Gingerbread Brownies Recipe (2024)

Tessa’s Recipe Rundown

Taste: The brownies have a mild chocolate flavor that, when paired with the spices & gingerbread, is just the best of both sweet worlds!
Texture: Chewy, fudgy, and rich. The cookies on top become softer as the baked brownies sit.
Ease: Very simple and easy, especially if you already have the gingerbread cookies baked.
Pros: Fun festive twist on classic brownies.
Cons: None!
Would I make this again? Definitely.

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These Gingerbread Brownies are the perfect thing to bake while you enjoy Christmas music!

Gingerbread Brownies Recipe (1)

Christmastime is truly my favorite time of year. The decor, music, gifts… but most of all the COOKIES!

If I had to pick between a cookie and a brownie … well, I’d pick both.

And that’s how this recipe came to exist!

Gingerbread Brownies Recipe (2)

I had tons of leftover Gingerbread cookies, and I was just going to freeze them – but then I thought I might be able to rework them into something even more delicious!

So these Gingerbread Brownies were created.

They’re super fun, adorable, and perfect for any Christmas party or potluck.

Gingerbread Brownies Recipe (3)

How to Make Gingerbread Brownies

Why Your Brownie Pan is SO Important

  • Whenever you bake any brownie recipe, I highly recommend using a light-colored metal baking pan – like my favorite pan here.
  • The darker the color, the more likely you are to have dry or even burnt edges.
  • Glass or ceramic baking pans will take LONGER to bake these brownies, and the center may not set properly.
  • Learn more about Glass vs. Metal Baking Pans in this post here.
  • I like to line my pan with parchment or foil, leaving an overhang so I can easily lift out the entire pan of brownies to cut and serve.

The Spices in Gingerbread Brownies

We are using cinnamon and ginger to enhance the gingerbread flavor in these gingerbread brownies. Check your spices to ensure they’re not expired. Even if they’re not expired, give them a sniff and make sure they’re still very aromatic. Older spices carry less flavor; fresh spices will carry a LOT more flavor. So, just be aware of that and adjust accordingly.

How to Make Fudgy Brownies

To ensure you don’t accidentally add too much flour or cocoa (which is very easy to accidentally do), I recommend using a digital kitchen scale. If you don’t have one, be sure to lightly spoon your flour and cocoa into your measuring cup so you don’t unintentionally compact too much into the measuring cup. Read more about how to measure your ingredients accurately here. If you accidentally add too much flour or cocoa powder, your brownies may be dry and cakey, instead of moist and fudgy.

What Type of Gingerbread Cookies Do I Need?

  • My homemade gingerbread cookie recipe is ultra soft and super simple, so I highly encourage you to give that a try, and use up the leftovers in this recipe!
  • Storbought gingerbread cookies should also work, though I haven’t tried this myself.
  • The baked gingerbread cookies get crumbled into the brownie batter and are also studded on top, for the cutest Christmas brownies ever.
  • I used this set of gingerbread men cookie cutters, which include a mini size – but you should be able to find the mini size at many hobby and kitchen supply stores (Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, Sur la Table, Walmart, etc).

Can I Double the Recipe?

Yes! To double this recipe, bake in a 9 by 13-inch metal baking panfor about 35 to 40 minutes.

Making Gingerbread Brownies Ahead of Time

You can bake and store the gingerbread brownies in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or up to 4 days in the fridge. The brownies are even fudgier when chilled! The cookies on top become softer as time passes after the brownies have been baked.

Gingerbread Brownies Recipe (4)

More Recipes You’ll Love:

  • Christmas Brownies
  • Gingerbread White Chocolate Blondies
  • Gingerbread Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Christmas Funfetti Sheet Cake
  • Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies

Be sure to check out my Christmas Headquarters page for more holiday baking recipes!

Gingerbread Brownies Recipe (5)

How to Make

Gingerbread Brownies

5 from 1 vote

Yield: 9 brownies

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

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Gingerbread Brownies feature a thick and fudgy spiced brownie, studded with crumbled gingerbread cookies, and topped with adorable mini gingerbread men for a perfectly festive Christmas dessert!

Ingredients

  • 10 tablespoons (142 grams) unsalted butter
  • 4 ounces (113 grams) semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (50 grams) light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup (95 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup (25 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 cup crumbled gingerbread cookies, plus more whole baked gingerbread men, for topping

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a light-colored metal 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.

  • In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate and butter. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each burst, until the mixture is melted and smooth. Add the sugars to the hot butter mixture and whisk vigorously until combined. Allow to cool until just barely warm.

  • Add in eggs, yolk, and vanilla extract and whisk for about 1 minute, or until very well combined. This helps create that shiny crust on top.

  • Use a rubber spatula to stir in flour, cocoa powder, salt, cinnamon, and ginger until just combined. Stir in the chopped gingerbread cookies.

  • Pour into prepared pan and smooth out. Arrange whole baked gingerbread men over the surface. Note: once you press a cookie into the batter it’s very difficult to move it without breaking it!

  • Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. If the gingerbread men begin to brown too much, cover with aluminum foil (though this wasn't an issue for me). Let cool completely before slicing and serving.

