It all depends on your preference! Circles make the brownies resemble Santa hats more, but if you don't have a circular cookie cutter, you can use a square one and trim the sharp edges.
Test kitchen tips
- Keep the cream cheese frosting in the fridge as long as possible before assembling the brownies so that it doesn't run or melt.
- For best results, use a flat surface (like a platter, tray, or cutting board) to assemble and store the brownie Santa hats.
- Use a hand or stand mixer for this cream cheese icing recipe-it takes a lot of muscle power to whip cream cheese by hand!
- If you don't have a pastry/piping bag on hand, snip the corner off of a plastic baggie and use that to add icing to your Santa hat brownies.
Variations
- If you're feeling fancy, whip up a mascarpone cheese icing instead of the cream cheese icing. It's subtle but delicious!
- Finish off these easy Santa hat brownies with edible glitter or small metallic sprinkles for an extra magical touch.
Storage
Refrigerate-Because of the cream cheese icing and fresh fruit, refrigerate leftover Santa hat brownies in an airtight container for 1-2 days.
From the refrigerator, allow brownies to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes or so.
Related recipes
- My popular Double Chocolate Cherry Brownie recipe is a homemade, ultra-fudgy batch of brownies you can use for strawberry Santa hats!
- This Brownie Bundt Cake with Strawberries is a mouthwatering and classy dessert. It's a perfect holiday treat your guests will swoon over.
- Christmas Wreath Cupcakes look gorgeous on a dessert table and are fun to make for the whole family.
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If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!
Santa Hat Brownies
Ingredients
- 24 brownie bites pre-made or homemade, your choice!
- 24 Fresh strawberries washed and hulled
- Cream Cheese Frosting:
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened (1 stick)
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Clean and hull the berries. Dry them off completely. Cut the tips off the top of the berries to create the Santa hat shapes.
- Cream cheese Frosting:
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Add powdered sugar gradually, beating well after each addition.
- Stir in vanilla extract and continue to beat until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
- Assemble the Santa Hat Brownies:
- Place the pre-made brownie bites on a serving platter.
- Add a small dollop of homemade cream cheese frosting on the top of each brownie bite.
- Gently press a strawberry, with the cut side down, onto the cream cheese frosting to create the Santa hat shape.
- Use a piping bag (or a Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off) to pipe a small amount of cream cheese frosting around the base of each strawberry to resemble the hat's brim.
Lois Corliss says
These are great. We loved this wonderful treat.
Bowl Me Over says
Thanks Lois! Aren't these fun and festive?!! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
Maureen says
You got my attention when you said brownies. I love them and what better way to enjoy them over the holidays. They are so cute and perfect for the little ones. Love the decorations and using the strawberries for the hat is perfect. Again, another great Christmas idea. So many I don't know when to start baking.
Bowl Me Over says
So many sweets, so little time! 🤣 I hope you find a few to enjoy, thanks Maureen! Happy Holidays!!
Michelle Gosser says
How cute! I wouldn't have thought to use strawberries as hats! I imagine that they're very tasty with a brownie, kind of like a chocolate covered strawberry is. Can't wait to try this one!
Bowl Me Over says
Right? It is the BEST combination - enjoy Michelle! Happy Holidays to you and yours!!!
MaryB says
How cute are these! Fun and easy, too.
Bowl Me Over says
Thanks Mary, I hope you give them a try!!
Carol says
These cupcakes are adorable. They are perfect for the dessert table at our family get together on Christmas Eve, the grandkids will love them.
Bowl Me Over says
And you don't have to feel too bad because they have fresh fruit, right? HAHAHA! Just kidding, yes the grandkids will love them!!
Amy says
This looks delicious!
Bowl Me Over says
I hope you give these little treats a try Amy. Happy Holidays!
BRENDA DICKSON says
These are so cute and look so delicious. It would be fun to make these with my nieces and nephews.
Bowl Me Over says
Enjoy Brenda!! These little brownie bites are so festive and fun!
Angel Shult says
These will be perfect for out family Christmas get together.
Bowl Me Over says
Wonderful!! They are so fun, I hope the family loves them!!
Cat Stevens says
These cute cupcake brownies would be my 1st choice to make for a Christmas party. The strawberry says "I am healthy, lol. Also easy, which makes it nice. Thank you Deb