Name: Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 box brownie mix (plus ingredients required on box: oil, eggs, water); 24 chocolate kisses; 2 cups heavy cream; 2 tablespoons powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons instant white chocolate pudding mix; Peppermint sticks, chopped; Mini marshmallows; Chocolate sauce

There’s something incredibly comforting about mini versions of classic desserts, and this Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites Recipe absolutely hits that cozy spot. Imagine a fudgy brownie base topped with melty chocolate and a cloud of creamy white chocolate whipped topping—it’s dessert happiness in every bite!

The image shows a close-up of a small chocolate cupcake with a rough textured dark brown base. On top of the cupcake is a smooth layer of chocolate filling, above which there is a swirl of white whipped cream. The whipped cream is decorated with crushed red and white peppermint candy pieces and dark brown chocolate sprinkles. A red and white striped candy stick leans against the whipped cream. The cupcake rests on a bright pink surface with scattered peppermint pieces and chocolate sprinkles around it. In the background, a blurred second cupcake is visible. 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 Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’m genuinely excited to share this Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites Recipe with you because it takes the humble boxed brownie and transforms it into something so special and festive. It’s perfect for parties, cold nights, or anytime you want a rich, chocolatey treat with a fun twist.

Quick and Easy: Using a boxed brownie mix keeps things simple, so you don’t need to be a baking expert to pull this off.
Fun Presentation: The mini muffin size makes these brownies adorable and perfect for sharing or snacking.
Delicious Texture Combo: Fudgy brownies, melting chocolate kisses, and rich whipped cream create a perfect balance.
Customizable Toppings: From peppermint sticks to mini marshmallows, you can get creative with garnishes to suit your mood.

The image shows several small, round chocolate brownie cups with a rich, dark brown texture as the base layer. Each cup is filled with a smooth, glossy layer of chocolate spread, topped with a swirl of white whipped cream. The whipped cream is sprinkled with small brown chocolate bits and crushed red and white candy cane pieces. A small whole candy cane is placed on top of the whipped cream in most cups. The brownie cups are placed on a bright pink surface, scattered with mini white marshmallows, broken candy cane pieces, and silver-wrapped chocolate kisses in the background. One brownie cup in front has a bite taken out, showing the dense, moist chocolate inside. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites Recipe plays a role in texture and flavor harmony. The boxed brownie mix gives you that fudgy, chocolatey base quickly, while the chocolate kisses add a melty surprise inside. The stabilized whipped cream is the magic touch that holds its shape and gives you a silky finish that’s anything but boring.

Flat lay of a simple white ceramic bowl of glossy chocolate kisses arranged neatly, a small white bowl filled with silky heavy cream, another white bowl containing fine powdered sugar, a separate white bowl holding smooth instant white chocolate pudding mix powder, fresh whole uncracked brown eggs with clean shells placed next to one small white bowl of clear water, a few colorful peppermint sticks with red and white stripes, a handful of soft mini marshmallows scattered gently near the bowls, and a small white bowl filled with thick chocolate sauce, all ingredients fresh and natural, perfectly balanced and symmetrical, placed 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

Boxed brownie mix: An easy shortcut that delivers consistent, fudgy brownies without fuss.
Chocolate kisses: These melt perfectly into the warm brownie, creating a gooey chocolate center.
Heavy cream: Whipping it cold helps create a light, fluffy topping that holds up well.
Powdered sugar: Sweetens the whipped cream smoothly without grittiness.
Instant white chocolate pudding mix: This stabilizes the whipped cream for pipe-friendly texture and adds subtle white chocolate flavor.
Peppermint sticks: Adds fun crunch and a refreshing twist—perfect if you want a holiday vibe.
Mini marshmallows: Classic cozy touch that pairs so well with chocolate.
Chocolate sauce: Optional extra drizzle that’s always a crowd-pleaser.

📝

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

One of the things I love most about this Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites Recipe is how easy it is to customize. Depending on your mood or the occasion, you can switch up toppings or mix-ins and make it truly your own.

Variation: I sometimes swap peppermint sticks for crushed toffee bits when I’m craving a little caramel crunch—and it’s always a hit!
Dairy-free option: Try coconut cream whipped with powdered sugar and pudding mix substitutes for a delicious dairy-free twist.
Seasonal spins: Around fall, I add a hint of pumpkin spice to the whipped cream for a cozy seasonal flavor.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites Recipe

Step 1: Prep your mini muffin pan and brownie batter

First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F. I always grease my 24-cup mini muffin pan generously with nonstick spray—this helps the brownies pop out easily later. Then, prepare your boxed brownie batter exactly as the package directs, so you get that perfect fudgy texture every time.