  • You can bake and store the brownies in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or up to 4 days in the fridge.

Show us!If you make this recipe, be sure to snap a picture and share it on Instagram with #handletheheat so we can all see!

This post was originally published in 2018 and has been updated with additional baking tips. Photos by Ashley McLaughlin.

Gingerbread Brownies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you use milk instead of water in brownie mix? ›

One change is to use milk or heavy cream instead of water. This change will make brownies more moist and gooey since milk is more fatty and flavorful than water. A second change is to use butter instead of oil. For similar reasons to using milk, butter adds a rich and more decadent quality to the batter.

What can I add to brownie mix to make them better? ›

Nuts and chocolate are a flavor combination made in heaven. In addition to scattering nuts on top of brownies, you can also add them directly to the batter, then bake as usual. Walnuts, pecans, almonds and peanuts all work beautifully. Just be sure to toast the nuts beforehand for extra depth.

What happens if you don't put enough flour in brownies? ›

What would happen to a brownie if you used less flour than you should have? - Quora. It depends on how much less. If we're talking half a cup less, they'll probably end up really sticky. If you don't use enough flour, they won't harden up at all.

Should you put milk in brownies? ›

Milk. Most brownie mixes call for water. While water does the job, you can add some extra flavor and moisture by mixing some of that water with something richer, like milk. If you want to swap it out completely, be prepared for a more chewy and fudge-like brownie from the extra fat.

What does adding an extra egg to brownie mix do? ›

They give brownies a lighter, drier, and more cake-like texture. If you prefer this over the chewy variety, then go ahead and crack in that additional egg. On the other hand, too many eggs will yield brownies that are hard, heavy, and tough.

What happens if you use butter instead of oil in brownies? ›

the butter brownies actually had a fudgier texture. they were softer, and they really just melted in your mouth. they also had that shiny crust and just better flavor, whereas the oil brownies were actually chewier.

Does letting brownie batter sit make it better? ›

Alice Medrich, author of Seriously Bitter Sweet: The Ultimate Dessert Maker's Guide to Chocolate, writes that “refrigerating the brownie batter in the pan for several hours, or as long as two days before baking, wreaks enormous transformations: it improves the top gloss and crustiness, and it also blends the flavors so ...

How much butter instead of oil in brownies? ›

It couldn't be easier to substitute butter for oil using a 1:1 ratio. This should work with olive, canola, vegetable, and coconut oils. Simply melt and cool the butter to room temperature, then continue with your recipe. (If the recipe calls for ½ cup oil, use ½ cup melted and cooled butter.)

How to pimp Betty Crocker brownie mix? ›

Mix in chopped walnuts, chopped pecans or sliced almonds for a crunchy texture and nutty flavor. Add chocolate or chopped candy bars. Think chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, chopped peanut butter cups. Bring on the mint.

Should you beat eggs before adding to brownie mix? ›

Cookbook author and food stylist Jerrelle Guy might have given away the secret: In an article for The Kitchn, Guy suggests the secret to a "glossy" and lifted brownie — like the ones you see in bakeries and restaurants — is to beat the eggs and the sugar together for 10 minutes before adding additional ingredients.

What happens if you use baking soda instead of baking powder in brownies? ›

If you accidentally add baking soda instead of baking powder to baked goods, they won't rise because there is not enough acid. To fix this, add about one tablespoon of white or apple cider vinegar for every half teaspoon of baking soda to the liquids before mixing with the dry ingredients.

Are brownies better with butter or oil? ›

In brownies, both butter and oil will offer a moist, tender texture, but only butter will give the dish the aeration needed for rising brownies well. If you use a cake brownie, butter is a better option because it helps rise the batter. For denser, fudge type brownies, oil is permissable.

Which oil is best for brownies? ›

Most brownie recipes call for some kind of oil — usually vegetable oil or canola oil. This oil acts as the primary fat in brownie batter, giving it that delicious, fudgy texture we all know and love.

Are brownies better with milk or water? ›

Brownie recipes traditionally call for water as it serves as a neutral liquid that hydrates the dry ingredients. However, using milk instead of water can impart a creamier texture and richer flavor to your brownies. The milk's fat content adds a smoothness that water cannot provide, resulting in a more indulgent treat.

What happens if you bake with milk instead of water? ›

Yes, you can substitute milk for water when preparing SuperMoist cake mixes, however, the cake may be slightly drier than if prepared with water. Also keep in mind that milk will add calories and change the nutrition slightly.

What happens if you substitute milk for water in a cake mix? ›

Baking tip #2: adding milk to your box cake mix in place of water adds a dense texture to your dessert leaving it moist and flavorful like a homemade cake. Or, if you prefer, you can add buttermilk, giving your cake a tangy flavor to balance out the sweetness.

What happens if I use milk instead of water in a cake? ›

Use milk instead of water

Most box cake recipes will tell you to add water to the mix. Instead, try adding milk using the same proportions. This will make the cake richer and creamier because it ups the fat content. You can even use buttermilk here for a pleasant tang.

Can milk replace eggs in brownies? ›

You can use 4 tablespoons of milk, ¼ cup of mashed banana or ¼ cup of unsweetened apple sauce in place of each egg required in a box brownie mix.

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