Description
These Christmas Magic Layer Brownie Bars combine rich chocolate brownies with festive toppings including nuts, M&Ms, shredded coconut, and sweetened condensed milk for a decadent holiday treat. Perfect for sharing, these bars offer a fun and flavorful twist on traditional brownies with layers of texture and colors that bring Christmas magic to your dessert table.
Ingredients
Scale
Brownie Layer:
- 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
Toppings Layer:
- 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
- Prepare the pan: Preheat 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 semi-sweet chocolate chips in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir, then continue heating and stirring in 30-second intervals until the mixture is smooth and melted.
- Mix wet ingredients: Beat in 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 large eggs, and 1 large egg yolk until well combined.
- Add flour: Stir in 1 cup all-purpose flour until just combined to form the brownie batter. Avoid overmixing.
- Bake brownie base: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes. The brownies will still jiggle slightly but will be set on top.
- Add toppings: Remove the pan from the oven. Layer ¾ cup nuts (optional), half of the ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, half of the ¼ cup mini holiday M&Ms, half of the ¾ cup regular holiday M&Ms, and all of the 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut evenly over the brownie layer.
- Pour condensed milk: Evenly pour ¾ cup sweetened condensed milk over the layered toppings. Spread gently to distribute evenly.
- Finish topping: Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup holiday sprinkles, the remainder of chocolate chips, and remaining M&Ms on top of the condensed milk layer.
- Bake again: 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 just starting to brown. If the top browns too fast, tent loosely with foil.
- Cool and serve: Let the brownies cool completely in the pan before cutting into 9 squares with a sharp knife. Store in a sealed container for up to one week.
Notes
- Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks; place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
- To freeze, remove brownies from the pan, wrap tightly with plastic wrap then aluminum foil; freeze for up to 3 months. Alternatively, freeze individual squares wrapped similarly.
- Thaw frozen brownies on the counter for about 1 hour before serving for best texture.
- Use salted butter as specified for balanced flavor or unsalted butter with a pinch of salt if preferred.
- Optional nuts can be omitted or substituted with other nuts like pecans or almonds according to preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 170 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
