Penguin bronuts: fudgy chocolate brownie doughnuts decorated as adorable penguins. A fun, festive Christmas treat kids and adults will love this holiday season!
Penguin Bronuts
Okay… I thought my Rudolph shortbread was the cutest Christmas bake of the year, but these Penguin Bronuts might just take the crown! These adorable brownie doughnuts are guaranteed to be loved by both kids and adults this festive season. Imagine rich, fudgy brownies baked in fun doughnut shapes, then decorated as little penguins using milk chocolate, Milkybar buttons, edible eyes and Smarties. They’re perfect for Christmas baking, family gatherings, festive dessert tables, homemade gifts, or fun baking projects with kids.
Soft, chocolatey, indulgent and ridiculously cute, these Penguin Bronuts are the kind of holiday treats that make everyone smile, whether you’re gifting them, serving them at a party, or enjoying one with a cosy winter hot chocolate. A must-try festive bake!
Bronuts
A bronut is the ultimate mash-up of two beloved desserts: a brownie and a doughnut. The name comes from combining brownie + donut, and that’s exactly what it is, a rich, fudgy brownie baked in a doughnut mould. Unlike traditional doughnuts, bronuts aren’t fried; they’re baked, giving you the soft, gooey texture of a brownie with the fun shape of a doughnut.
Bronuts have become incredibly popular in festive baking and holiday treats because they’re easy to decorate, deliciously indulgent, and perfect for creating cute themed designs, like Christmas penguins! Whether topped with melted chocolate, glaze, sprinkles, or edible decorations, bronuts are a fun twist on classic brownies and make an eye-catching addition to any Christmas dessert table.
If you’re after a classic brownie recipe that’s super fudgy, easy to follow, and perfect for all your Christmas baking needs, make sure to check out my brownie recipe here. It’s simple, reliable, and makes the ideal base for festive baking ideas like bronuts, brownie bites, or decorated holiday treats!
Why You’ll Love These Penguin Bronuts
These festive brownie doughnuts tick every box for Christmas baking:
- Fudgy, chocolatey, rich brownie flavour in every bite.
- Fun and adorable penguin decoration– Great for kids and adults.
- Perfect for festive baking with family or friends.
- Easy, reliable recipe that creates neat doughnut shapes every time.
- A great homemade option for holiday treats, edible gifts, and Christmas parties.
If you love brownies and cute themed bakes, these are about to become your new holiday favourite.
Ingredients
- 200g dark chocolate- (70% cocoa or higher) Dark chocolate is the base of your brownie’s intense chocolate flavour. The high cocoa content adds richness and slight bitterness, balancing the sweetness of the sugar and white/milk chocolate add-ins. It also contributes to that gooey, fudgy texture when melted into the batter. (I have tried using milk chocolate before in the brownies and it creates a delicious brownie as well, so if you aren’t a huge dark chocolate lover feel free to use milk chocolate! However, dark chocolate in brownies isn’t bitter like you might think!
- 200g unsalted butter- Butter provides moisture, richness, and structure. It helps create a dense, fudgy brownie. Using unsalted butter gives you control over the salt content in the final bake. (I have seen that people have had success using baking spread in brownies, I personally haven’t tested it though).
- 280g caster sugar- Caster sugar sweetens the batter. It also contributes to the chewy texture by Caramelising slightly in the oven.
- 3 large eggs- Eggs act as a binding agent, helping hold the batter together. They add richness and moisture while also trapping air during mixing, which contributes to a fudgy centre. Room-temperature eggs incorporate more evenly and create a smoother batter.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract- Vanilla enhances the chocolate flavours and adds depth. It’s a small amount, but it rounds out the taste and makes the overall brownie more aromatic and well-balanced.
- 100g plain flour- Flour provides the structure in brownies. Using less flour keeps the brownies soft and fudgy instead of cakey. This lower flour-to-fat ratio is key to that rich texture.
- 50g cocoa powder- Cocoa powder boosts the intensity of chocolate flavour and gives the brownies a deeper colour. It also helps absorb some of the moisture to keep the texture dense without drying them out.
- 30g Golden Syrup- Golden syrup helps create a chewy, moist texture and adds a subtle caramel-like sweetness. It also helps keep the brownies soft for longer and adds shine to the top.
- ½ tsp salt- Salt is essential for balancing the sweetness and enhancing the flavour of chocolate. Just a small amount brings out the richness and prevents the brownies from tasting one-dimensional.
