Elf Pies {Video}

No ratings yet

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 Time30

Cook Time12

Total Time42

Course: Dessert

Keyword: baking, Christmas, cookies, make with kids

Servings: mini pies

Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef

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
1¼ 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:

1/2 cup Crushed Candy Canes (I love pre-crushed candy canes, which are super handy) (I love pre-crushed candy canes, which are super handy)

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