Nothing quite captures the spirit of the holidays like festive, chocolatey treats, and my Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars Recipe does just that. These bars are a rich, magical mix of chewy brownies topped with layers of coconut, gooey condensed milk, and colorful holiday candies. Trust me, once you bake them, they’ll be a new holiday tradition in your kitchen.

A close-up view of three thick square brownie pieces stacked vertically with the bottom piece on a wooden board. Each brownie has a dense dark brown base layer with a smooth texture and a top layer filled with small green, red, and brown candy-coated chocolate pieces embedded in a white, slightly crumbly layer. Around the brownies, scattered green and red candy pieces add vibrant color. The background is softly blurred, emphasizing the rich texture and colorful toppings of the brownies. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars Recipe stands out because it combines textures and flavors in such a playful way—chewy chocolate brownie meets creamy coconut and crunchy candy. I love how it feels like unwrapping a gift with every bite. Plus, it’s surprisingly easy to pull together, making it perfect for holiday parties or a cozy night in.

Layered Flavors: Each bite delivers fudgy brownies, sweet coconut, rich condensed milk, and holiday M&Ms for festive crunch.
Simple Prep: You don’t need fancy skills or equipment — I promise it’s beginner-friendly but still feels special.
Customizable: You can swap in your favorite nuts or candies to make these bars your own signature treat.
Grab & Go: They hold up well for gifting or holiday get-togethers where people want something sweet they can eat with their hands.

Ingredients & Why They Work

The ingredients in this Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars Recipe create the perfect holiday treat because each adds a unique note — rich chocolate, creamy sweetness, and festive crunch that’s hard to resist. When shopping, look for quality semi-sweet chocolate chips and fresh flaked coconut to get the best results.

Flat lay of semi-sweet chocolate chips in a small white ceramic bowl, a stick of salted butter unwrapped and whole, granulated sugar in a small white ceramic bowl, two large brown eggs with clean shells, one large egg yolk in a small white ceramic bowl, all-purpose flour in a small white ceramic bowl, a small white ceramic bowl with vanilla extract, a small white ceramic bowl with mixed chopped nuts, mini holiday M&Ms scattered neatly on the surface, regular holiday M&Ms in a small white ceramic bowl, sweetened flaked coconut piled in a small white ceramic bowl, sweetened condensed milk in a small white ceramic bowl, colorful holiday sprinkles in a small white ceramic bowl, all ingredients arranged with perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Melts smoothly for a rich fudgy base and adds chocolate bursts on top.
Salted butter: Adds richness and balances the sweetness perfectly.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the brownies while helping with texture.
Large eggs and yolk: Make the brownies tender and chewy with the right structure.
All-purpose flour: The base that holds everything together with a nice crumb.
Vanilla extract: Lifts all the flavors and adds warmth.
Nuts (optional): Add crunch and nutty flavor. I like pecans or walnuts.
Mini and regular holiday M&Ms: Bring pops of color and candy sweetness.
Sweetened flaked coconut: Adds tropical sweetness and chewy texture.
Sweetened condensed milk: Melts across the top layer, making everything luscious and gooey.
Holiday sprinkles: For that final festive sparkle that makes these bars feel extra special.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love that this Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars Recipe is so flexible—you can easily switch nuts, skip the M&Ms for a less sweet version, or even add a sprinkle of sea salt on top for a little contrast. It’s your creation, so have fun with it!

Nut-Free Variation: When I made these for some friends with allergies, simply leaving out nuts still gave a fantastic texture and flavor without missing a beat.
Spice It Up: Adding a pinch of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice into the batter gives a cozy holiday twist I really enjoy during colder evenings.
Extra Chocolate: Double up on chocolate chips on top—because who says no to more chocolate during the holidays?
Gluten-Free Version: I once swapped all-purpose flour for a gluten-free blend with great results, just ensure the flour mix is one-for-one substitution.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars Recipe

The image shows a close-up view of square dessert bars arranged in a grid. Each square has three layers: a dark brown bottom layer that looks like a dense brownie, a middle layer of white cream or frosting, and a top layer decorated with red and green candy-coated chocolates, small green and red round sprinkles, dark brown chocolate chunks, and tiny white snowflake-shaped sprinkles. The candies and sprinkles are spread unevenly on the white top layer, creating a colorful and festive look. The dessert squares rest on a dark wooden surface shown between the gaps. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Melt and Mix the Chocolate Base

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a 9-inch baking pan with foil or parchment—sprayed with nonstick spray so nothing sticks. Then, melt 1½ cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips with half a cup of salted butter in the microwave. I do 30-second bursts, stirring in between, until smooth and shiny. This little pampering of the chocolate ensures your brownies turn out extra glossy and fudgy.

