Elf Pies {Video}

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elf pies on a cooling rack

These Elf Pies are chewy bite-sized brownies topped with a light, fluffy frosting and crushed candy cane.  Designed for Santa’s elves, but well-loved by all.  Jump to the video here!

Like most busy parents, we’re always forgetting something.  More often than not, it’s something at the grocery store.  Because no matter how many grocery lists we create, we end up running back for just. one. thing.

I’m the eternal forgetter of milk.  Frank keeps saying we should never leave the grocery store without a gallon of milk.  So true, honey, so true.  If only I could live that logic.

If it’s not the milk, it’s where I left my cell phone charger.

Or the ingredients in that super tasty, super fast dinner I tossed together last week on a whim. (#foodbloggerproblems)

Or if I turned off the speaker in our kitchen that’s playing Christmas music on a continuous Pandora loop.

Or if I already had dessert.

sprinkling crushed candy canes on top of elf pies

Okay, that last one isn’t a problem, obvi.  I never turn down dessert.  Especially if it’s in the form of a two-bite chewy brownie topped with light, fluffy frosting and crushed candy canes.

These little desserts are headed straight for our fireplace on Christmas Eve.  Santa can have one or two, but we’re making them for the elves.  Molly and Clara wanted to be sure the elves got some love this year.

Santa gets all the glory.
Elf Pies on a cooling rack

If you’ve got a minute and a half, you can even watch us bake a whole batch of these little beauties on the video below!

Hopefully the elves don’t want milk with their dessert though…

My Master List of Christmas Cookies

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Elf Pies {Video}

Chewy chocolate brownies baked in a mini muffin tin and topped with a light, fluffy frosting and crushed candy cane. Designed for Santa's elves (but well-loved by everyone else!).
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Total: 42 minutes
Servings: 24 mini pies

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowls
  • Stand Mixer
  • Mini Muffin Tin
  • Cooling Rack

Ingredients 

For the Pie Base:

  • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • ¾ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • cups Unsalted Butter, softened
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 2 cups Sugar
  • 2 tsp Vanilla

For the Frosting:

  • 6 oz Cream Cheese, softened
  • 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar

For the Topping:

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray a mini muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Make the pie base: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and mix until just combined.
  • Add they dry ingredients to the mixer and mix on low just until evenly combined.
  • Roll dough into heaping 1 Tbsp balls and drop into the muffin tin.
  • Bake until the centers sink in the middle, about 12 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes in the muffin tin before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Make the frosting: Beat together the frosting ingredients (cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar) until light and fluffy. Transfer to a piping bag (or just do what I do and use a plastic bag with a corner cut out of it).
  • Top the pies: Top each pie with frosting and crushed candy canes.

Notes

Frozen rolled pie base balls can be frozen for up to 3 months. Baked chocolate pie bases will keep at room temperature for 3 days. If you want to make these in advance, you can bake the pies and make the frosting, but assemble them just before serving. Pie base adapted from these cookies.

Nutrition

Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 131mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 440IU | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
Calories: 242
Keyword: baking, Christmas, cookies, make with kids
Like this? Leave a comment below!Jump to Comments

In anticipation of elves and snow and the onset of true midwestern cold weather, Molly and Clara’s first heavy winter coats have arrived.  Though Molly keeps saying something about hers being too big…

Molly Winter Coat

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Chewy bite-sized brownies topped with a light, fluffy frosting and crushed candy cane. Designed for Santa's elves, but well-loved by all!
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About Jess Smith

Jess is the recipe creator and photographer at InquiringChef.com. She spent nearly a decade as the Chief Recipe Developer for the award-winning meal planning app Cook Smarts. Her colorful, healthyish recipes have been featured in popular online publications including Parade, Hallmark, and HuffPost.

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2 Comments

  1. These cute little pies look dangerous … I bet I’d have no trouble making a whole dozen disappear fast. 🙂

  2. Such a fun, festive video, and a scrumptious treat for those hardworking, very-deserving, little elves. : ) And that coat looks adorable on your little one…looks like the twins will be ready for winter!