There’s something truly magical about these festive treats that bring the smells and sights of the holidays right into your kitchen. This Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe isn’t just delicious; it’s a joyful craft project that turns classic brownies into charming Christmas trees, perfect for impressing family and friends during the season.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’ve made a lot of holiday treats in my time, but this Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe holds a special place because it’s festive, fun, and truly versatile. It’s a showstopper on any holiday table and a great way to involve kids or friends in decorating.
- Fun and Festive: The tree shape and colorful decorations turn ordinary brownies into a holiday centerpiece.
- Easy to Follow: Despite the fancy look, the recipe has straightforward steps that I’m confident you’ll nail.
- Customizable Decoration: You can get creative with icing, sprinkles, and candy to make each tree unique.
- Perfect Gift Idea: These brownies make delightful homemade gifts, wrapped up with a bow.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The ingredients in this Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe come together to create a rich, fudgy brownie base balanced with just the right sweetness and a smooth buttercream that’s perfect for decorating. Paying attention to quality chocolate here makes a big difference!
- Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted lets you control the salt level and enhances the chocolate flavor.
- Dark Chocolate: Provides depth and a rich cocoa kick—don't skimp here!
- Eggs: These help bind the brownie and create a lovely, mousse-like texture when whisked properly.
- Caster Sugar: Dissolves quickly and sweetens perfectly without a grainy texture.
- Plain Flour: The base structure to hold everything together without making brownies cakey.
- Cocoa Powder: Adds extra chocolate intensity; sift it to avoid lumps.
- Milk Chocolate Chips & White Chocolate Chips: These add delicious pockets of melty chocolaty goodness and contrast.
- Candy Canes: Not just for decoration—they add crunch and a festive peppermint touch.
- Icing Sugar: Smooth and sweet, crucial for the buttercream’s lovely texture.
- Green Food Colouring: Because what’s a Christmas tree without that classic green?
- Sprinkles & Sweets: The fun finishing touches for your tree to sparkle!
Make It Your Way
I love adding my own spin when making this Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe—it’s perfect for personalization! Whether you prefer a nutty crunch or a dairy-free version, there’s room to tweak and make it yours.
- Variation: Once, I swapped out milk chocolate chips for chopped pistachios and it added a delightful texture and a pop of green that matched the frosting—totally loved the surprise.
- Dairy-Free Option: You can use coconut oil instead of butter and dairy-free chocolate chips—just mind the texture and baking time.
- Extra Peppermint Twist: Crush some candy canes to sprinkle inside the batter for peppermint bursts throughout the brownie.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe
Step 1: Get everything ready and melt the chocolate
Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and line a 9-inch square baking tray with parchment paper. Melt the unsalted butter and dark chocolate together gently—either in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water or briefly in the microwave. I like the stovetop method because it gives me more control and less chance of burning the chocolate. Once melted, set it aside to cool to room temperature.
Step 2: Whisk eggs and sugar until fluffy
This is the secret to lightness! Use an electric whisk or stand mixer to beat the eggs and caster sugar until pale, mousse-like, and roughly doubled in volume. When you lift the whisk, it should leave a trail that slowly fades in a couple of seconds. This step takes patience but it’s worth it for those soft, airy brownies.
Step 3: Fold in the chocolate mixture carefully
Pour your cooled chocolate-butter mixture over the egg and sugar mousse and fold it together gently. Take your time; you want to keep as much air in the batter as possible. Folding too aggressively can flatten the mix and change the texture.
Step 4: Add dry ingredients and chocolate chips
Sift the cocoa powder and plain flour evenly over your mix, then fold again carefully. Finally, fold in the milk and white chocolate chips. This part is where the texture and pockets of gooey chocolate magic come from!
Step 5: Bake and cool
Pour the batter into your prepared tray and bake for 25-30 minutes, checking near the end. The brownies should look set around the edges but still slightly soft in the middle. Allow them to cool completely in the tin before cutting—this helps keep the shapes neat when you transform them into your Christmas trees.
Step 6: Shape and decorate your trees
Once cool, cut the brownies into tree shapes. I usually slice the tray in half, then cut each half into triangles like little pine trees, saving and snacking on any offcuts (because why not?). Insert candy cane sticks into the bases for a festive stand. Then, whip up your buttercream by creaming together unsalted butter and icing sugar, adding green food coloring until you hit that perfect hue. Pipe zigzags across the trees, add sprinkles, sweets, and don’t forget a little star at the top—an M&M works beautifully here. Plenty of joy in that simple finishing touch!
Top Tip
Throughout making these Christmas Tree Brownies, I’ve learned a few tips that make the experience smoother and the result even better. These are golden nuggets if you want your brownies to shine both in taste and presentation.
- Whisking Eggs Properly: Don’t rush this step; achieving the light mousse-like texture is key to fluffy brownies that still feel rich.
- Cooling the Chocolate: Make sure your chocolate and butter mix have cooled before folding in the eggs; otherwise, you risk cooking the eggs prematurely.
- Folding Gently: Use a spatula and fold slowly to keep the air in the batter, which keeps brownies tender and light.
- Cutting Clean Shapes: Chill your brownies if the buttercream starts to melt; it makes cutting triangular trees much easier and less crumbly.
