There are certain recipes that instantly make the holiday season feel real – gingerbread cookies, mulled wine, cinnamon-spiced cakes… and the Best Christmas Brownies. If you’re looking for a dessert that combines classic fudgy brownies with the cozy flavors of winter, this is the recipe you’ll keep baking every December. These brownies have it all: an ultra fudgy center, a shiny crinkle top, warm gingerbread spice, and a subtle nuttiness from ground hazelnuts or almonds. They taste like the perfect marriage of traditional holiday baking and rich, chocolatey comfort food.
Whether you’re planning a festive dessert table, a Christmas movie night, or homemade gifts for friends and family, these gingerbread Christmas brownies are guaranteed to steal the show. They’re simple to make, require just one bowl, and bake beautifully every single time.
Why You’ll love the Best Chrsitmas Brownies:
- Ultra-Fudgy Texture: These brownies are dense and gooey inside, not cakey or dry. If you prefer a deeper fudgy core, simply bake them on the lower end of the time range.
- Shiny & Crinkly Top: The iconic brownie crackle top comes from properly melting the chocolate and sugar together – no shortcuts.
- Holiday Flavors That Actually Work: Adding gingerbread spice to chocolate doesn’t always work… unless the balance is perfect. This recipe blends cocoa, dark chocolate, brown sugar, and seasonal spices in a way that enhances, not overwhelms.
- Nutty Depth from Ground Hazelnuts: Ground hazelnuts (or almonds) give these brownies a naturally rich aroma – almost like a chocolate-gingerbread praline.
- Foolproof & One-Bowl: Even beginner bakers can nail this recipe. Everything happens in one bowl: melt → whisk → fold → bake.
- Customizable: Add-ins like chopped chocolate, white chocolate chunks, cranberries, or roasted nuts all work beautifully.
Ingredients You’ll Need for the Best Christmas Brownies:
- Dark Chocolate: Use good-quality dark chocolate (around 70%). It gives the brownies their deep flavor and helps create the shiny, crinkly top.
- Butter: Adds richness, moisture, and helps achieve that ultra-fudgy texture.
- Eggs: Eggs bind everything together and give the brownies structure. They also contribute to the glossy top layer.
- Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle caramel flavor — essential for chewy, soft brownies.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the chocolate and warms up the overall holiday flavor profile.
- All-Purpose Flour: Just enough to hold the brownies together without making them cakey.
- Ground Hazelnuts (or Almonds): Add a nutty depth and seasonal aroma. They also keep the brownies naturally moist.
- Gingerbread Spice: The holiday star! A cozy mix of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cardamom, and allspice that turns simple brownies into Christmas brownies.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and intensifies the chocolate flavor.
- Powdered Sugar: Optional, but perfect for dusting and giving the brownies a festive “snowy” look.
For making the Best Christmas Brownies, here are the essential tools you’ll need:
- Heatproof bowl: for melting the chocolate and butter together gently.
- Medium saucepan (optional): only needed if you prefer melting chocolate over steam using the double-boiler method.
- Whisk: to mix the melted chocolate with sugar and eggs until smooth and glossy.
- Mixing bowl: for combining the dry ingredients like flour, spices, and ground nuts.
- Rubber spatula: perfect for gently folding the batter without overmixing.
- Baking pan: an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) or similar pan works best for thick, fudgy brownies.
- Parchment paper: makes removal easy and keeps the edges neat.
- Kitchen scale or measuring cups: for accurate ingredient measurements.
- Cooling rack: so the brownies can cool evenly and firm up before slicing.
- Sharp knife: ideal for cutting clean, even squares once the brownies are fully cooled.
- Sieve: to dust powdered sugar over the brownies for that festive snowy finish.
Here is the full Recipe for the Best Christmas Brownies:
Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ cups dark chocolate (approx. 10.5 oz)
- ¾ cup + 2 tbsp butter
- 5 medium eggs
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups ground hazelnuts or almonds
- 2 tsp gingerbread spice
- pinch of salt
- powdered sugar for dusting
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 175°C and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
- Melt chocolate and butter together until smooth. Let the mixture cool slightly
- Whisk in sugar, then eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy (3-5 min).
- Add flour, salt, spices, and ground nuts. Fold gently.
- Spread into the pan; bake 20 min for fudgy, 25 min for slightly firmer brownies.
- Cool completely before cutting. Dust with powdered sugar or sprinkles if desired.
Tips and Tricks:
Tips for perfect Brownies:
- Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour, fold gently. Overmixing = cakey brownies.
- Underbake Slightly: For the perfect fudgy interior, pull them out when the center still looks slightly soft.
- Chill Before Cutting: Let them cool completely, or chill for 1 hour, for clean edges and neat squares.
- Use High-Quality Chocolate: This recipe is chocolate-forward; using a good 70% dark chocolate makes a big difference.
- Spice to Your Taste: If you love strong gingerbread flavor, increase the spice mix by an extra ½ teaspoon.
Serving Suggestions
- Dust with powdered sugar for a snowy effect
- Drizzle with melted white chocolate
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream
- Cut into bite-sized squares for holiday platters
- Wrap individually for edible gifts
Storage & Make-Ahead
These brownies store beautifully, making them perfect for busy December baking.
- Room temperature: 4–5 days in an airtight container
- Refrigerator: up to 1 week (they become even fudgier!)
- Freezer: 2–3 months; thaw at room temperature
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make them nut-free? Yes – use ground oats instead of ground hazelnuts/almonds.
- Can I add real ginger? Yes, ¼ teaspoon freshly grated ginger creates a deeper spice flavor.
- Can I double the recipe? Absolutely -bake in a larger tray and increase baking time gradually.
- How do I get the shiny top? Fully dissolve sugar into the warm melted chocolate + butter mixture. This step is essential.
More Baking Ideas:
- Strawberries & Cream Cookies – Soft, buttery cookies infused with fresh strawberries and a velvety cream filling – the ultimate summer treat!
- White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies -Delight in the perfect balance of sweet white chocolate and tart raspberries with every bite of these irresistible cookies.
- Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies -These zesty lemon cookies with a hint of poppy seed crunch will brighten up your day with a refreshing burst of flavor.
- Lemon Cheesecake Cookies with Blueberry Curd – Bright, tangy, and irresistibly creamy, these Lemon Cheesecake Cookies with Blueberry Curd are a zesty delight topped with a luscious blueberry swirl. Perfect for citrus lovers looking for a sweet twist!
Watch the recipe video here. Let’s get to baking! Here is the full recipe:
Summary
Recipe Name
Author Name
The Best Christmas Brownies
Isabel
Published On
