There’s something incredibly festive and fun about turning classic brownies into a Brownie Christmas Tree Recipe that instantly brings holiday cheer to any gathering. The mix of fudgy brownies with creamy green frosting shaped like a Christmas tree not only tastes divine but makes dessert the star of your holiday table.

Three small, stacked chocolate cake towers each have three layers. Between and on top of the layers is smooth, bright green frosting shaped like Christmas tree branches. The frosting has red, white, and green round sprinkles, and a small yellow star sits on the very top of each tower. The cakes sit on a white napkin decorated with colored Christmas lights, all placed on a white marbled surface. Some small yellow star decorations are scattered around. In the background, there is green pine tree foliage. 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 Brownie Christmas Tree Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Brownie Christmas Tree Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Brownie Christmas Tree Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve always adored holiday baking, but this Brownie Christmas Tree Recipe quickly became a favorite because it’s simple, creative, and wow-worthy without a lot of fuss. Watching the layers come together and decorating those little trees feels like crafting edible holiday magic!

Fun & Festive Design: Transforming brownies into Christmas trees is a delightful way to impress guests visually and taste-wise.
Easy Customization: You can personalize your trees with various sprinkles, frosting shades, or even flavors.
No Fancy Equipment Needed: All you really need are cookie cutters and a piping bag – simple tools to create an elegant look.
Perfect for Parties & Gift-Giving: These brownies are just as great on your dessert table as they are tucked into holiday treat bags for friends and family.

The image shows three Christmas tree-shaped cupcakes placed on a white marbled surface with a colorful string light pattern underneath. Each cupcake has three layers of dark brown cake, stacked from largest to smallest from bottom to top. Between each cake layer is a thick swirl of bright green frosting that looks smooth and creamy. The top layer is decorated with the same green frosting shaped like a pointed tree top, sprinkled with small red, white, and green round sprinkles, and finished with a yellow star candy on the very top. Around the cupcakes, there are green pine branches adding a festive feel. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This recipe leans on a classic boxed brownie mix for ease, but what really makes it spectacular is the homemade green frosting and thoughtful decoration. Here’s how each ingredient earns its place:

Flat lay of a block of baked and cooled brownie with a rich chocolate texture, two whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl of golden vegetable oil, a small white bowl of clear water, a small white bowl filled with powdered white sugar, a stick of pale yellow softened butter, a small white bowl of creamy milk, a small white bowl of green frosting vividly colored, a small white bowl containing tiny colorful holiday sprinkles, and a small yellow star-shaped sugar decoration, all arranged in perfect symmetry on simple white ceramic dishes, 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

Brownie mix: Using a boxed mix saves you time but you get to add your personal flair with toppings and assembly.
Eggs, vegetable oil, and water: These are what bring your brownies together smoothly, giving you that fudgy texture you want.
Powdered sugar: The base for creamy frosting—makes it sweet and smooth with no graininess.
Butter (softened): Adds richness and creamy texture to your frosting.
Vanilla extract: Brings warmth and depth to the frosting flavor.
Milk: Adjusts frosting consistency perfectly, so it’s easy to pipe but holds its shape.
Green food coloring: Turns your frosting a beautiful pine green for that Christmas tree look.
Holiday sprinkles and yellow stars: These add festive charm and sparkle, making every tree unique.
Cookie cutters (3 sizes): Essential for cutting out stacked brownie layers that look just like mini Christmas trees.
Disposable piping bag with Wilton Star tip 1m: Perfect for creating the intricate swirls that resemble tree branches.

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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

One of the best things about this brownie Christmas tree recipe is how easy it is to make it suit your taste or occasion. I love switching up the sprinkles and sometimes adding a bit of peppermint extract into my frosting for an extra holiday kick.

Variation: One year, I made a chocolate ganache topping instead of frosting for a richer tree that my chocolate-loving crew absolutely adored.
Dietary twists: Try gluten-free brownie mix or use dairy-free butter to fit various dietary needs without losing that festive spirit.
Color creativity: You can make the frosting different shades of green or even add edible glitter for extra sparkle.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Brownie Christmas Tree Recipe

Step 1: Bake and Cool Your Brownies

Start by preparing the brownie mix as instructed on the box using eggs, oil, and water. Once baked, let them cool completely—this is key. You want them firm enough to cut neatly, but still moist and fudgy inside. Patience here really pays off!

