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.
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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.
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.
- 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.
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
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!
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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 fun with these Christmas Tree Brownies, featuring rich chocolatey layers decorated with vibrant green buttercream and colorful sprinkles. Perfect for holiday gatherings or as charming edible gifts, these brownies combine a moist cocoa base with creamy decorations and festive candy canes for an eye-catching treat.
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 (e.g. M&M for star toppings)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 180C/160C Fan and line a 9-inch square baking tray with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Melt chocolate mixture: Melt together the unsalted butter and dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of boiling water or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until melted. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Whisk eggs and sugar: Using an electric whisk or stand mixer, whisk the eggs and caster sugar for a few minutes until pale, mousse-like, and doubled in volume. It should leave a trail when the whisk is lifted.
- Combine chocolate with eggs: Pour the cooled chocolate and butter mixture over the whisked eggs and fold carefully without knocking out the air for a light texture.
- Add dry ingredients: Sift cocoa powder and plain flour on top of the chocolate mixture, and fold gently until fully combined but still airy.
- Fold in chocolate chips: Gently fold in the milk chocolate chips and white chocolate chips.
- Bake brownies: Pour batter into the prepared tin and bake for 30 minutes. Once baked, allow brownies to cool completely in the tin.
- Shape brownies: Cut the cooled brownies into tree shapes by halving the tray and slicing each half into triangles. Eat the offcuts as treat.
- Insert candy cane sticks: Carefully insert candy cane sticks into the base of each brownie tree to act as trunks.
- Make buttercream: Cream together unsalted butter and icing sugar until smooth. Add green food colouring to reach desired shade of green for decorating.
- Decorate brownies: Transfer green buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a 2D closed star tip and pipe zigzag lines on each brownie tree.
- Add festive toppings: Decorate with sprinkles, sweets, and place a yellow star-shaped sweet (like an M&M) at the top of each brownie tree.
- Enjoy and store: Serve immediately or keep in an airtight container for up to one week.
Notes
- Use the straight part of candy canes as sticks by snapping off the curved tops; leftover candy cane pieces can be used in other recipes like Christmas bark.
- These brownies keep well in an airtight container for 1 week, making them great for gifting.
- This recipe is adapted from a BBC Good Food brownie recipe with customized decorations.
- For best piping results, use a 2D closed star tip and sturdy piping bags.
- Adjust green food colouring intensity to achieve desired decorative color.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
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