Step 2: Fill, bake, and add chocolate kisses

Fill each mini muffin cup about two-thirds full with the brownie batter. I find this is the sweet spot for getting those perfect little bites—you don’t want to overfill or they’ll overflow. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes until the edges are set but the center is still soft—this is key for that fudgy texture. Right after taking them out of the oven, press a chocolate kiss upside down into each brownie cup. The residual heat melts the chocolate just enough, making it gooey and delicious.

Step 3: Cool and pop out your brownie bites

Allow the brownie cups to cool completely in the pan—this usually takes about 20-30 minutes. Then, transfer them to a cooling rack. If you have trouble getting them out, a little help from a paring knife around the edges makes a big difference. Trust me, these little bites are worth the tiny bit of patience!

Step 4: Whip up the stabilized white chocolate cream

While your brownie bites are cooling, it’s time to whip that beautiful topping. Make sure your heavy cream is very cold—cold cream whips more quickly and holds better. Start whipping at high speed until it just begins to thicken, then add the powdered sugar. Continue to whip until soft peaks form, then add the instant white chocolate pudding mix and beat until stiff peaks are just formed. Be careful not to overmix—if it curdles, it won’t look or taste right. This stabilized cream keeps its shape beautifully, making piping a breeze.

Step 5: Pipe, garnish, and enjoy

Once your brownie bites are fully cooled, pipe the whipped cream onto each one. I love using a star tip for a pretty, swirled effect. Then get creative—top with mini marshmallows, crushed peppermint sticks, and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. These garnishes add texture and flavor layers that bring everything together.

Top Tip

After making this Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites Recipe multiple times, I learned a few key tricks that make the difference between just good and absolutely irresistible.

Don’t overbake: Keep an eye on baking time—edges should be set but centers still soft. This keeps the bites perfectly fudgy.
Use cold cream and bowl: For whipped cream, chilling your bowl and beaters plus using very cold heavy cream gives the best volume and stability.
Press kisses immediately: Adding chocolate kisses while the brownies are hot ensures delicious melty centers every time.
Pipe toppings with care: Use a piping bag to control the whipped cream application—it looks prettier and tastes more indulgent!

How to Serve Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites Recipe

hot chocolate brownie bites - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

Personally, I’m a sucker for the classic combo of mini marshmallows and crushed peppermint sticks on top. It adds such a wonderful festive crunch and sweetness. If I’m serving these during the holidays, I also drizzle a bit of rich chocolate sauce for extra decadence. Sprinkles work well too if you want a pop of color.

Side Dishes

While these are fantastic on their own, I like pairing Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites with a warm mug of cocoa or peppermint tea. If it’s a party, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or fresh berries on the side brightens things up and balances the richness.

Creative Ways to Present

For gatherings, I've served these Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites arranged beautifully on a tiered dessert stand, perfect for sharing. Another fun idea is to turn them into “hot chocolate spoons” by skewering a peppermint stick for dipping into warm milk—delivering dessert and drink at once!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge to keep the whipped cream fresh and the brownies moist. They usually last about 3 days, though truth be told, they rarely stick around that long!

Freezing

Freezing the brownie bites isn’t my favorite because the whipped cream can lose its texture after thawing. However, if you freeze them without the whipped cream topping, they thaw beautifully and you can add fresh whipped cream after reheating.

Reheating

To warm these brownies, I gently heat them in a microwave for about 10 seconds—just enough to soften the chocolate but not dry out the brownie. Then I add fresh whipped cream topping for that perfect finish.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use homemade brownies instead of a boxed mix?

Absolutely! If you prefer homemade brownies, just bake your batter slightly underdone in the mini muffin pan so the bites stay fudgy before adding the chocolate kisses.

What does the instant white chocolate pudding mix do in the whipped cream?

The instant pudding mix stabilizes the whipped cream, helping it hold its shape longer and adds a subtle white chocolate flavor that complements the brownie perfectly.

Can I make these Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites ahead of time?

Yes! You can bake the brownies and add the chocolate kisses a day ahead, then whip and pipe the cream just before serving to keep it fresh.

How do I prevent the whipped cream from curdling?

Make sure to stop beating as soon as stiff peaks form. Overmixing causes the cream to separate, so watch it closely especially after adding the instant pudding mix. Using cold cream and bowl helps too!

Final Thoughts

I truly love sharing this Hot Chocolate Brownie Bites Recipe because it captures that warm, indulgent feeling of hot cocoa in a bite-sized form—perfect for sharing or savoring solo. Give it a try and you’ll see how easily it turns everyday brownies into a special occasion treat. Trust me, once you make these, you’ll find all sorts of occasions to bake them again and again!