Christmas in July Candy Cane Brownie Bites

Christmas in July Candy Cane Brownie Bites

Because July Deserves a Little Christmas Magic

Christmas in July is the best excuse to break out the peppermint and pretend it's cozy sweater season — even when it's 85 degrees outside. These brownie bites get topped with a cool, creamy candy cane frosting made from our Candy Cane Dessert Mix — fudgy chocolate on the bottom, fluffy peppermint cream on top. Festive, fun, and gone in minutes.

They're also the perfect thing to bring to a summer party when everyone else shows up with potato salad.

What You'll Need

  • 1 box brownie mix (plus eggs, oil, and water as directed)
  • 1 packet Candy Cane Dessert Mix (plus the cream cheese and Cool Whip listed on the packet)
  • Optional: crushed candy canes for topping
  • Optional: white chocolate chips for drizzle

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin well.
  2. Prepare your brownie mix according to package directions. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
  3. Bake for 16–18 minutes until set. A toothpick inserted near the edge should come out with just a few moist crumbs.
  4. Let the brownie bites cool completely in the pan, then remove. This step matters — the candy cane frosting is a cold, creamy topping and will melt if the brownies are still warm.
  5. While the brownies cool, prepare the Candy Cane Dessert Mix dip according to the packet instructions (typically blended with cream cheese and Cool Whip) to make a light, fluffy candy cane frosting.
  6. Once the bites are fully cooled, spread or pipe the candy cane frosting generously on top of each one.
  7. Optional: drizzle with melted white chocolate and finish with a pinch of crushed candy canes for full Christmas-in-July effect. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

The Candy Cane Frosting Is the Star

The Candy Cane Dessert Mix whips up into a cool, creamy, peppermint frosting — no baking required. Spooned or piped onto a fudgy brownie base, you get a fudgy chocolate bite and then a hit of minty cream on top. It's the kind of thing that makes people ask "wait, what's on these?"

Make It Your Own

  • Go full Christmas: Add red and green sprinkles over the frosting instead of candy canes.
  • Make it a layer bar: Bake the brownies in a greased 9x13 pan, cool completely, then spread the candy cane frosting over the top and cut into bars.
  • Add a chocolate drizzle: Melt dark chocolate chips and drizzle over the frosted bites for a peppermint patty vibe.
  • Serve chilled: Refrigerate the frosted bites for an hour before serving — the candy cane frosting firms up and stays cool. Perfect for a hot July day.

Make Ahead & Storage

Because the frosting is a cream-based topping, keep these refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You can bake the brownie bites a day ahead and frost them the day you serve — the frosting stays freshest that way. The unfrosted brownies also freeze beautifully, so make a batch and pull them out whenever the Christmas spirit strikes (which, at Wisconsin 26, is year-round).

Grab the Candy Cane Dessert Mix in store on 3rd Street or online at Wisconsin 26 Mercantile. It's also a great stocking stuffer — yes, even in July.

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