- Milk chocolate & white chocolate– for decorating your penguin faces. I used milk chocolate for the base and white chocolate milkybar buttons for the centre.
- Edible eyes & Smarties– to bring your penguins to life!
Tips & Tricks
- Use real butter but you can use baking spread if you’d like!
- Don’t over bake- slightly underdone = fudgier
- Mixing- When mixing your brownies, whisk the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Fold in the rest of your ingredients until just in cooperated. Over-mixing can affect your batter and affect the bake time.
- Melt the butter with chocolate for a silky brownie base.
- Re-fridgerate your brownies overnight or for a few hours. This is a MUST for the best fudgy brownies!
- Use good-quality chocolate for the richest flavour. Use high-quality chocolate bars instead of chips for the best melt and flavour. Remove your bronuts from the mould once fully set, if you remove them warm, they will break apart.
- Store in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze undecorated bronuts for up to 2 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bronut?
A bronut is a delicious combination of a brownie and a doughnut. It’s baked in a doughnut mould, giving you the fudgy texture of a brownie with the fun shape of a doughnut. Perfect for festive baking and creative dessert decorating!
Can I make these penguin bronuts ahead of time?
Yes! Penguin bronuts keep really well. Store them in an airtight container for 3–4 days, or refrigerate for up to a week. They’re a great make-ahead Christmas treat for parties and gatherings.
Can I freeze brownie doughnuts?
Absolutely. Freeze undecorated bronuts for up to 3 months. Just thaw at room temperature, then decorate your penguins once fully defrosted.
Do I need a doughnut mould to make bronuts?
For the signature doughnut shape, a mould is recommended. I recommend using a silicone mould for bronuts as they are easier to release from the mould.
Can I use milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate?
Yes, but be aware that milk chocolate makes the bronuts sweeter and slightly softer. Dark chocolate gives the best rich, fudgy texture.
Why do I need to chill the bronuts before decorating?
Chilling helps them firm up, making it easier to dip them into chocolate and decorate without crumbs or cracking. This step also gives them that classic dense, fudgy brownie texture.
Can kids help make penguin bronuts?
Definitely! This is a fun Christmas baking activity for kids. They can dip, decorate, place the eyes, add the beaks, and make each penguin unique.
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These Penguin Bronuts truly capture the magic of Christmas baking, fun, festive, chocolatey, and guaranteed to make everyone smile. Whether you’re preparing holiday treats for a Christmas party, baking with kids, or simply looking for a cosy winter dessert, these adorable brownie doughnuts tick every box. They’re easy to make, irresistibly fudgy, and so cute that they instantly become the star of any festive dessert table.
From the rich brownie base to the charming penguin decorations, this recipe brings together everything we love about festive baking, holiday treats, and creative Christmas desserts. If you’re looking for a bake that impresses without being complicated, these Penguin Bronuts are a must-try this season.
So pour yourself a hot chocolate, grab a bronut (or two!), and enjoy a little extra Christmas joy because baking should always be fun, cosy, and delicious. Happy holiday baking! x
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Penguin Bronuts
Ingredients
- 200g Dark Chocolate
- 200g Unsalted Butter
- 3 Eggs
- 280g Caster Sugar
- 100g Plain Flour
- 50g Cocoa Powder
- 30g Golden Syrup
- 1 Tsp Vanilla
- 200g Milk Chocolate (Decoration).
- 15 Milkybar Buttons (Decoration).
- 45 Orange Sweets
- 30 Edible Eyes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC/160ºC fan and grease 2–3 doughnut moulds (this recipe makes 12–15 bronuts). Place the prepared moulds on baking trays.
- Melt the dark chocolate and unsalted butter together in a microwave-safe bowl until smooth.
- In a separate bowl (a stand mixer or electric hand whisk works best), whisk the eggs and caster sugar for 8–10 minutes until the mixture has doubled in volume, is paler in colour, and has a mousse-like texture.Gently fold the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture.
- Add the plain flour, golden syrup, vanilla extract, and cocoa powder, and fold again until fully combined.
- Transfer the brownie batter into a large piping bag and pipe evenly into the prepared doughnut moulds.
- Bake for 16–18 minutes, then leave the bronuts to cool completely in the moulds. Once cooled, chill them in the fridge or freezer for about 3 hours to set.
- When set, remove the bronuts from the moulds. Melt the milk chocolate in a small microwaveable bowl. Dip each bronut into the milk chocolate and add a milkybar button into the middle of each bronut.
- Finish by decorating with edible eyes and Smarties to create the cute penguin faces. Enjoy!