Name: Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 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; 10 candy canes; 100 g unsalted butter; 200 g icing sugar; Green food colouring; Sprinkles; Sweets (e.g. M&M for star toppings)

There’s something magical about festive treats, and I think that’s exactly why I adore this Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe. They’re not just deliciously fudgy brownies – they bring that holiday sparkle with fun, colorful decorations that make any gathering feel extra special.

The image shows several triangular chocolate cake slices arranged on a white marbled surface. Each cake slice has one layer of dark brown chocolate cake topped with a thick, wavy layer of bright green frosting that looks smooth and creamy, piped diagonally across the top. Small colorful candy balls in pink, purple, blue, red, yellow, orange, and green are scattered on the frosting, creating a fun, festive look. Each slice has a small striped candy stick placed at the wide end, extending outward. Around the cake slices, there are loose colorful candy balls scattered on the white marbled surface, adding to the playful arrangement. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe is a festive twist on a classic that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. I love how it combines rich chocolatey goodness with playful decorations that make it perfect for holiday parties or gifting.

Easy to shape: Cutting the brownies into tree shapes adds a whimsical holiday flair without any complicated molds or cutters.
Decorating fun: Piping green buttercream and adding sprinkles means you can personalize these brownies just how you like.
Perfect texture: The brownies are fudgy but lightened with whipped eggs, giving you a melt-in-your-mouth experience every bite.
Great for gifting: Wrapped up nicely, these brownies make charming edible gifts that friends and family will adore.

The image shows a triangle-shaped chocolate brownie designed like a Christmas tree. The bottom layer is dark brown brownie with a rough texture. On top, there is a thick layer of green frosting piped in swirled lines resembling tree branches. Small round candy balls in bright colors like blue, pink, orange, purple, and yellow are placed on the frosting like ornaments. A yellow candy ball is at the tip of the triangle. A striped candy stick is inserted horizontally at the bottom, looking like the tree trunk. A woman's hand holds one brownie in the foreground, with more brownies visible on a white plate and white marbled surface in the background. Gingerbread cookies and festive lights are faintly visible in the blurry background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This recipe’s magic starts with simple, quality ingredients that bring out the best flavors and textures. Picking good chocolate and fresh eggs really makes a difference here, plus the combination of dark and milk chocolate brings lovely depth and gooey pockets.

Flat lay of unsalted butter in a small white ceramic bowl, dark chocolate squares stacked neatly, four whole brown eggs with clean shells arranged side by side, a small white bowl filled with caster sugar, a small white bowl holding plain flour, a small white bowl containing cocoa powder, a small pile of milk chocolate chips, a small pile of white chocolate chips, straight candy cane sticks with red and white stripes, a small white bowl filled with icing sugar, a small white bowl of vibrant green food colouring liquid, colorful round bauble sprinkles scattered loosely — placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted butter: Gives richness and helps the chocolate melt smoothly; unsalted lets you control the salt level better.
Dark chocolate: Provides the deep, intense flavor that gives brownies their signature richness.
Eggs: Whipped up with sugar, they create an airy base that keeps these brownies from being too dense.
Caster sugar: Dissolves easily and blends into the mix for consistent sweetness.
Plain flour: The backbone of the structure without making the brownies cakey.
Cocoa powder: Adds extra chocolatey punch and deep color.
Milk and white chocolate chips: Melt-in-the-bite surprises that make every mouthful interesting.
Candy canes: Perfect for the “trunk” of the tree, adding festive crunch and flavor.
Icing sugar & green food colouring: For the buttercream you’ll pipe on top — it turns the brownies into a little winter wonderland!
Sprinkles and sweets: The fun baubles that bring your Christmas Tree Brownies to life.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I like to shake things up depending on the season or mood. The beauty of this Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe is how easy it is to customize — whether you want to add extra nuts, swap out sprinkles, or make it dairy-free for guests.

Variation: I once added a handful of crushed peppermint candies inside the batter, and it gave a delightful minty surprise that complemented the chocolate wonderfully.
Gluten-free twist: You can swap plain flour for a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend; just watch the texture as it might bake a little differently.
Vegan modification: Use a dairy-free butter and replace eggs with flax eggs—though I recommend trying a small batch first to tweak texture.
Intensely chocolatey: For chocolate lovers, double up on the cocoa powder or switch out milk chocolate chips for chunks of extra dark chocolate.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe

Step 1: Prep and Melt the Chocolate

First things first: preheat your oven to 180C (160C fan) and line a 9-inch square baking tray with parchment paper. I always find getting the tray ready early saves last-minute scrambles. Then gently melt the unsalted butter and dark chocolate together—either over a bain-marie or a quick zap in the microwave (1-2 minutes should do). Make sure you let this cool to room temperature before mixing it in with the eggs, so you don’t scramble them!

