There’s something utterly magical about biting into rich, fudgy squares dotted with festive colors and textures—this Christmas Chocolate Brownie Bars Recipe delivers that cozy holiday spirit in every bite. It’s one of my favorite treats to bring out when the season calls for something extra special yet totally doable at home.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I remember making this Christmas Chocolate Brownie Bars Recipe for a holiday party years ago, and the way everyone kept coming back for seconds convinced me to never skip it. It's incredibly festive and loaded with textures that will surprise and delight your taste buds.
- Layered Goodness: The contrast between fudgy brownie, crunchy nuts, and gooey sweetened condensed milk makes each bite exciting.
- Festive Appearance: Holiday M&Ms and sprinkles bring that cheerful pop of color perfect for sharing at any holiday gathering.
- Simple Preparation: Despite looking fancy, it’s surprisingly straightforward—perfect if you want a great result without fuss.
- Customizable Layers: You can tweak nuts, candies, or coconut to match your family’s favorites or any dietary needs.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient in this Christmas Chocolate Brownie Bars Recipe plays a role—in richness, texture, or festive flair. Choosing quality chocolate and the right nuts makes a noticeable difference, so here’s why I rely on these staples.

- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: They provide the deep chocolate flavor and melt beautifully for that fudgy brownie texture.
- Salted butter: Adds richness and balances the sweetness, enhancing overall flavor.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the brownies while helping with that classic chewy texture.
- Eggs and egg yolk: Bind ingredients and contribute to the fudgy, tender crumb.
- All-purpose flour: Gives structure; be careful not to overmix to keep brownies moist.
- Vanilla extract: A small splash lifts chocolate flavor to the next level.
- Nuts (optional): I love pecans here for crunch and a toasty nuance, but walnuts work great too.
- Mini and regular holiday M&Ms: They add festive color and occasional bursts of sweetness—plus, they hold up well during baking.
- Sweetened flaked coconut: Brings chewiness and a tropical hint that plays beautifully with chocolate.
- Sweetened condensed milk: Creates that magical gooey layer that makes these bars unforgettable.
- Holiday sprinkles: Pure fun and festivity sprinkled right on top.
Make It Your Way
I love tweaking this Christmas Chocolate Brownie Bars Recipe depending on the mood or who I’m serving. You absolutely should feel free to swap in your favorite mix-ins or adjust the sweetness to suit your palate.
- Nut-free Variation: Once, I made these for a friend with nut allergies by simply omitting the nuts and adding extra coconut—it still had amazing texture and flavor.
- Spicy Holiday Twist: Adding a pinch of cinnamon and a dash of cayenne gave an unexpected warmth and festive kick that I totally recommend trying.
- Gluten-Free Version: Using a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend works well here, just be sure not to overmix for tender bars.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Chocolate Brownie Bars Recipe

Step 1: Melt Butter and Chocolate Together
Start by lining your 9-inch baking pan with foil or parchment and spraying it lightly—that means easy removal later! Then, melt the butter and 1½ cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips together in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring in between. Be patient here because chocolate can seize if overheated. A smooth, glossy mixture is your goal.
Step 2: Mix in Sugar, Eggs, and Vanilla
Beat in the granulated sugar until glossy, then add the vanilla and eggs (2 whole plus 1 yolk). I use a hand mixer here for easy incorporation, but a vigorous whisk works fine too. The batter should be thick and shiny—almost like brownie batter you want it to be dense but not dry.
Step 3: Add Flour and Bake the Base
Gently fold in the flour until just combined—don’t overmix or you'll lose that tender chew. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes. The edges will look set, and the center will jiggle slightly. This is exactly how it should be before adding the layers.
Step 4: Layer and Top
Now the fun part: sprinkle the nuts first, followed by half the remaining chocolate chips, and half the holiday M&Ms. Then cover it all with the shredded coconut. Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top, gently spreading it to cover every corner. Finish by sprinkling the rest of your chocolate chips, M&Ms, and those cheerful holiday sprinkles.
Step 5: Final Bake and Cool
Bake for another 25 minutes until the edges turn golden and the center is set and starting to brown. If the top looks like it’s browning too fast, tent it with foil loosely. Let the bars cool completely before cutting so the layers set perfectly without crumbling.
Top Tip
From multiple batches, I’ve learned that using parchment or foil with a good nonstick spray or butter is a lifesaver for lifting the brownie bars out without damaging those beautiful layers. Also, resist the urge to slice them while still warm—it can be tempting, but perfect squares need patience.
- Even Layering: Try to spread the sweetened condensed milk evenly by pouring in a slow, zigzag motion and then gently spreading with a spatula.
- Microwave Melting: Melting chocolate in intervals and stirring avoids burning and helps you get that glossy texture essential for fudgy brownies.
- Cooling Completely: I always let these bars cool fully in the pan on a wire rack to avoid crumbling and keep clean edges when cutting.
- Tenting with Foil: If you notice the topping browning too fast, foiling loosely extends baking without overcooking.
How to Serve Christmas Chocolate Brownie Bars Recipe

