Santa Hat Brownies
Rich chocolate brownies are topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream to look like miniature Santa hats.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour 120 g
- 3/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder 75 g
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted, 200 g
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 300 g
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream whipped, 120 ml
- 16 fresh strawberries hulled
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch (20x20-cm) baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking just until combined after each addition.
- Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a rubber spatula. Stop stirring as soon as no dry streaks remain to avoid dense brownies.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it into an even layer. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the edges should have moist crumbs, and the center should look set. For food safety, ensure the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) to fully cook the eggs.
- Let the brownies cool completely in the pan for about 2 hours before lifting them out using the parchment overhang. Cut into 16 equal squares.
- Slice the stem end off each strawberry to create a flat base, and snip a tiny bit off the pointed tip.
- Pipe a ring of whipped cream on each brownie square. Place a strawberry flat-side down onto the cream, then pipe a small dot of cream on the top tip to finish the hat.
Notes
To get clean slices, wipe your knife with a warm, damp paper towel between cuts.
If making the brownies ahead of time, wait to assemble the strawberry and cream decorations until right before serving. The moisture from the berries can make the whipped cream runny.
For a firmer, fudgier texture, chill the baked and cooled brownies in the refrigerator for an hour before slicing.