If you are looking for a super cute Christmas dessert that the kids will not only love eating, but making too, then give these Strawberry Santa Hat Brownies a try. Just a few ingredients are needed to make these healthy Christmas brownies and then top them with yogurt and strawberries to make Santa hats. Perfect for a Christmas party.
About these Santa Hat Brownies
As soon as Halloween is gone, we start thinking about delicious festive treats. These strawberry Santas couldn't be any more perfect with their little Santa hats on.
A simple raw blended mix of almonds, dates, cocoa, honey and festive spices rolled into balls and then topped with yogurt and a strawberry Santa hat. Kids will LOVE making and eating these.
There are just 115 calories per mini Santa hat and they are packed full of natural ingredients. There is no cooking involved in there, as everything is just blended up and mixed together.
Are you are looking for some other ways to get kids involved in the kitchen this Christmas? Try our cute Oreo Reindeers, easy Chocolate Bark, festive Rice Krispie Treats, simple Christmas Popcorn or our delicious Cinnamon Flapjacks.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Almonds - These are what make these brownie bite Santa hats a protein packed and filling snack. You could swap them some another nut like cashews or peanuts. It needs to be something that blends well, so anything you would usually find as a nut butter. You could use a mixture too, or even use seeds.
- Cocoa powder - This is what gives the Santa brownies all the chocolatey flavour. We used unsweetened and try to use the best quality that you can, as you really will be able to taste the difference.
- Dates - To give it some natural sweetness, and also the stickiness, we used pitted dates. You could use raisins instead, but it doesn't have the same consistency, and tends to fall apart a bit more.
- Honey - To give it some extra sweetness, we added a good quality honey. You could swap it for maple syrup if you wanted to keep these vegan.
- Water - This loosens the mixture up a little to make it more mouldable. You only need a tiny bit though.
- Strawberries - This is what makes up more of the actual Santa hat. Try to use even sized strawberries so they all look the same.
- Yogurt - This makes the lining and the bobble of the hat. We used 0% Greek yogurt. You could use a plant based yogurt if you wanted to keep these vegan.
More ingredient substitutions and variations can be found in the recipe card.
How to Make Santa Hat Brownies - Step by Step
- Step 1: Blend the almonds until the are a fine flour texture. Add the cocoa powder and dates and blend until they are well chopped up.
- Step 2: Tip the mixture into a bowl with the honey and water.
- Step 3: Mix well.
- Step 4: Using your hands, make the mixture into 12 balls. Press the balls down a little to make a flatter top. Add a teaspoon of yogurt to each ball.
- Step 5: Add a strawberry and then a little more yogurt for the bobble of the hat.
Santa Brownie Flavours
The great thing about these strawberry Santa hats is how easy they are to adapt - you can add any of your favourite flavours to the brownie base.
Peppermint extract will give it a really festive flavour, or you could use orange extract as chocolate and orange go so well together.
We used a little bit of ginger to give these some festive flavour, but you could use a mix of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
Serving Suggestions
Looking for a nice warming drink to serve with these strawberry Santas? Why not try our Chai Tea Latte, Oat Milk Hot Chocolate, Cinnamon Coffee, Slow Cooker Mulled Wine or Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate?
Extra Tips
- We used almonds to make the base of these strawberry Santa hat brownies, but you could use a mixture of other nuts like cashews and walnuts.
- Make flavoured brownies by adding peppermint or orange extract or ground ginger when you add the water.
- These brownies will keep in the fridge for 2 days.
- To make these vegan, use maple syrup instead of honey and use a vegan yogurt.
- If you want to make these a little more indulgent then you could use whipped cream instead of yogurt, or even white chocolate ganache.
- You could just cut out circles of regular brownies if you didn't want to rather than raw brownies.
- You could put little marshmallows on top of the strawberry Santa hats.
Frequently Asked Questions
The brownies themselves would stay fresh in the fridge for about 5 days if you made extra of those (roll them into balls for little raw snack bars), but it is the yogurt that wouldn't say fresh as long.
