Festive Gluten-Free Santa Hat Brownies are fudgy, gluten-free, and topped with adorable buttercream hats. Perfect for holiday parties, cookie swaps, or cozy nights in!

Oh, honey, let’s talk holiday desserts that slay! If you’re here for basic, scroll on.

These Gluten Free Santa Hat Brownies are the Taylor Swift of holiday treats—a show-stopper, a conversation starter, and everyone’s favorite guest at the party. Bonus: they’re gluten-free and way easier than they look.

But let’s be real: holiday baking can sometimes feel like a marathon. Between the cookie decorating contests, potlucks, and “I-just-need-a-gift-dessert” moments, the pressure is real.

That’s why these brownies are the ultimate lifesaver. They’re easy to make, impossible to mess up, and ridiculously cute—like Santa himself, but in brownie form.

Plus, with their rich, chocolatey flavor and crackly tops, they’ll have everyone at the dessert table asking for the recipe. (Pro tip: act humble, but own it.)

These fudgy brownies are also incredibly versatile. Bake them for your holiday cookie swap, Christmas eve, or just whip them up to enjoy with a cup of cocoa on a cozy night in.

You’ll feel like a kitchen wizard when these come out of the oven and get their Santa-inspired makeover. Ready to bake your new favorite festive dessert that your whole family will love? Let’s get started!

If you love holiday treats you may also want to try my Sugar Cookie Fudge Recipe or my Gluten Free Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THESE GLUTEN-FREE SANTA HAT BROWNIES

Festively Fabulous: These brownies scream holiday cheer with their adorable Santa hat design. Perfect for impressing guests or upping your Instagram game. 🎅
Fudgy Perfection: The brownie base is rich, chocolatey, and has that crackly top everyone fights over. Bonus—it’s gluten-free and still indulgent!
Easy to Make: No complicated techniques here. You don’t need to be a pastry chef to nail these.
Versatile & Crowd-Pleasing: Great for parties, cookie swaps, or gifting. Plus, they’re a hit with kids and adults alike.
Customizable: Want extra chocolate chips? Add ’em. Fancy sprinkles? Toss those on too. These brownies are as extra as you want them to be!

SIMPLE INGREDIENTS YOU NEED FOR THE EASY SANTA HAT BROWNIES RECIPE

You will need the following ingredients listed below to make the brownie santa hats (the exact measurements, nutrition information, step by step instructions and full recipe are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this blog post):

Unsalted Butter – vegan butter also works great if you’re wanting it dairy-free.
Granulated Sugar – you can try coconut sugar as well, but you will most likely need more of it.
Eggs
Vanilla Extract
Gluten-Free All purpose flour – I used Bob’s Red Mill, however any gluten free flour with xanthan gum will work.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Baking powder
Sea salt
Semisweet Chocolate chips – can use chocolate chunks as well.
Red and white frosting – can make homemade frosting by combining icing sugar, butter, vanilla extract, milk and red food colouring. If cream cheese frosting is prefered, add some cream cheese to this mixture.
Optional – mini marshmallows for the top of santa’s iconic hat, fresh fruit, brown sugar, dark chocolate, white chocolate, boxed brownie mix, etc.

brownie batter being poured into square baking dish

HOW TO MAKE THE CHOCOLATEY BROWNIES

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
In a saucepan, melt the butter over low-medium heat. Add in sugar slowly and whisk continuously (this step is very important as it helps melt the sugar, which will give the brownies a the flakey crackly crust on the top).
Continue whisking for approx 1-2 minutes after all the sugar has dissolved.
Transfer the butter mixture over to a large bowl and let cool slightly. Add in eggs one at a time, whisking vigorously between each egg, then add the vanilla.
In a separate bowl, sift the cocoa powder, gluten free flour, baking powder and salt.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Transfer the brownie batter over to the prepared pan and top with chocolate chips, cacao nibs, or chopped nuts if you desire.
Bake for 25-30 minutes in preheated oven, ensuring you do not over bake.
Remove from the oven and cool for about 15 minutes. Using a sharp knife, cut in half then cut in alternating diagonals into triangle shapes, as in the photo shown below.
Spoon the red icing into one zip lock bag or piping bag and the white icing into another.
Seal the bags and cut off a small corner with scissors.
Squeeze out the icing in a curvy zigzag as you fill the center with red icing. Finish the bottom and top off with white icing as pictured.
Enjoy your new favorite holiday sweet treat!

STORING THE LEFTOVER PERFECT DESSERT

Ah, the million-dollar question – how to keep those delightful Gluten-Free Santa Hat Brownies fresh and ready for enjoyment? Fear not, my friend! Here’s the scoop on storing these festive treats:

1. Refrigerator: Since the buttercream frosting is perishable, store the brownies in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll stay fresh for up to 5 days. Just let them sit at room temperature for about 10–15 minutes before serving to enjoy that soft, fudgy texture.
2. Freezer: Want to save some for later? You can freeze these beauties! Place them on a baking sheet in a single layer to firm up, then wrap each one individually in plastic wrap. Store them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to indulge, thaw them in the fridge overnight and enjoy!
3. Pro tip: If you’re stacking the brownies in a container, separate layers with parchment paper to keep the frosting from smudging.

