Name: Festive 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 the star)

There’s something magical about biting into a rich, chocolatey treat shaped like a tiny Christmas tree—fun, festive, and full of joy. This Festive Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe not only tastes incredible but also adds that perfect holiday sparkle to your dessert table. Trust me, once you make these, they’ll be your go-to Christmas baking tradition!

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 Festive Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I honestly love how playful and irresistible these Festive Christmas Tree Brownies are. It’s not just about the great taste; it’s the whole experience—from baking the luscious brownies to decorating each tree with colorful icing and sprinkles. It feels like creating edible holiday cheer with your own hands!

Festive Presentation: These brownies are cut and decorated to resemble Christmas trees, making them a charming holiday centerpiece and treat.
Soft and Fudgy Texture: The rich chocolate and delicate folding technique give you that perfect balance of fudgy yet tender brownies every time.
Fun and Kid-Friendly: Decorating with green buttercream, sprinkles, and candy pieces adds a festive flair that kids (and adults!) will love helping with.
Great Make-Ahead Gift: These brownies keep well in an airtight container, making them ideal for sharing with friends or bringing to parties.

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

Every ingredient in this Festive Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe plays its part to create that perfect fudgy bite and festive look. I find using good quality dark and milk chocolate makes a world of difference in flavor and texture. Let’s break down why each element is magic here.

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: Adds richness and smoothness to the brownies, helping that melt-in-your-mouth feel.
Dark chocolate: Provides deep chocolate flavor and that luscious fudgy core everyone craves.
Eggs: They give structure and help trap air when whisked, making the brownies delightfully light yet dense.
Caster sugar: Sweetens without overpowering and dissolves easily for smooth batter consistency.
Plain flour: Gives body without making the brownies cakey—essential for fudgy texture.
Cocoa powder: Boosts chocolate intensity and adds that classic brownie color.
Milk and white chocolate chips: Little pockets of sweetness and creaminess scattered throughout.
Candy canes: Used creatively as tree trunks and add a peppermint twist.
Icing sugar and unsalted butter (for buttercream): Combine to create the perfect smooth, sweet, and spreadable frosting.
Green food coloring: Brings the tree decorations to life with that iconic holiday green.
Sprinkles & sweets: Add whimsical “baubles” that make each brownie tree unique.

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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 love experimenting with different toppings when I make this Festive Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe myself. Sometimes I swap sprinkles for crushed peppermint candy or add a drizzle of white chocolate instead of piping a buttercream tree. Don’t be afraid to get creative and make it truly yours!

Variation: Once, I added a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg to the brownie batter for a cozy, spiced twist that matched perfectly with the holiday season.
Dairy-Free Option: Substitute the butter with coconut oil and use dairy-free chocolate chips—it still tastes fantastic!
Nutty Upgrade: I’ve tossed in chopped walnuts or pecans for extra crunch, which gives a lovely contrast to the fudgy texture.

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

Step 1: Melt your butter and chocolate patiently

Start by gently melting the unsalted butter and dark chocolate together—either over a pan of simmering water or carefully in the microwave in short bursts. It’s crucial not to rush this because overheating can cause chocolate to seize. Once melted, leave it to cool to room temperature; this keeps it from scrambling the eggs in the next step.

Step 2: Whisk eggs and sugar to fluffy perfection

This is the trickiest but most rewarding step. Use an electric mixer to whisk the eggs and caster sugar until pale, mousse-like, and doubled in volume. You’ll see those lovely waves left behind when you lift the whisk—that’s your sign the air is locked in to make your brownies light yet rich. Be patient here; rushing won’t give you that perfect texture.

Step 3: Fold, don’t mix, to keep that airy texture

Pour the cooled chocolate-butter mixture over the egg mixture and fold gently using a spatula. It might take a few minutes to combine fully, but the care you take now preserves all the air you just whisked in. Then sift in your cocoa and flour and fold again, being just as gentle. Finally, fold in your milk and white chocolate chips for those irresistible gooey pockets.

