What's Baking: Santa Hat Brownies

In honor of National Brownie Month, our December hostess for What's Baking, Nicole of Seven Ate Nine, thought it would be fun if we all made our favorite brownie. I love brownies, so I was definitely excited for this challenge. My initial thought was some sort of grasshopper brownie, since I love chocolate and mint so much. But when I saw these super adorable Santa Hat Brownies on Jessy's blog I knew they were the perfect brownie to make!!

I had a white elephant holiday party to go to the Friday before Christmas, and I knew these would be the perfect dessert to take with me. Everyone thought they were adorable and delicious - who could ask for a better dessert?? And after I had decided to make these, I saw a version of them on the show The Chew!! I thought that was pretty neat.

Santa Hat Brownies

As seen on Gourmet Day to Day

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 4 (1 oz.) squares semi-sweet chocolate
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 c. flour
• 4 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 24 strawberries
• Your favorite white frosting (I used cream cheese frosting)

Preparation

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees and spray mini muffin pan(s) with cooking spray. 
2. In 2 quart saucepan combine 1 cup butter and chocolate squares. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until melted (4-6 minutes).
3. Stir in flour, eggs, baking powder, salt and vanilla until well combined.
4. Use a medium cookie scoop to drop batter into the mini muffin tins, each one about half full. 
5. Cook about 15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before decorating. 
6. Meanwhile, cut stems off of strawberries, so that the top is flat. Turn the strawberries upside down and place one on top of each brownie.
7. Place the frosting into a decorating bag or bottle and squeeze around the bottom of each strawberry to represent the rim of Santa's hat. Then squeeze a small drop onto the tip of the strawberry.