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Christmas Brownies
Christmas brownies are a fun and festive treat! Rich brownies are cut into triangles, topped with green icing, and decorated with plenty of holiday cheer.
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Christmas brownies are a festive treat, sure to bring a Christmassy feel to any gathering. Rich, fudgy brownies are cut into the shape of Christmas trees before being topped with green buttercream frosting and decorated with fun sprinkles. A fun and whimsical addition to the holidays, these adorable Christmas brownies will delight family and friends.
Looking for more cheery Christmas treats? Christmas Wreath Cookies, Strawberry Christmas Trees, and Christmas Cookie Bars are three more jolly recipes to add to your Christmas recipe box.
Christmas Brownies Ingredients
You will need:
Brownies
- 18.3 ounces brownie mix, prepared according to box directions
- 18 mini candy canes, hook removed (or 9 regular size candy canes, hook removed and
- broken in half)
Buttercream frosting
- ¼ cup salted sweet cream butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- ½ teaspoon clear vanilla flavoring
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 4 to 6 drops forest green food color, depending on how dark green you want
- 12 candy star decorations, optional decoration
- Multi-colored candy confetti, optional decoration
- nonpareils, optional decoration
Substitutions and Additions
STARS: If you cannot find the candy star decorations, you can use a large white or yellow nonpareil for the star on this holiday brownie.
FROSTING: You can substitute canned white frosting for buttercream for these easy Christmas tree brownies. Simply tint the frosting with the green food color.
SANDING SUGAR: Sprinkling a little bit of sanding sugar to give the appearance of snow would be gorgeous. Red and green decorator’s sugar is also very pretty on this festive treat.
BROWNIES: If you don’t want to use a box of brownie mix, you can replace it with your favorite homemade brownie recipe instead.
How to Make Christmas Brownies
Brownies
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch baking dish with a parchment paper “sling”. Spray the pan with baker’s spray (Baker’s Joy or generic version). Set it aside.
PRO TIP: Lining the pan with parchment paper will allow you to lift the entire rectangle of baked brownies out of the pan for easier cutting once cooled. You can also grease the pan instead if you would prefer.
STEP TWO: Prepare the brownie batter according to the box directions. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes away clean. Allow the brownies to cool completely.
PRO TIP: Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your brownies as the suggested baking time approaches.
STEP THREE: Once the brownies have cooled, lift the brownies out of the pan with the paper sling.
STEP FOUR: Slice three rows diagonally, then slice alternating diagonals to make triangles.
PRO TIP: The brownies must be completely cooled before slicing. Brownies will crumble if they are too warm when cut.
STEP FIVE: Insert the broken candy cane into the bottom of the tree for the tree trunk.
Buttercream Frosting
STEP SIX: Using a medium-sized mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high, beat the butter and vegetable shortening for 1 minute.
STEP SEVEN: Add the clear vanilla and almond extract and continue mixing until well incorporated.
STEP EIGHT: Lower the mixer speed to low, and add the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time, alternating with the heavy cream. Once all the powdered sugar and cream have been added, increase the mixer speed to high and mix until smooth.
STEP NINE: Add the green food coloring and continue mixing until the color is even and no green streaks remain.
STEP TEN: Fill either a decorator’s bag fitted with a star tip, or a Ziploc with a small corner snipped off.
Decorating The Trees
STEP ELEVEN: Starting at the top tip of the triangle, hold the decorator’s bag about a ¼ inch above the brownie. Using even, slow, steady pressure, squeeze the decorator’s bag in a zigzag pattern from the tip to the bottom of the brownie.
STEP TWELVE: Place a candy star at the top tip of the tree. Decorate the rest of the tree with candy confetti or nonpareils.
How to Serve Christmas Brownies
These cute Christmas tree brownies would make the perfect addition to any Christmas dessert table during the holiday season. Serve these rich Christmas brownies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side and topped with whipped cream for a decadent holiday treat. Don’t forget an ice-cold glass of creamy eggnog with a sprinkle of nutmeg and cinnamon on top to wash it all down.
Storage
ON THE COUNTER: Store any leftovers of these chocolate brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days.
IN THE FRIDGE: This delicious brownie recipe can also be stored in the refrigerator for 5 days.
IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze the un-decorated trees for up to 2 months. Allow the brownie trees to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before decorating.
Christmas brownies are a delectable treat ready to satisfy any sweet tooth. From their gooey, fudgy centers to their Christmas tree shape to their layer of mouth-watering green icing decorated with plenty of cheer, these festive Christmas brownies are truly divine. Christmas is a time for indulging in sweet treats, and these Christmas brownies are ready to deliver a taste of a winter wonderland.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I freeze these homemade brownies?
You can definitely freeze this easy recipe, but we do recommend waiting to decorate them until you are ready to serve. They can be kept in the freezer for up to three months.
Can I use store-bought frosting in place of the homemade one?
If you are looking for a quick shortcut for this simple recipe to save time, you can use store-bought frosting on top of these brownies and tint it with green food coloring.
Can I add chocolate chips or nuts to these rich brownies?
These festive Christmas tree brownies would be delicious with either chocolate chips or nuts mixed in.
MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
Christmas Brownies
Christmas brownies are a fun and festive treat! Rich brownies are cut into triangles, topped with green icing, and decorated with plenty of holiday cheer.
Ingredients
Brownies
- 18.3 ounces brownie mix prepared according to box directions
- 18 mini candy canes hook removed (or 9 regular size candy canes, hook removed and
- broken in half)
Buttercream frosting
- ¼ cup salted sweet cream butter softened
- 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- ½ teaspoon clear vanilla flavoring
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 4 to 6 drops forest green food color depending on how dark green you want
- 12 candy star decorations optional decoration
- Multi-colored candy confetti optional decoration
- nonpareils optional decoration
Instructions
Brownies
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch baking dish with a parchment paper “sling”. Spray the pan with baker’s spray (Baker’s Joy or generic version). Set it aside.
- Prepare the brownie batter according to the box directions. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes away clean. Allow the brownies to cool completely.
- Once the brownies have cooled, lift the brownies out of the pan with the paper sling.
- Slice three rows diagonally, then slice alternating diagonals to make triangles.
- Insert the broken candy cane into the bottom of the tree for the tree trunk.
Buttercream Frosting
- Using a medium-sized mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high, beat the butter and vegetable shortening for 1 minute.
- Add the clear vanilla and almond extract and continue mixing until well incorporated.
- Lower the mixer speed to low, and add the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time, alternating with the heavy cream. Once all the powdered sugar and cream have been added, increase the mixer speed to high and mix until smooth.
- Add the green food coloring and continue mixing until the color is even and no green streaks remain.
- Fill either a decorator's bag fitted with a star tip, or a Ziploc with a small corner snipped off.
Decorating The Trees
- Starting at the top tip of the triangle, hold the decorator’s bag about a ¼ inch above the brownie. Using even, slow, steady pressure, squeeze the decorator’s bag in a zigzag pattern from the tip to the bottom of the brownie.
- Place a candy star at the top tip of the tree. Decorate the rest of the tree with candy confetti or nonpareils.
Notes
Lining the pan with parchment paper will allow you to lift the entire rectangle of baked brownies out of the pan for easier cutting once cooled. You can also grease the pan instead if you would prefer.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your brownies as the suggested baking time approaches.
The brownies must be completely cooled before slicing. Brownies will crumble if they are too warm when cut.
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