Step 4: Bake and cool before decorating

Pour your batter into a lined 9-inch square tin and bake at 180°C (160°C fan) for 25-30 minutes. You want the brownies set but still slightly soft in the middle. Let them cool completely in the tin—that makes cutting into perfect tree shapes way easier and neater.

Step 5: Create your Christmas tree masterpieces

Cut the cooled brownies in half, then make triangle shapes from each half to mimic Christmas trees. Save those yummy offcuts for snacking! Insert the straight part of candy canes at the base of each triangle as trunks. Next, whip up your green buttercream by creaming butter and icing sugar, then adding green food coloring until it’s just right. Pipe zigzag “branches” and decorate with sprinkles, candies, and a bright yellow “star” on top. Voilà—your festive beauties are ready!

Top Tip

From my experience making the Festive Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe year after year, a few simple tricks really make a difference and help avoid the common pitfalls.

Don’t Overmix: Always fold gently when combining ingredients to keep the air bubbles intact, which is key to fudgy but fluffy brownies.
Cool Completely Before Cutting: Warm brownies crumble and smear when cut, but let them cool fully to get perfect clean tree shapes.
Use Good Quality Chocolate: Since chocolate is the star, choosing a brand you love really lifts the whole brownie.
Stick Candy Canes Carefully: Gently push the candy cane trunks into the base of the brownies so they hold steady and don’t break off when handling.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe

Christmas Tree Brownies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love using colorful sprinkles and tiny candy baubles because they add that joyful sparkle and crunch. Sometimes I’ll add small edible gold stars or dust lightly with powdered sugar to mimic snow. Using an M&M or small candy for the star on top always gets compliments—it’s such a cute finishing touch.

Side Dishes

These brownies pair beautifully with a cup of hot cocoa or mulled wine to keep the holiday vibe going. If you’re serving a bigger spread, fresh fruit or a simple citrus salad balances out the richness wonderfully.

Creative Ways to Present

For gift-giving or parties, arranging the brownies on a platter with some sprigs of pine or holly around really makes the dessert pop. I’ve also wrapped them individually in cellophane tied with twine—looking festive and keeping them fresh. These little trees fit perfectly in a holiday-themed box if you want to give them as edible gifts.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover Festive Christmas Tree Brownies in an airtight container at room temperature, and they stay moist and delicious for up to a week—perfect for nibbling over several days or sharing with guests who drop by.

Freezing

These brownies freeze well if you want to prepare them early. I wrap individual tree brownies tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag. When you’re ready, thaw overnight in the fridge to keep their freshness and texture.

Reheating

If you like your brownies slightly warm, a quick zap in the microwave (about 10-15 seconds) is enough to bring out that gooey chocolate goodness without drying them out. Just remove any decorations before reheating to keep your frosting and sprinkles looking perfect.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use store-bought brownie mix for this recipe?

While you could, I recommend making the batter from scratch for the best texture and flavor, especially since the folding technique traps air for that perfect fudgy-yet-light bite.

How do I make sure my brownies don’t dry out?

Avoid overbaking and always check the brownies at around 25 minutes. The center should be soft but not wet. Cooling completely in the pan helps lock in moisture.

Can I decorate these brownies without using buttercream?

Absolutely! You can use melted chocolate for drizzling, or even store-bought frosting. Just make sure your decorations stick well and look festive—sprinkles on melted chocolate also look great.

What’s the best way to cut these into Christmas tree shapes?

Cut the cooled brownie slab in half, then cut each half into triangles. I like to cut a larger triangle from each half and enjoy nibbling on the offcuts while decorating—best snack ever!

Final Thoughts

This Festive Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe holds a special place in my holiday baking lineup because it blends the best of classic brownie indulgence with the fun and cheer of Christmas crafts. It’s such a joy to make and share—and, honestly, eating these chocolatey trees always brings a little extra sparkle to my season. I can’t wait for you to try them out and add your own twist to this festive favorite!