These M&M brownies are the ultimate Christmas treat when I want something festive without a lot of fuss. Using a simple boxed brownie mix and colorful Christmas M&M’s, I create a tray of rich, chocolatey brownies in under an hour. Perfect for last-minute holiday baking or for making with kids, these M&M brownies are fun, easy, and full of holiday cheer!
Easy Brownies with Christmas M&Ms
My quick and easy holiday brownies are all about that perfect balance of fudgy chocolate and crunchy, colorful M&M’s on top. I like using a high-quality boxed mix like Ghirardelli for deep chocolate flavor, but any brownie mix works. To make these Christmas-themed brownies extra festive, I top them with extra Christmas M&M’s right after they come out of the oven. They’re perfect for school parties, cookie exchanges, or just cozying up at home with a cup of cocoa.
While this recipe uses a boxed mix for ease, you can also make these festive M&M brownies with homemade brownies for an extra-rich, fudgy base. Try my fudgy brownie recipe for scratch-made flavor!
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Keep Your M&M’s Bright and Festive
To prevent the colors from fading or bleeding while baking, press some M&M’s gently on top of the brownie batter right before putting the pan in the oven. Avoid stirring them in too early, and don’t cover them with batter. This keeps each candy looking vibrant and perfectly festive.
Christmas M&M Brownies Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 8×8 Baking Pan
Ingredients
- 18 ounces brownie mix (1 box), such as Ghirardelli*
- ¼ cup water
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- ⅔ cup Christmas M&M’s plus extra for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8×8-inch baking pan with nonstick spray; set aside.
- In a large bowl, prepare the brownie mix according to the package instructions.18 ounces brownie mix
- Stir in the M&M’s and pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Dot the top of the brownie batter with some of the extra M&M’s.⅔ cup Christmas M&M’s
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out dry or with moist crumbs.
- Remove from the oven and place the pan of brownies on a cooling rack.
- While the brownies are still warm, press a couple more M&M’s into the top of the brownies.
- Cool fully, then cut and serve.
Notes
- Using an 8×8-inch pan keeps these brownies thick and chewy. A 9×9 pan will make them thinner and bake faster.
- To prevent the color from bleeding out and the M&M’s from sinking, you can toss them in teaspoon or two of all-purpose flour before stirring them in. Don’t do this with the ones on top, though, or they won’t look as vibrant.
- For extra fudgy brownies, pull them out when a few moist crumbs still cling to the toothpick . If it’s completely clean, they may turn cakey.
- Make sure you’re letting your brownies cool before you slice into them.
- Add a coating of powdered sugar as a finishing touch if you want to make these brownies even sweeter.
- Use a plastic knife for easy slicing and perfectly clean-cut brownies.
- Cut into small squares and wrap in holiday cellophane bags for easy edible gifts or cookie exchanges.
How to Make M&M Brownies Step-by-Step
Prep: Gather up everything you need to make these M&M brownies. Preheat your oven to 350°F, spray an 8×8-inch baking pan with nonstick spray, and set it aside.
Prepare the Mix: In a large bowl, prepare 18 ounces (1 box) of brownie mix according to the package instructions. For the mix I used, that included ¼ cup water, ⅓ cup vegetable oil, and 1 large egg. Make sure to use the exact ingredients listed on your box, or the brownies won’t turn out right.
Add the M&M’s: Stir in ⅔ cup of Christmas M&M’s and pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan. To prevent the color from bleeding out and the M&M’s from sinking, you can toss them in teaspoon or two of all-purpose flour.
Bake the Brownies: Place a few more M&M’s gently on top of the batter, then bake your brownies in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out dry or with moist crumbs. Take care not to overbake the brownies, or they will turn out dry and cakey.
Serve the Brownies: Remove from the oven and place the pan of brownies on a cooling rack. While the brownies are still warm, press a couple more M&M’s into the top of the brownies. Cool fully, then cut and serve.
How to Store and Freeze
Store leftover Christmas M&M brownies in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature and add fresh M&M’s before serving for that just-baked look.
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