Step 2: Whisk Eggs and Sugar to Fluffy Perfection

Using an electric whisk, beat the eggs and caster sugar until the mixture doubles in volume and turns pale, mousse-like, and thick. This takes a good 3-5 minutes. You’ll know you’re there when the whisk trails in the mix remain visible for a couple of seconds—this step traps air and lightens the brownies, so don’t rush it!

Step 3: Fold Chocolate into Egg Mixture

Slowly pour the cooled chocolate mix over the fluffy eggs and gently fold together. It’s worth being patient here—fold with care so you maintain that precious airiness but get everything combined.

Step 4: Add Dry Ingredients and Chocolate Chips

Sift the cocoa powder and plain flour on top, then fold again—still gentle! Finally, stir in the milk and white chocolate chips, which add those gooey pockets of sweetness through the brownies.

Step 5: Bake and Cool

Pour the batter into your lined tray and bake for 25-30 minutes. Resist the urge to open the oven too soon! Once done, let the brownies cool fully in the tray — this stops them from falling apart when you cut.

Step 6: Shape Your Trees and Decorate

Alone, brownies are already tempting, but here’s the fun part! I cut the tray in half, then slice each half into triangle shapes to mimic Christmas trees. Save the leftover offcuts—they’re perfect for snacking. Next, snap off the curved tops of candy canes and slot the straight end into the base of each brownie to serve as a trunk.

Step 7: Pipe the Green Buttercream and Add Ornaments

Cream the butter and icing sugar until fluffy, adding green food coloring to your preferred shade. I transfer this to a piping bag with a star nozzle and pipe zigzag lines over the trees. Then I sprinkle on some festive baubles, tiny sweets, and a yellow star on top—like an M&M—to finish the look. Honestly, decorating is as much fun as eating here.

Top Tip

I’ve made these brownies several times now, and a few little tips made a huge difference between “meh” and “wow” results.

Take your time whisking eggs and sugar: This is the key step that gives these brownies lift and stops them from being too dense and chewy.
Don’t fold aggressively: Gentle folding preserves air bubbles, giving a lighter texture.
Wait for the chocolate mixture to cool: Adding warm chocolate too soon can scramble your eggs, so patience pays off here.
Use parchment paper and don’t skip lining the pan: Makes removal of delicate brownies effortless.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe

Christmas Tree Brownies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

For garnishes, I like to stick with colorful sprinkles and tiny candy baubles. They add sweetness and festive flair without overwhelming the chocolate. A single yellow candy or a small star chocolate piece at the top completes that tree look perfectly.

Side Dishes

These brownies pair wonderfully with a simple cup of spiced hot chocolate or warming mulled wine when serving at holiday gatherings. For a brunch spread, some fresh berries and whipped cream balance their richness nicely.

Creative Ways to Present

I love arranging the brownies on a festive platter dusted lightly with icing sugar to mimic snow. Adding some pine sprigs, mini ornaments, or even placing them inside a clear gift box wrapped with ribbon makes these extra charming gifts or table centerpieces.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature, and they’ll stay fresh and fudgy for up to a week. This is great if you want to bake ahead for the holidays and avoid last-minute sugar rushes!

Freezing

I’ve frozen baked and cooled brownies (without decorations) by wrapping them well in cling film and foil. They freeze beautifully and thaw quickly; just add your buttercream and decorations fresh to keep that vibrant look.

Reheating

If you want warm brownies, a quick 10-15 second zap in the microwave perks them up nicely without drying them out. Just skip reheating if you plan to add buttercream on top, as it might melt.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make the brownies gluten-free?

Absolutely! Use a gluten-free baking flour blend in place of the plain flour. Keep in mind the texture might be slightly different, so test a small batch first.

What if I don’t have candy canes for the tree trunks?

You can substitute with pretzel sticks, thin cookie fingers, or even sturdy biscuit sticks. The main thing is to have something firm to hold the brownie "tree" upright.

How long do the Christmas Tree Brownies last?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, they typically last up to a week. The buttercream is fresh, so it’s best enjoyed within this time frame.

Can I make the buttercream in advance?

Yes! You can prepare the buttercream a day or two ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. Just bring it to room temperature and re-whip lightly before piping onto the brownies.

Final Thoughts

I genuinely look forward to baking this Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe every year—it fills the house with that cozy holiday smell and adds a cheerful touch to any celebration. I hope giving this a try brightens your season as much as it’s done for mine. Trust me, once you’ve shared these festive treats, it’ll be your go-to recipe for years to come!