Get ready to spread some serious holiday cheer with this incredibly simple christmas tree brownies recipe! These festive treats are an absolute delight, turning ordinary brownies into adorable edible Christmas trees. With just a few easy steps, you can create a batch of delicious, eye-catching desserts perfect for any festive occasion. They’re a fantastic way to bring holiday magic to your kitchen without any stress.
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Tree Brownies
You’ll adore making these holiday treats for so many reasons! They simplify festive baking, perfect for busy parents and beginners.
- Effortless Preparation: This christmas tree brownies recipe uses a convenient boxed brownie mix, cutting down on time and ingredients. You can create impressive holiday treats without the fuss of baking from scratch.
- Picture-Perfect Appeal: Each brownie transforms into a mini Christmas tree, adorned with vibrant green icing and colorful sprinkles. They instantly add a festive touch to any dessert table.
- Endlessly Customizable: Get creative with your decorations! Experiment with various sprinkles, edible glitter, or even different icing colors to match your holiday theme.
- Party and Gifting Ready: These cute holiday tree brownies are ideal for holiday parties, school events, or thoughtful homemade gifts. They always bring smiles and joy.
- Travel-Friendly Treat: The vanilla icing hardens beautifully once set, making these brownies easy to transport. Share your festive creations worry-free.
Ingredients
Gather your simple ingredients to create these delightful holiday treats. This christmas tree brownies recipe relies on readily available items you can find at any grocery store.
For the Brownies:
- 1 box (standard 18.3 oz) brownie mix
- Ingredients called for on the brownie mix package (typically eggs, vegetable oil, and water)
For the Decoration:
- 1 tub (16 oz) white vanilla icing (store-bought works perfectly)
- Green food coloring (gel food coloring is recommended for vibrant color)
- Small round sprinkles (various colors, to represent ornaments)
- Small star sprinkles (yellow or gold, for the treetop)
- Candy canes (mini or standard size, for the tree trunks)
Notes & Substitutions
You have many options to customize this easy recipe to your liking.
- Brownie Mix: Feel free to use your favorite brand of brownie mix. For a completely homemade approach, prepare your preferred scratch brownie recipe and bake it in an 8×8 inch pan.
- Icing: Store-bought vanilla icing saves time and hardens well. If you prefer, a simple homemade vanilla buttercream can also be used. Ensure it’s thick enough to pipe.
- Food Coloring: Gel food coloring provides a deeper, richer green color without thinning your icing too much. Start with a few drops and add more until you achieve your desired festive shade.
- Sprinkles: Get creative with your sprinkle choices! Mini M&M’s, edible glitter, crushed peppermints, or silver dragees all make wonderful “ornaments.”
- Trunks: If candy canes are unavailable or you prefer not to use them, pretzel sticks or even small pieces of chocolate bars can make excellent tree trunks.
Equipment
You likely have most of these common kitchen tools already.
- 8×8 inch baking pan
- Aluminum foil
- Cooking spray
- Large mixing bowl
- Electric mixer (optional, for brownie mix)
- Sharp knife (a chef’s knife works best)
- Small bowl (for coloring icing)
- Spatula or spoon
- Ziploc bag (or a piping bag with a small round tip)
- Cooling rack
Instructions
Follow these simple steps to bring your christmas tree brownies recipe to life. This guide makes decorating fun and easy for everyone!
- Prepare Baking Pan: First, line your 8×8 inch baking pan with aluminum foil, ensuring it overhangs slightly on the sides. This creates “handles” for easy removal. Thoroughly spray the foil with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Bake Brownies: Next, prepare the brownie mix according to the specific package directions. Combine the necessary ingredients (usually eggs, oil, and water) in a large mixing bowl. Pour the batter evenly into your prepared pan and bake as specified on the box.
- Cool Completely: This step is crucial for perfect cuts. Allowing brownies to cool completely before cutting helps them solidify, leading to cleaner slices and better texture, as detailed by Food Republic. Properly cooling brownies for clean cuts can take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. Patience here prevents crumbling.
- Cut Brownie Trees: Once cooled, lift the brownies out of the pan using the foil “handles.” Place them on a cutting board. Trim off the very edges if desired for neatness. Cut the square brownie slab into three equal rows. Then, cut each row diagonally in alternating directions to form twelve individual triangle shapes, resembling Christmas trees. You will get two trees per square.
- Prepare Candy Cane Trunks: Unwrap your candy canes. Using a sharp knife, gently cut or break them into approximately 1.5-inch long pieces. These will form the adorable trunks of your brownie trees.
- Insert Trunks: Carefully press the sharper, straight end of each candy cane piece into the bottom, widest part of each brownie triangle. Don’t push too hard to avoid splitting the brownie.
- Color Icing: Spoon about half of the tub of white vanilla icing into a small bowl. Add a few drops of green gel food coloring. Stir well with a spoon or spatula until you achieve a vibrant, consistent green color. Add more coloring if you want a darker shade.