How to Serve Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe
Garnishes
I like to keep it classic with colorful sprinkles and tiny candy baubles—ones that look like little Christmas tree ornaments. Sometimes I add edible glitter for extra sparkle. A bright M&M or a star-shaped candy makes the perfect tree topper, bringing the whole look to life.
Side Dishes
These brownies stand beautifully alongside a cup of eggnog or rich hot chocolate. For holiday parties, I serve them with a simple platter of mini marshmallows, roasted nuts, and fresh berries for a colorful contrast.
Creative Ways to Present
Try arranging your Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe on a large platter, nestled in a bed of pine branches or festive napkins for a rustic look. Another sweet idea is to present individual brownies in small clear boxes tied with ribbon—makes for memorable party favors!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store these brownies in an airtight container at room temperature, and they stay beautifully moist for up to a week. If the buttercream starts to soften in warmer weather, chilled storage works well and just bring them back to room temp before serving.
Freezing
Yes, you can freeze these brownies! I wrap each decorated tree individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the fridge to preserve the frosting best.
Reheating
Since these are brownies, they’re best served at room temperature or chilled—not heated. But if you prefer warmed brownies, try heating just a plain brownie piece for 10-15 seconds in the microwave and adding the frosting after reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions:
While store-bought mixes can be a quick fix, they usually don’t whip up the mousse-like egg and sugar base you need for these to have that light texture, so I recommend making from scratch for best results.
Use low heat, either melting your chocolate and butter over a pan of simmering water (double boiler) or microwave in short bursts of 20-30 seconds, stirring between each until smooth to avoid burning.
Absolutely! These brownies can be baked and cut a day or two in advance. Just hold off on frosting until right before serving for the freshest look.
Keep it simple by piping quick zigzags of green buttercream and sprinkling colorful sprinkles—no need for elaborate piping techniques for a festive look. Using pre-made fondant stars or candy tops can save time too!
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe has become a holiday tradition for me and my loved ones—a bite of these brownies feels like cozy winter evenings and laughter with friends. I encourage you to try it out, decorate with that joyful spirit, and make delicious memories of your own. Trust me, once you make these, they’ll be a cherished part of your Christmas celebrations for years to come.
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Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 10 brownies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Description
Delight in festive Christmas Tree Brownies featuring rich dark chocolate, a tender crumb, and a whimsical green buttercream decoration with candy cane sticks forming the tree trunks. Perfect as a holiday treat or gift, these brownies combine intense chocolate flavor with fun, colorful toppings.
Ingredients
Brownies
- 200 g unsalted butter
- 200 g dark chocolate
- 4 medium eggs
- 275 g caster sugar
- 100 g plain flour
- 50 g cocoa powder
- 100 g milk chocolate chips
- 100 g white chocolate chips
Decorations
- 10 candy canes
- 100 g unsalted butter
- 200 g icing sugar
- Green food colouring
- Sprinkles
- Sweets (such as M&Ms for star decoration)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 180C/160C Fan and line a 9-inch square baking tray with parchment paper to prepare for baking the brownies.
- Melt Chocolate and Butter: Melt the unsalted butter and dark chocolate together in a heatproof bowl over a pan of boiling water or use a microwave for 1-2 minutes until smooth. Set aside and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Whisk Eggs and Sugar: Using an electric whisk or stand mixer, whisk the eggs and caster sugar for several minutes until the mixture is pale, mousse-like, and has doubled in volume. The whisk trail should remain visible for a few seconds when lifted.
- Combine Chocolate Mixture: Gently fold the cooled chocolate and butter mixture into the egg and sugar mixture, taking care not to lose the air incorporated in the previous step.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Sift the cocoa powder and plain flour over the chocolate mixture and fold carefully to combine without knocking out air.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Fold through the milk and white chocolate chips evenly.
- Bake Brownies: Pour the batter into the prepared tray and bake in the oven for 30 minutes until just set. Allow the brownies to cool completely in the tin.
- Cut and Assemble Trees: Cut the cooled brownies in half, then slice each half into triangle shapes to resemble Christmas trees. Eat any offcuts. Insert candy cane sticks into the base of each brownie triangle to form the tree trunks.
- Prepare Buttercream: Cream together the unsalted butter and icing sugar until smooth. Add green food colouring to reach the desired vibrant green shade for decoration.
- Decorate Brownies: Transfer the green buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a 2D closed star tip. Pipe zigzag lines onto the brownies to resemble tree branches.
- Add Decorations: Sprinkle colorful bauble sprinkles and sweets over the buttercream. Top each brownie tree with a yellow star candy such as an M&M at the peak. Serve and enjoy your festive treats!
Notes
- The candy canes are used straight by snapping off the curved tops; leftover pieces can be repurposed in Christmas bark or other treats.
- Store the brownies in an airtight container for up to one week, making them perfect for gifting during the holidays.
- This recipe is adapted from a BBC Good Food original with personalized decoration and ingredient tweaks.
- Use good quality green food colouring for vibrant and consistent color in the buttercream.
- Recommended piping bag and star tip for decoration are a standard piping bag and a 2D closed star tip to achieve festive tree branches.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
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