Step 2: Add Sugar, Eggs, and Flour

Beat the sugar into the melted chocolate mixture, then add the vanilla, two large eggs, and one egg yolk. The extra yolk here is my secret for that chewy, moist bite we all love in brownies. Finally, gently fold in one cup of flour until just combined—don’t overmix, or the brownies might get cakey.

Step 3: Bake the Brownie Layer

Pour your batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes. The edges should start to set and the top will jiggle slightly—kind of like a perfectly set cheesecake. This jiggle means the middle will finish cooking later with the toppings, so don’t overbake now!

Step 4: Layer the Festive Toppings

Here’s where the magic happens: sprinkle ¾ cup of nuts (I’m partial to chopped pecans), half of the remaining chocolate chips, and half of the mini holiday M&Ms on top of the warm brownies. Next, spread one cup of sweetened flaked coconut evenly over everything. The coconut adds such a beautiful texture and flavor contrast.

Step 5: Pour the Sweetened Condensed Milk & Final Touches

Pour ¾ cup of sweetened condensed milk gently over the coconut—you want to spread it so it covers evenly but doesn’t flood the bars. Then sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips, M&Ms, and a generous ¼ cup of holiday sprinkles for that festive sparkle. This layer is what transforms simple brownies into holiday magic.

Step 6: Final Bake and Cool

Bake the whole pan for another 25 minutes or until the edges turn golden and the center sets and starts browning. If the top starts getting too dark too quickly, tent loosely with foil to protect it. Once baked, cool completely before slicing with a sharp knife for clean bars that hold together beautifully.

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned a few things that make or break my Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars Recipe, and sharing these with you will help you nail it on the first try!

Melting Chocolate Carefully: Microwave in short intervals to avoid scorching—it makes the batter silky and smooth.
Don’t Overmix: Stir flour in just until incorporated to keep brownies fudgy and tender.
Watch the Second Bake: Keep an eye on those sprinkles and nuts during the final bake—tent with foil if they brown too fast.
Cooling is Key: Let bars cool completely before cutting so the layers set and the bars don’t crumble.

How to Serve Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars Recipe

Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

For me, extra color and flavor come from a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of melted white chocolate on top right before serving. Sometimes, I add fresh cranberries or a sprig of mint beside the plates to make it feel festive and fresh.

Side Dishes

This Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars Recipe pairs wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. I’ve also served it alongside warm mulled cider or a cup of rich coffee to balance all that sweet goodness.

Creative Ways to Present

At parties, I like to stack these bars in a festive dish lined with seasonal napkins, then sprinkle extra holiday M&Ms and sprinkles around the platter. They also make fantastic edible gifts wrapped in cellophane tied with a ribbon—everyone loves getting these little treasures!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. They stay moist and flavorful, and honestly, I rarely have leftovers because they get devoured so quickly!

Freezing

These bars freeze really well—just wrap individual squares in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. When you’re ready, thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours, and they taste just as fresh as when you baked them.

Reheating

If you prefer warm brownies, pop them in a microwave for 15-20 seconds—just enough to soften the condensed milk topping without melting the candies completely. It’s like having fresh-from-the-oven magic all over again.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make these Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars ahead of time?

Absolutely! These bars keep well for up to a week stored in an airtight container at room temperature. You can also freeze them for longer storage and thaw before serving.

What can I substitute for nuts if I have allergies?

You can simply omit the nuts or replace them with seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds for added crunch, or even extra coconut flakes if you prefer.

How do I prevent the top from burning during the second bake?

If the brownies’ edges or toppings begin to brown too much before the center is set, tent the pan loosely with foil. This shields the top while allowing the inside to finish baking.

Can I use different types of candy besides M&Ms?

Definitely! Feel free to swap in your favorite holiday candies like crushed peppermint, chocolate chips, or festive jelly beans to make these bars your own.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Dessert Brownie Bars Recipe is a personal favorite because it brings all the festive flavors and textures together in one unforgettable treat. I’ve baked these for family gatherings, neighbor gifts, and holiday potlucks, and every time they disappear fast. Give this recipe a try—you’ll love how easy it is to create something that feels so special and joyful. Happy baking and happy holidays!