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!
Jump to:
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.
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.
- 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.
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
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!
Print
Festive 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
Delicious Christmas Tree Brownies featuring rich dark chocolate brownies decorated with festive green buttercream, candy cane sticks, and colorful sprinkles for a perfect holiday 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 the star)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Tray: Preheat your oven to 180C/160C Fan and line a 9-inch square baking tray with parchment paper.
- Melt Butter and Chocolate: Melt together the 200 g unsalted butter and 200 g dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over boiling water or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until melted. Leave to cool to room temperature.
- Whisk Eggs and Sugar: Using an electric whisk or stand mixer, whisk 4 medium eggs and 275 g caster sugar for a few minutes until pale, mousse-like, and doubled in volume. The mixture should leave a trail when the whisk is lifted.
- Fold in Chocolate Mixture: Pour the cooled chocolate and butter mixture over the eggs and sugar and carefully fold together, preserving the airiness.
- Add Dry Ingredients and Chocolate Chips: Sift 50 g cocoa powder and 100 g plain flour over the batter and fold in gently. Then fold through 100 g milk chocolate chips and 100 g white chocolate chips.
- Bake the Brownies: Pour the batter into the prepared tray and bake for 30 minutes until just set. Remove and allow to cool completely in the tin.
- Cut and Insert Candy Canes: Once cooled, cut the brownies into Christmas tree shapes by halving the tray and then cutting triangles. Insert candy cane sticks into the base of each brownie tree.
- Prepare Buttercream: Cream 100 g unsalted butter with 200 g icing sugar until smooth. Add green food colouring until desired shade is reached.
- Decorate the Brownies: Transfer the green buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a star tip (e.g., 2D closed star tip). Pipe zigzag lines on each brownie. Add sprinkles, sweets, and place a yellow star ornament (such as an M&M) on top of each tree.
Notes
- Use regular candy canes and snap the tops off to use only the straight parts; candy cane offcuts are great for Christmas bark.
- Store brownies in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- This recipe is adapted from BBC Good Food with personalized decorations.
- Green food colouring can be adjusted to your preferred shade.
- Choose piping bags and tips that you are comfortable using for the buttercream decoration.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Leave a Reply