No Bake Christmas Brownies – Quick and Easy, Oven-Free Christmas Treat 🍫
When December gets busy, the last thing most people want to do is turn the oven on. Between gift wrapping, guests, and last-minute plans, baking can start to feel like a chore — even if you love desserts.
That’s where no bake Christmas brownies come in.
They’re rich, chocolatey, and festive, but they don’t require an oven, a mixer, or perfect timing. You melt, mix, chill, and slice. That’s it. Whether you’re making a quick dessert for guests or something sweet to keep in the fridge during the holidays, these brownies fit right in.
What Are No Bake Christmas Brownies?
No bake Christmas brownies are a chocolate-based dessert that delivers all the indulgence of traditional brownies — without baking.
Instead of flour and eggs, they rely on:
- Melted chocolate and butter
- Cocoa powder for depth
- Crushed biscuits for structure
Once pressed into a tin and chilled, the mixture sets into soft, sliceable squares that look and taste like brownies, but feel far less effort-heavy.
They’re especially popular during Christmas because:
- They’re fast to prepare
- They’re hard to mess up
- They work well for gifting and parties
- They can be made days in advance
In short: they’re ideal when time is limited but expectations are high.
Ingredients for No Bake Christmas Brownies
The ingredient list is short and flexible, which makes this recipe easy to adapt to what you already have at home.
Main Ingredients
- 200g dark chocolate
- 120g unsalted butter
- 150g crushed digestive biscuits or graham crackers
- 50g cocoa powder
- 80g powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
These ingredients create a brownie base that’s rich, smooth, and not overly sweet.
Festive Toppings & Mix-Ins
Optional, but recommended for Christmas:
- Crushed candy canes
- White chocolate drizzle
- Christmas sprinkles
- Mini marshmallows
- Chopped nuts
This is where the Christmas feel really comes through.
Aveline’s No Bake Christmas Brownies Video 👇
How to Make No Bake Christmas Brownies (Step-by-Step)
This recipe is simple, but a few small details make a big difference.
Step 1: Prepare the Tin
- Line an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) tin with parchment paper
- Leave a little overhang so you can lift the brownies out later
Step 2: Melt the Chocolate and Butter
- Melt chocolate and butter together gently
- Stir until completely smooth
- Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly
You want it warm, not hot.
Step 3: Build the Brownie Base
- Stir powdered sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt into the chocolate mixture
- Mix until thick and glossy
At this stage, it should already smell deeply chocolatey.
Step 4: Add the Biscuit Crumbs
- Fold in crushed biscuits
- Mix until everything is evenly coated
The mixture will be thick and slightly sticky — that’s exactly right.
Step 5: Press and Decorate
- Press the mixture firmly into the prepared tin
- Smooth the top with the back of a spoon
- Add festive toppings while still soft
Pressing firmly helps the brownies hold their shape once chilled.
Step 6: Chill Until Set
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours
- Slice once fully firm
For extra clean slices, warm your knife under hot water before cutting.
No Bake Christmas Brownies
Ingredients
Method
- Line an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) tin with parchment paper.
- Melt the dark chocolate and butter together until smooth.
- Stir in powdered sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and salt until fully combined.
- Fold in crushed biscuits until evenly coated and thick.
- Press the mixture firmly into the prepared tin, smoothing the top.
- Add festive toppings while the mixture is still soft.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until fully set.
- Slice into squares and serve.
Notes
Flavor Variations & Other Ways to Make No Bake Christmas Brownies
Once you’ve made these once, you’ll probably start experimenting.
Peppermint No Bake Christmas Brownies
- Add a small amount of peppermint extract
- Top with crushed candy canes
- Finish with white chocolate drizzle
Coconut Chocolate Christmas Brownies
- Stir desiccated coconut into the base
- Sprinkle extra on top
- A great option if you want something a little different
Nutty No Bake Christmas Brownies
- Add chopped walnuts or pecans
- Gives texture and a more “grown-up” flavour
White Chocolate Topped Brownies
- Melt white chocolate and drizzle over chilled brownies
- Let set before slicing
- Simple, but very effective visually.
Tips for No Bake Christmas Brownies
A few practical tips to avoid common mistakes.
Helpful Tips
- Crush biscuits finely for cleaner slices
- Press the mixture firmly into the tin
- Don’t skip the chill time
- Store chilled for best texture
No bake desserts rely on structure, not baking — pressing and chilling matter more than you might expect.
How to Store No Bake Christmas Brownies
These brownies store extremely well.
Storage Options
- Refrigerator: up to 7 days in an airtight container
- Freezer: up to 2–3 months, wrapped individually
They thaw quickly and keep their texture surprisingly well.
How to Serve No Bake Christmas Brownies
These brownies are versatile and easy to dress up.
Serving Ideas
- Serve straight from the fridge for neat slices
- Arrange on a Christmas dessert board
- Wrap in parchment and ribbon for gifts
- Pair with coffee or hot chocolate
They’re rich, so smaller squares usually work best.
More festive recipes 👇
No Bake Christmas Brownies FAQ
They’re different, but still deeply chocolatey and indulgent — closer to a fudgy brownie than a cake.
Usually not enough chilling time or the mixture wasn’t pressed firmly enough.
Yes. They’re actually better made a day in advance.
Yes — no oven makes them ideal for baking with children (with supervision during melting).