Garnishes
I like to keep the garnishes simple but festive—extra holiday sprinkles or a light dusting of powdered sugar does wonders. Occasionally, I’ll add a few whole nuts on top before baking for a rustic look that signals the nutty crunch inside.
Side Dishes
These bars pair wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to balance their richness. For a drink, a hot cup of spiced cocoa or a peppermint latte complements that festive chocolate perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I sometimes cut these into bite-sized squares and serve them on a tiered dessert tray with Christmas-themed cupcake liners—makes them look extra special and portable for guests to grab. Wrapping small squares in cellophane tied with a ribbon also turns them into lovely edible gifts.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store your Christmas Chocolate Brownie Bars in an airtight container at room temperature. I usually keep mine fresh for up to a week, and they maintain their chewy, fudgy texture beautifully without drying out.
Freezing
These bars freeze well, too! I slice them first, layer with parchment paper inside a freezer-safe container, and thaw at room temperature when I’m ready for a treat. The texture holds up, and the flavors stay vibrant.
Reheating
If you want to warm them up, I pop the bars in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds to soften the chocolate without melting the candies or coconut topping. Just enough to bring out that fresh-baked warmth.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! While semi-sweet chocolate chips provide that classic flavor and balance of sweet and bitter, you can substitute with dark, milk, or even white chocolate chips depending on your preference. Just keep in mind different chocolates will affect the sweetness and richness.
Sweetened condensed milk is key to that fudge-like layer, but if you can’t find it, you could try making your own by simmering milk and sugar until thickened. However, the texture and flavor might differ slightly. Alternatively, you can omit it, but the bars won’t be as gooey or rich in that spot.
Making these bars vegan or dairy-free would require substitutions such as vegan butter and dairy-free chocolate chips. You’d also need to substitute the eggs with flax or chia egg alternatives. Keep in mind that these swaps can affect texture and flavor, so try a test batch first. Sweetened condensed coconut milk is an option for the condensed milk layer.
The base brownies are done when the edges look set and the center jiggles slightly but isn’t liquidy. After adding the layers and baking again, the bars are finished when the edges turn golden and the topping is set and lightly browned. Tent with foil if browning too quickly on top. Cooling completely before cutting is crucial for clean slices.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Chocolate Brownie Bars Recipe has become my go-to when I want a dessert that’s festive, flavorful, and feels truly special without requiring hours in the kitchen. I hope you enjoy making and sharing these luscious, layered bars as much as I do—once you try them, they’ll be your favorite holiday treat too!
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Christmas Chocolate Brownie Bars Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 9 bars
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Christmas Magic Layer Brownie Bars are a festive and delicious treat featuring a rich chocolate brownie base layered with nuts, semi-sweet chocolate chips, holiday M&Ms, shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and colorful holiday sprinkles. Perfect for holiday gatherings and celebrations, these bars combine chocolatey goodness with sweet and crunchy textures.
Ingredients
Brownie Base
- 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup salted butter (1 stick)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Layers and Toppings
- ¾ cup nuts (optional, divided)
- ¼ cup mini holiday M&Ms (divided)
- ¾ cup regular holiday M&Ms (divided)
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (divided)
- 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
- ¾ cup sweetened condensed milk (from a 14 ounce can)
- ¼ cup holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Melt Chocolate and Butter: Place the butter and 1½ cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir, and continue microwaving in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until the mixture is melted and smooth.
- Mix Sugar and Eggs: Beat in the sugar, then add the vanilla extract and eggs (2 whole eggs plus 1 yolk), mixing until well combined to form the brownie batter.
- Add Flour: Stir in the all-purpose flour until just combined to avoid overmixing which can make brownies tough.
- Bake Brownie Base: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes. The brownies will jiggle slightly but the top should look set.
- Add Layers: Remove the brownies from the oven and layer on top evenly: ¾ cup of nuts (if using), half of the remaining semi-sweet chocolate chips, half of the mini and regular holiday M&Ms combined, followed by all the shredded coconut.
- Add Condensed Milk and Toppings: Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the coconut layer and spread gently to distribute. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips, M&Ms, and finally the holiday sprinkles evenly over the top.
- Finish Baking: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25 minutes or until the edges are golden and the center is set and starting to brown. If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil to prevent burning.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into 9 equal squares with a sharp knife.
- Storage: Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the brownies are completely cooled before cutting to prevent crumbling.
- Use a sharp knife dipped in hot water for clean cuts through the sticky layers.
- Nuts are optional but add a nice crunch; walnuts or pecans work well.
- Holiday M&Ms and sprinkles add festive color and texture but can be substituted with any colorful candy or left out for a simpler look.
- To prevent the top from burning, cover loosely with foil partway through the second baking if it browns too quickly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 499 kcal
- Sugar: 46 g
- Sodium: 117 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 49 mg


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