Easy Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe – This delightful and incredibly simple recipe transforms a classic chocolate brownie into charming edible Christmas trees. Perfect for holiday gatherings, bake sales, or a fun festive activity with loved ones, these brownies are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Key Ingredients for Easy Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe:
- 1 ½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 6 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch-processed recommended for richer flavor)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 12 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces (optional, for extra chocolatey goodness)
- Green food coloring
- White frosting (store-bought or homemade buttercream)
- Assorted Christmas-themed sprinkles (like stars, nonpareils, jimmies, edible glitter, etc.)
- Optional: Red or white edible candy pearls for “ornaments”
How to Make Easy Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe:
This Easy Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe offers a delightful shortcut to holiday cheer, delivering incredibly fudgy and rich chocolate brownies that are surprisingly simple to whip up. The magic lies in its straightforward approach and the fun, festive decorating that turns each brownie into a miniature edible Christmas tree. With a preparation time of just 20 minutes and about 30 minutes of baking, you can have these festive treats ready for your holiday celebrations in no time.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy lifting.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and granulated sugar until well combined.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in tough brownies.
- Fold in Chocolate (Optional): If using, gently fold in the chopped chocolate pieces.
- Tint the Batter: Divide the brownie batter into two roughly equal portions. In one portion, stir in a few drops of green food coloring until you achieve a vibrant Christmas tree green. Leave the other portion plain chocolate.
- Layer the Batter: Spoon dollops of the green batter and the plain chocolate batter randomly over the prepared baking pan. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the two batters together, creating a marbled effect. Don’t over-swirl, as you want distinct colors.
- Bake the Brownies: Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached (not wet batter). Baking time will vary depending on your oven and the desired fudgy texture.
- Cool Completely: Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This is crucial for easy cutting and decorating.
- Cut into Trees: Once cooled, lift the brownies out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Place them on a cutting board. Using a small Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter, press down to cut out as many tree shapes as possible. You can re-press scraps to get more trees. Alternatively, cut them into rectangles and then trim them into tree shapes with a knife.
- Decorate Your Trees: Prepare your white frosting. You can use a piping bag with a small star tip for an authentic tree shape, or simply spread a thin layer of frosting on top of each brownie tree.
- Add Sprinkles: While the frosting is still wet, liberally decorate each brownie tree with your assorted Christmas sprinkles. Get creative with placement to mimic ornaments, garlands, and even a star on top! Add candy pearls for extra dimension.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe:
You’ll absolutely adore these Easy Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe because they bring a burst of festive fun and deliciousness to your holiday table without any fuss. The star of the show is undoubtedly the incredibly rich and fudgy chocolate brownie base, perfectly complemented by the whimsical green hue and the joy of personalized festive decoration. Imagine the delight on your guests’ faces, young and old, as they bite into these moist, chocolatey delights, each adorned like a miniature, edible Christmas masterpiece.
Beyond their delightful appearance and taste, these brownies offer significant cost savings compared to store-bought holiday treats. Making them from scratch means you control the ingredients and can leverage pantry staples, making them an economical yet impressive option for any celebration. Unlike elaborate gingerbread houses or complicated sugar cookies that require precise skill, these brownies are forgiving and incredibly simple to assemble, even for beginner bakers. They are the perfect blend of comforting familiarity and festive charm, offering a delightful alternative to traditional Christmas cookies and a magical way to spread holiday cheer. Don’t wait another moment – bake up a batch of this Easy Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe and spread some edible holiday magic!
Storing and Reheating Tips:
- Storage: Once cooled and decorated, store the Easy Christmas Tree BrowniesRecipe in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If the weather is warm or your kitchen is humid, it’s best to store them in the refrigerator to prevent the frosting from becoming too soft.
- Reheating: Brownies are best enjoyed at room temperature. If they have been refrigerated, allow them to sit out for about 30 minutes before serving. For a slightly warmer treat, you can very gently reheat individual brownies in a microwave on low power for 5-10 seconds. Be extremely careful not to overheat, as this can make them tough.
- Freezing: These brownies freeze exceptionally well. Once completely cooled and decorated, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
Final Thoughts:
This Easy Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe is a fantastically simple way to infuse your holiday with a touch of homemade magic and delightful chocolatey flavor. They’re incredibly adaptable and bring so much joy, making them a must-try for any festive occasion. Go ahead, embrace the holiday spirit and bake these charming trees for your loved ones!
Easy Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy lifting.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and granulated sugar until well combined.1 ½ cups unsalted butter, 3 cups granulated sugar
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract.6 large eggs, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ cups unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in tough brownies.
- If using, gently fold in the chopped chocolate pieces.12 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate
- Divide the brownie batter into two roughly equal portions. In one portion, stir in a few drops of green food coloring until you achieve a vibrant Christmas tree green. Leave the other portion plain chocolate.green food coloring
- Spoon dollops of the green batter and the plain chocolate batter randomly over the prepared baking pan. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the two batters together, creating a marbled effect. Don’t over-swirl, as you want distinct colors.
- Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached (not wet batter). Baking time will vary depending on your oven and the desired fudgy texture.
- Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This is crucial for easy cutting and decorating.
- Once cooled, lift the brownies out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Place them on a cutting board. Using a small Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter, press down to cut out as many tree shapes as possible. You can re-press scraps to get more trees. Alternatively, cut them into rectangles and then trim them into tree shapes with a knife.
- Prepare your white frosting. You can use a piping bag with a small star tip for an authentic tree shape, or simply spread a thin layer of frosting on top of each brownie tree.white frosting
- While the frosting is still wet, liberally decorate each brownie tree with your assorted Christmas sprinkles. Get creative with placement to mimic ornaments, garlands, and even a star on top! Add candy pearls for extra dimension.Assorted Christmas-themed sprinkles, Red or white edible candy pearls