- Prepare Piping Bag: Spoon the colored green icing into a Ziploc bag. Push the icing down to one corner. Seal the bag securely, then snip a very small piece off the tip of that corner with sharp scissors. This creates a makeshift piping bag.
- Decorate Brownies: Hold the brownie by its base. Starting at the top point of a brownie triangle, gently squeeze the icing bag. Pipe a curvy, zigzag “garland” pattern down the length of the tree, creating the look of festive tinsel.
- Add Sprinkles: Immediately after piping each tree, sprinkle on your small round “ornament” sprinkles. Then, place a small star sprinkle at the very top of each brownie tree. The icing will still be wet enough for them to adhere.
- Set & Serve: Arrange the decorated brownies on a cooling rack or platter. Allow the icing to set and harden completely at room temperature, which can take a few hours or overnight. Once set, your delightful christmas tree brownies recipe is ready to enjoy or share!
Pro Tips for Perfect Christmas Tree Brownies
Achieve perfectly festive results with these helpful pointers.
- Fully Cooled Brownies: Ensure your brownies are completely cold before cutting. Warm brownies will crumble and be difficult to slice neatly into triangles.
- Warm, Clean Knife: For precise, clean cuts, dip your knife in warm water and wipe it clean between each slice. This prevents sticky edges.
- Adjust Green Intensity: Start with a small amount of green food coloring and gradually add more. You want a bright, festive green without over-coloring.
- Pipe Immediately: Once you color the icing, pipe it onto the brownies without delay. This prevents the icing from forming a crust and becoming harder to work with.
- Add Sprinkles Right Away: The icing needs to be wet for the sprinkles to stick properly. Decorate each tree with sprinkles immediately after piping the green “garland.”
- Flavor Exploration: Don’t limit yourself to just chocolate brownies. Consider using a blondie mix or even a red velvet mix for a unique twist on this charming christmas tree brownies recipe.
Serving, Storage, & Variations
These charming brownies are versatile for any holiday occasion.
Serving Suggestions
- Arrange your beautiful brownie trees on a large, festive platter for an impressive display.
- Individually wrap each brownie in clear cellophane bags with a ribbon for delightful holiday gifts or party favors.
- Serve them alongside a warm mug of hot cocoa or a glass of cold milk for a comforting treat.
Storage Instructions
- Store your decorated brownies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
- Ensure the icing has completely hardened before stacking or covering them. You can leave them uncovered overnight to help the icing set firmly.
- Avoid refrigerating, as it can dry out the brownies and cause the icing to weep.
Variations
- Topping Variations: Enhance your brownie trees with edible glitter for sparkle, mini M&M’s for colorful ornaments, or crushed peppermints for a refreshing minty crunch.
- Flavor Variations: Add a few drops of peppermint extract to your green icing for a festive mint-chocolate twist. Experiment with different brownie mixes like dark chocolate or even a fudgy peanut butter brownie for unique flavor profiles.
- Homemade vs. Boxed: If you love baking from scratch, feel free to use your favorite homemade brownie recipe and a delicious batch of homemade buttercream frosting. This gives you full control over ingredients and flavors.
Nutrition Information
Please note that these values are estimates based on a standard boxed brownie mix prepared with typical ingredients and decorated with store-bought vanilla icing and sprinkles. Actual nutritional content may vary depending on specific brands and modifications.
| Nutrient | Per Serving (1 brownie) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 280-320 kcal |
| Total Fat | 12-16g |
| Saturated Fat | 3-5g |
| Cholesterol | 20-30mg |
| Sodium | 180-220mg |
| Total Carbs | 40-45g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1-2g |
| Total Sugars | 28-35g |
| Protein | 2-3g |
FAQ
Got questions about making these adorable Christmas treats? We have answers!
- Can I make these brownies from scratch? Absolutely! Use your favorite homemade brownie recipe, baked in an 8×8 inch pan, and a homemade buttercream frosting.
- How do I get the perfect triangle shape? Cut the cooled brownie slab into three equal horizontal rows. Then, cut each row diagonally in alternating directions to form neat triangles.
- What if I don’t have candy canes? You can easily substitute pretzel sticks, chocolate bar pieces, or even small edible cookie sticks for the tree trunks.
- Can I use a different color icing? Of course! You can use white icing with silver sprinkles for a snowy look, or even red icing for a different festive theme.
- How long do Christmas tree brownies last? When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these brownies will stay fresh and delicious for 3-4 days.
- Can I freeze these brownies? Yes, you can freeze undecorated brownies for up to 3 months. Decorate them after thawing for the best results.
Conclusion
This easy christmas tree brownies recipe offers a delightful way to celebrate the holiday season. They are incredibly simple to make, yet their festive appearance will impress everyone. So gather your ingredients, follow these straightforward steps, and create a batch of these charming holiday treats. You’ll love sharing these fun and delicious brownie trees with family and friends all season long!