If you have made up the full Santa hat brownies, then they will be good in the fridge for about 48 hours. We wouldn't recommend freezing these.
Yes, these are gluten free. Just be careful that there isn't any cross contamination.
More Christmas Desserts
If you’ve tried these Santa Claus Brownie Hats, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Strawberry Santa Hat Brownies
Ingredients
- 100 g (0.75 cups) Almonds
- 100 g (1.25 cups) Cocoa powder - unsweetened
- 150 g (1 cups) Pitted dates - finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 6 tablespoon Water - (maybe more if it is too dry)
- 12 Strawberries - (top sliced off)
- 12 teaspoon Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Blend 100 g Almonds until the are a fine flour texture. Add 100 g Cocoa powder and 150 g Pitted dates and blend until they are well chopped up.
- Tip the mixture into a bowl with 1 tablespoon Honey and 6 tablespoon Water.
- Mix well.
- Using your hands, make the mixture in to 12 balls. Press the balls down a little to make a flatter top. Divide 12 teaspoon Greek yogurt to the top of each ball.
- Add the 12 Strawberries and then divide 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt for the bobble of the hat.
Recipe Tips
- We used almonds to make the base of these strawberry Santa hat brownies, but you could use a mixture of other nuts like cashews and walnuts.
- Make flavoured brownies by adding peppermint or orange extract or ground ginger when you add the water.
- These brownies will keep in the fridge for 2 days.
- To make these vegan, use maple syrup instead of honey and use a vegan yogurt.
- If you want to make these a little more indulgent then you could use whipped cream instead of yogurt, or even white chocolate ganache.
- You could just cut out circles of regular brownies if you didn't want to rather than raw brownies.
- You could put little marshmallows on top of the strawberry Santa hats.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Mary says
I love that you have created a healthy version of these. I'm going to have a go at making them for the staffroom in the week before Christmas...Pinning now! :)
lucie says
how damned cute are these! love the strawberries on the top!
Angela says
WOO HOO!!! These are great :) When I first saw these ridiculously easy to make desserts last month, I just had to try them. I have since made 3 separate batches and still counting - they are SO good, everyone loves them. They look so cute, taste great and are good for you; ticks all the boxes. PS: I love Christmas too :)
Jackie says
Just to confirm that I'm interpreting this correctly, these are no-bake brownies, correct?
Jacqueline deloera says
Thank you So much for the recipe my kids are going to love this idea ♡
If possible more Holidays dessert recipes Thank you; )
Emma says
My little ones are going to be so happy. Thanks for the recipe.
Bonnie says
I am loving this idea. What I love even more is how easy they are to make.
Tori says
I am fairly new to your blog, but I am so happy that I found it. A few weeks ago I was fairly desperate and I was searching online for quick detoxes and I am sad to say it, diet pills. Then I went on Facebook and I saw a friend shared one of your recipes. I clicked on it and spent the next 2 hours reading your amazing story and reading your posts and recipes. I guess I just wanted to say thank you :)
Renne says
Healthy and chocolate? I like the sound of that.
Samantha says
I am so happy my friend pinned these. I am going to stay *mostly* on track this Christmas.
Jennifer says
Imagine if the tips of the strawberries were dipped in chocolate too! I know they wouldn't look so much like Santa hats, but they would be more chocolatey.
Holly says
We are putting the tree up this weekend (I gave in to the kids nagging) and this can be their treat, whilst mummy and daddy enjoy some mulled wine haha.
Hayley says
I am excited about Christmas! You are not alone!
Yyvonne says
What a cute idea. I might make some of these for our neighbour. She has lost over 100lbs and has some more to lose (her opinion, not mine) and I know she is worried with the holidays coming up.
Kelly says
I love your brownie bite recipe - they are my go to snack. Add extra protein and fruit and I am even happier. We don't really do Christmas (Bah-Humbug. I know). But I think I could be persuaded to make these.