Description
Celebrate the holidays with these festive Brownie Christmas Trees, a fun and delicious dessert perfect for gatherings. Made from rich, fudgy brownies colored with green frosting and decorated with sprinkles and candy cane stems, they bring a whimsical touch to your dessert table.
Ingredients
Scale
Brownie Base
- 1 (18oz.) box brownie mix (with ingredients called for on the back, usually oil, eggs, and water)
- 1 additional egg yolk
Frosting and Decorations
- 1 (16oz.) tub vanilla frosting
- Green food coloring (enough to tint frosting green)
- Sprinkles (assorted colors)
- Candy canes (mini size, cut to fit as tree stems)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to the temperature specified on the brownie mix box to ensure proper baking.
- Prepare Baking Pan: Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving extra edges hanging over sides for easy brownie removal later.
- Mix Brownie Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients required by the brownie mix plus 1 additional egg yolk. Mix gently until just combined to avoid overworking the batter.
- Bake the Brownies: Pour batter into prepared pan and bake according to the box instructions. Start checking a few minutes before the minimum suggested time to prevent overbaking and preserve fudginess.
- Cool the Brownies: Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before proceeding.
- Prepare Frosting: Combine the vanilla frosting with green food coloring, stirring well to achieve a vibrant green shade perfect for tree decoration.
- Remove and Trim Brownies: Lift the brownies out using parchment overhang and trim off the edges for a clean shape.
- Ensure Brownies are Cold: Only cut the brownies when they are fully cooled. If not fully cold, refrigerate until firm to prevent crumbling.
- Cut into Small Trees: For 18 small trees, slice brownies lengthwise into 3 strips, then cut each strip into 6 triangles by halving each square diagonally.
- Cut into Large Trees: For 8 large trees, cut the baked brownies in half down the middle, then cut each half into 4 triangles, trimming ends at an angle to create a neat zig-zag pattern.
- Decorate: Frost the brownie triangles with green icing, sprinkle festive decorations, and insert candy cane pieces at the base as the tree trunks to complete the look.
Notes
- Do not overmix brownie batter to keep it fudgy and moist.
- Check brownies early to avoid overbaking; fudgy brownies work best for this recipe.
- Use parchment paper overhang to help lift brownies from pan easily.
- Refrigerate brownies if they are not fully cooled before cutting to avoid breaking.
- Mini candy canes are perfect for tree stems; break them carefully to fit.
- Try different colored sprinkles to add extra festive flair.
