Frosted Christmas Brownie Trees Recipe

If you’re looking for a fun, festive treat to wow your holiday guests or bring some extra cheer to your family dessert table, I promise you’ll love this Frosted Christmas Brownie Trees Recipe. It combines fudgy brownies with colorful frosting and sparkly edible decorations that make these brownies look like Christmas trees right out of a winter wonderland. I’ve made these for several holiday parties and trust me, they’re a hit every time—kids, adults, and even those who say they’re “not into sweets” get drawn in! Stick with me, and I’ll share all the tips to make your Frosted Christmas Brownie Trees just perfect.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

I’ve kept this recipe approachable by leaning on classic brownie mix and store-bought frosting, but the results feel truly special. You can always use homemade brownies or frostings if you want to elevate it even more. The key is picking ingredients that balance rich chocolate with bright, colorful frosting and festive sprinkles.

• Brownie Mix: I usually grab two boxes to get thick slabs for cutting—I love that fudgy texture, but one box works if you want thinner brownies.
• White Frosting: Choose a creamy vanilla buttercream or classic white frosting; you’ll be dividing and coloring this throughout the recipe.
• Edible Gel Food Coloring: Gel colors give you vibrant shades without thinning the frosting, but I sometimes use natural coloring for a cleaner ingredient list.
• Edible Gold Stars: These add a magical, sparkly finishing touch that makes the brownie trees look extra festive.
• White Pearl Sprinkles: They mimic snow and add pretty texture—my kids always try to snag more of these!
• Icing Bags and Frosting Tips: A large star tip like Wilton 1M works beautifully for piping the “branches” of these Christmas tree brownies with flair.

Variations

Part of what makes the Frosted Christmas Brownie Trees Recipe so fun is how you can get creative with flavors and decorations. I like to tweak it occasionally for dietary needs or just to mix things up depending on who’s coming to dessert.

• Gluten-Free Variation: I’ve swapped out the brownie mix for my favorite gluten-free brand with great results. Just watch baking times since they tend to differ slightly.
• Homemade Brownies: Once, I tried making thick, fudgy homemade brownies instead of box mix—totally doable and super indulgent but expect a longer prep time.
• Natural Coloring: I sometimes use beet juice and spinach powder for red and green frosting colors if I want to avoid artificial dyes, which gives a lovely, subtle hue.
• Extra Toppings: Adding crushed candy canes or chopped nuts on top gives a fun twist and more texture that my family loves.

How to Make Frosted Christmas Brownie Trees Recipe

Step 1: Baking the Perfect Brownie Base

Preheat your oven as instructed on your brownie box. I spray a 9-inch springform pan with oil—it’s perfect because the removable sides make cutting and transferring the brownies easier. Mix your two boxes of brownie mix thoroughly, pour into the pan, and bake. Since I use a double batch for thicker brownies, I often add 10-15 minutes to the baking time—just keep testing by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean or with just a few crumbs clinging.

Step 2: Cooling and Cutting into Trees

Once baked, let the brownie cool completely—this is crucial because warm brownies will make frosting melt and slide off. When cool, carefully release the springform sides and transfer the brownie slab to a cutting board. Cut evenly into 8 triangles. These will become your Christmas trees, so aim for nice even shapes for uniform decorating.

Step 3: Coloring and Preparing Your Frostings

In small bowls, mix some white frosting with red gel coloring until you get a bright red shade you love. Repeat with green gel coloring for a festive green frosting. Leave some frosting plain white for extra accents. Using gel coloring is a game changer—it keeps your frosting thick and pipeable. Load each colored frosting into its own piping bag fitted with a large star tip for easy decorating.

Step 4: Decorating Your Frosted Christmas Brownie Trees

Now the fun part! Use the green frosting with your star tip to pipe “branches” all over each brownie triangle, creating that classic tree silhouette. Dot white pearl sprinkles over the green frosting to mimic snow gently sitting on the branches. Add an edible gold star at the top of each tree as your magical finishing touch. For extra flair, you can use the red and white frosting to decorate some brownies like Santa hats or candy canes.

Arrange your decorated brownie trees on a festive platter and watch guests’ faces light up!

How to Serve Frosted Christmas Brownie Trees Recipe

Garnishes

White pearl sprinkles and edible gold stars are my go-to garnishes because they add texture and sparkle without overpowering the look or taste. Sometimes, I toss on tiny red sugar beads for “ornaments,” which add cute pops of color and a little crunch for fun.

Side Dishes

I usually serve these alongside a cup of hot cocoa or rich eggnog. If I’m hosting, I also love pairing them with a light fruit salad to balance the richness of the brownies and frosting.

Creative Ways to Present

Around the holidays, I like to arrange these brownie trees upright in a shallow decorative box lined with parchment, almost like a mini forest. Some folks even stack a few triangles slightly offset to give a 3D tree look—which you can image is a real showstopper at parties!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have any leftovers — and I say “if” loosely because these brownies disappear fast — store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. The frosting holds up well and brownies stay moist but firm.

Freezing

I’ve frozen leftover uncut brownie slabs before baking and then decorated after thawing, which worked great. You can also freeze decorated brownies, but I recommend wrapping each piece individually in plastic wrap and storing in a freezer-safe container to protect the frosting. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

Reheating

If you want the fudgy brownie warm, zap it briefly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds—but avoid heating too long or the frosting will melt. I prefer enjoying these at room temperature to keep the frosting intact.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Frosted Christmas Brownie Trees Recipe has become one of my go-to holiday desserts because it’s easy, looks incredible, and tastes like a little festive joy in every bite. When I first made it, I was nervous about frosting the brownies evenly, but with a bit of practice and the right tips, it turned out magical. I love how the colorful frosting and sparkly toppings make these brownies almost too pretty to eat—almost! So whether you’re making them for a family gathering, a party, or just to brighten up a winter day, I hope you enjoy making and sharing these delightful fudgey treats as much as I do. Give it a try—you’ll have fun, and your holiday guests will thank you for it!

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