Christmas Tree Brownies

These Christmas tree brownies are a simple and cheerful holiday dessert. Using a boxed brownie mix as a base makes them quick to prepare, leaving more time for the fun part: decorating.

The whole process, including cooling time, takes about two hours. They are a great bake to make with kids and add a festive touch to any holiday gathering or cookie exchange.

Why will you love Christmas Tree Brownies?

Using a brownie mix saves time and guarantees a fudgy, consistent base for your trees.

Briefly freezing the cooled brownies makes them firm, allowing you to cut clean, sharp triangles without them crumbling.

A zip-top bag with a snipped corner works just as well as a piping bag for creating the frosting garland effect.

Christmas Tree Brownies Ingredients

• Brownie Mix: Any standard-size (16-18 oz) fudgy brownie mix will work well for this recipe. Avoid cake-style mixes, which can be too crumbly.

• Vanilla Frosting: A can of store-bought vanilla frosting is convenient. You can also use a simple homemade buttercream if you prefer.

• Miniature Candy Canes: These create the perfect tree trunk. If you cannot find them, pretzel sticks are a good alternative.

• Food Coloring: For a deep green, use gel food coloring. It is more concentrated than liquid coloring, so you will need less.

• Sprinkles: Use any holiday-themed sprinkles you like. Nonpareils, jimmies, or small candy-coated chocolates all look great as ornaments.

Exact quantities are in the recipe card below.

How to Make Christmas Tree Brownies

Step 1: Bake and Cool the Brownies

First, prepare your brownie mix according to the package directions. Bake it in a parchment-lined 9-inch square pan. Once baked, it is important to let the brownies cool completely so they hold their shape when you cut them.

Step 2: Chill and Cut into Triangles

For the cleanest cuts, chill the cooled brownies in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Lift the brownie slab out of the pan and cut it into three even rows. Then, slice each row into five triangles to create your tree shapes.

Step 3: Decorate Your Trees

Now for the festive part. Insert a piece of a miniature candy cane into the bottom of each triangle for a trunk. Tint some vanilla frosting green, pipe it in a zigzag pattern over the brownies, and finish with holiday sprinkles.

What to Serve with Christmas Tree Brownies

These brownies are delicious on their own or served with a glass of cold milk. For an extra treat, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.

Helpful Tricks for Christmas Tree Brownies

Using parchment paper with an overhang is the easiest way to remove the brownies from the pan without breaking them.

Chilling the brownies before cutting is the key to getting sharp, clean triangles. Don’t skip this step.

If you don’t have miniature candy canes, small pretzel sticks also work well for the tree trunks.

Gel food coloring will provide a more vibrant green color than liquid food coloring drops.

How to Store and Freeze Christmas Tree Brownies

Store the brownies in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If your kitchen is warm, you can refrigerate them for up to 5 days. They can be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw at room temperature before serving.

Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe FAQs

Can I use a homemade brownie recipe?

Yes, you can. Any fudgy brownie recipe designed for a 9-inch square pan will work. We suggest avoiding cakey brownie recipes as they may be too crumbly to cut cleanly.

How do I get clean cuts for the triangles?

The key is to chill the brownies first. After they have cooled completely, place them in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. Use a large, sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts for the best results.

My candy canes keep breaking. Any tips?

Miniature candy canes can be delicate. Try to apply gentle, steady pressure to snap off the curved part. Scoring the candy cane first with a small, sharp knife can also help create a cleaner break.

Christmas Tree Brownies

Fudgy brownies are cut into triangles, decorated with green frosting and sprinkles, and finished with a candy cane trunk for a festive holiday treat.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 15

Ingredients

  

• 1 box brownie mix 16 to 18 oz / 450 to 510 g
• Water vegetable oil, and eggs, as called for on the brownie mix box
• ⅓ cup vanilla frosting 80 g
• Green food coloring
• 15 miniature candy canes
• Assorted holiday sprinkles

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides. Lightly grease the parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, prepare the brownie batter according to the package directions, using the water, oil, and eggs required.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and use a spatula to spread it into an even layer.
• Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted 2 inches from the side of the pan comes out with moist crumbs attached.
• Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, which will take about 1 hour. For cleaner cuts, place the cooled brownies in the freezer for 15 minutes.
• Use the parchment overhang to lift the brownie slab out of the pan. Place it on a cutting board and cut it into three long, even rows. Then, cut each row into five triangles.
• Gently break the curved part off each miniature candy cane. Insert the straight piece into the base of each brownie triangle to create a tree trunk.
• Place the vanilla frosting in a small bowl and add a few drops of green food coloring. Stir until the color is uniform.
• Transfer the green frosting to a small zip-top bag and snip off a tiny corner. Pipe a zigzag line across each brownie triangle to look like a garland.
• Immediately add holiday sprinkles on top of the frosting before it sets. Let the brownies sit for a few minutes for the frosting to firm up before serving.

Notes

Using parchment paper with an overhang is the easiest way to remove the brownies from the pan without breaking them.

Chilling the brownies before cutting is the key to getting sharp, clean triangles. Don't skip this step.

If you don't have miniature candy canes, small pretzel sticks also work well for the tree trunks.

Gel food coloring will provide a more vibrant green color than liquid food coloring drops.

Keyword brownies, Christmas, christmas tree brownies, dessert, holiday baking