FAQS

CAN I MAKE THE CHRISTMAS BROWNIE BITES AHEAD OF TIME?

Absolutely! These mini brownie bites are perfect for preparing in advance. You can bake and decorate them a day or two before your event, keeping them fresh and ready to impress.

HOW DO I PREVENT THE RED FROSTING FROM BLEEDING INTO THE WHITE FROSTING IN THE SANTA HAT BROWNIES?

Make sure the brownies are completely cooled before applying the red frosting. Additionally, store them in a single layer or separate layers with parchment paper to prevent any potential bleeding.

ARE THERE SOME DIFFERENT VERSIONS YOU CAN TRY OF THIS CHRISTMAS TREAT?

Yes, absolutely! You can decorate them with green icing and festive sprinkles to make Gluten-Free Brownie Christmas Trees.

close up view of santa hat christmas brownies with twinkle lights in background

CAN I DECORATE THESE SANTA HAT BROWNIES USING SOMETHING OTHER THAN BUTTERCREAM FROSTING?

You can actually make strawberry santa hat brownies with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Cut off the tops of the strawberries and add the tip of the strawberry upside down to the top of the brownie with whipped cream.

It works better by making these into round bite-sized treats by using a mini muffin tin. Strawberry santa hat brownie bites are a great alternative if you want less frosting.

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO THAW FROZEN HOMEMADE BROWNIES?

To thaw frozen brownies, simply leave them at room temperature for a few hours or overnight. For a quicker option, you can use the defrost setting on your microwave, but be cautious not to overheat them.

CAN I USE A BOX BROWNIE MIX TO SAVE TIME ON THESE SANTA HAT BROWNIES?

Yes. That time of year is always so busy, so to save yourself time you can absolutely used a boxed mix or store-bought brownie bites. I recommend a Betty Crocker box mix.

HOW LONG WILL THIS ADORABLE DESSERT STAY FRESH?

When stored properly in an airtight container, these brownies will stay fresh for up to a week at room temperature. If refrigerated or frozen, they can last even longer while maintaining their deliciousness.

This decadent brownie is perfect to make ahead of time for holiday gatherings or a Christmas party. They’re also the perfect last-minute treat if you can’t figure out what else to make.

Other Desserts You May Like To Try During The Holiday Season!

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Gluten-Free Santa Hat Brownies (Easy Christmas Recipe)

Indulge in festive sweetness with our Gluten-Free Santa Hat Brownies – a delightful blend of rich, fudgy brownies crowned with whimsical red frosting, resembling Santa's iconic hat. Perfect for gluten-sensitive treat lovers, these adorable brownies bring a taste of holiday magic in every chewy and gluten-free bite.

Prep Time25

Cook Time25

Total Time50

Course: Christmas

Cuisine: American

Servings: santa hats

Calories: 338kcal

Author: Bailey Campbell

Ingredients

FOR BROWNIES

½ cup unsalted butter
1 ¼ cups granulated white sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
¾ cup gluten free flour
¾ cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
¾ cup chocolate chips

FOR BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

1 cup unsalted butter
3 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp milk
Red food colouring

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
In a saucepan, melt the butter over low-medium heat. Add in sugar slowly and whisk continuously (this step is very important as it helps melt the sugar, which will give the brownies a the flakey crackly crust on the top).
Continue whisking for approx 1-2 minutes after all the sugar has dissolved.
Transfer the butter mixture over to a large bowl and let cool slightly. Add in eggs one at a time, whisking vigorously between each egg, then add the vanilla.
In a separate bowl, sift the cocoa powder, gluten free flour, baking powder and salt.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Transfer the brownie batter over to the prepared pan and top with chocolate chips, cacao nibs, or chopped nuts if you desire.
Bake for 25-30 minutes in preheated oven, ensuring you do not over bake.
Remove from the oven and cool for about 15 minutes. Cut in half then cut in alternating diagonals into triangle shapes, as in the photo shown above in this blog post.
Spoon the red icing into one zip lock bag or piping bag and the white icing into another.
Seal the bags and cut off a small corner with scissors.
Squeeze out the icing in a curvy zigzag as you fill the center with red icing. Finish the bottom and top off with white icing as pictured.
Enjoy your new favorite holiday sweet treat!

Nutrition

The nutrition information provided is calculated based on industry-standard software and should be used as a general guide only. The information may vary depending on ingredient substitutions, cooking techniques, and individual serving sizes. It is the responsibility of the reader to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of the nutritional information provided. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical or nutritional advice.

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One Comment

Jessica Moreau says:

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WOW! WOW wow. These are the BEST GLUTEN FREE BROWNIES. Simple and gooey. My pan was 8×8 so they are tall but so dare I say moist!! Go to for sure. I didn’t ice mine but melted some dairy free chocolate and green sprinkles. Thank you!

Santa Hat Brownies (Easy Gluten-Free Recipe)