Step 2: Whip Up Your Green Frosting

Mix powdered sugar, softened butter, and vanilla until creamy. Add milk one tablespoon at a time until you get that perfect piping consistency—not too runny, not too stiff. Stir in green food coloring until your frosting looks like Christmas pine trees.

Step 3: Cut Out Brownie Circles

Using the three round cookie cutters, gently cut out circles from your cooled brownies in small, medium, and large sizes. These are the “layers” of your Christmas tree. I find pressing lightly and rocking the cutter helps keep edges clean without crumbling.

Step 4: Pipe and Stack Your Tree

Fit your piping bag with the star tip and fill it with frosting. Starting with the largest brownie, pipe swirls of frosting generously on top. Stack the medium circle on top, pipe more frosting, then add the smallest circle. Finish with a star of frosting at the peak.

Step 5: Decorate with Sprinkles and Star Toppers

Add festive sprinkles all over the frosting—think tiny baubles on a tree. Last but not least, gently place a little yellow star at the very top to cap off your masterpiece. Repeat for all your brownie layers.

Top Tip

After making these brownies a few times, I realized a couple of tweaks really elevate the process and results. Here are my top tips:

Cool Completely: Don’t rush cutting or frosting before the brownies are fully cooled or you’ll end up with messy, crumbly circles.
Use Fresh Butter: Softened butter that's fresh ensures the frosting is smooth and pipes beautifully.
Gentle Cutting: Rock cookie cutters slightly and avoid pressing hard to get clean brownie layers.
Piping Consistency Check: If your frosting is too runny, it won’t hold shape; add a bit more powdered sugar. Too stiff? Add a drop of milk.

How to Serve Brownie Christmas Tree Recipe

Brownie Christmas Tree - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually stick with classic holiday sprinkles—tiny red and white balls, little snowflakes, and edible glitter for sparkle. The yellow star candies on top are non-negotiable; they make the trees look just like the real deal. If I’m feeling fancy, I toss on crushed peppermint for a minty surprise.

Side Dishes

These brownies shine as a dessert on their own, but I like serving them alongside a cup of hot cocoa or mulled wine for cozy holiday vibes. Fresh whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream works wonderfully too if you want to balance out the richness.

Creative Ways to Present

Once, I arranged these brownie trees on a mirrored platter sprinkled with powdered sugar “snow” and little red candy “presents” underneath for a winter wonderland effect. Wrapping each tree individually in cellophane tied with a festive ribbon makes a lovely gift idea too!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Because of the frosting, I store leftover brownie trees in an airtight container in the fridge. They keep wonderfully for up to 4 days. Just bring them to room temperature before serving for best texture and flavor.

Freezing

I’ve frozen fully assembled brownie trees wrapped gently in plastic wrap and placed in an airtight container. Thaw overnight in the fridge to avoid sogginess. The frosting texture changes a bit but they’re still delicious and festive!

Reheating

Reheating isn't usually needed since these are best served at room temp or chilled. If you want warm brownies, remove the frosting carefully and warm the brownie layers briefly—then reassemble and add fresh frosting or decorate before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use homemade brownies instead of box mix?

Absolutely! Homemade brownies work beautifully here and add your personal touch. Just make sure they’re fully cooled and firm enough to cut cleanly for best results.

What’s the best way to get the frosting consistency right?

Start with the butter and powdered sugar well creamed together, then add milk by tablespoon increments. You want the frosting thick enough to hold its shape when piped but soft enough to squeeze easily through your bag tip. Adjust as needed until you find the perfect balance.

Can I prepare the trees ahead of time?

Yes, you can bake and cut the brownies a day ahead, then assemble and decorate on the day you want to serve. This keeps the frosting fresh and your trees looking their best.

What if I don’t have star cookie cutters?

No worries! You can use any round cookie cutters or even cut the brownies by hand with a sharp knife. Arrange the cutouts stacked from largest to smallest to mimic a tree shape and pipe the frosting carefully to create the branch effect.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this Brownie Christmas Tree Recipe is one of those simple delights that makes holiday baking so enjoyable. It’s approachable, festive, and delicious—perfect for creating joyful moments with family or surprising your friends. Give it a try and I’m sure you’ll find yourself looking forward to making these charming trees every year!