Description
Delight in festive cheer with these Christmas Tree Brownies, rich and fudgy chocolate brownies decorated with vibrant green buttercream, sprinkles, and candy cane 'tree trunks'. Perfect for holiday celebrations and gifting, these brownies combine a luscious dark chocolate base with fun seasonal decorations.
Ingredients
Scale
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 star topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare tin: Preheat your oven to 180C (160C Fan) and line a 9-inch square baking tray with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Melt butter and chocolate: In a heatproof bowl, melt together the 200 g unsalted butter and 200 g dark chocolate over a pan of boiling water or in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes until smooth. Set aside 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 together until pale, mousse-like, and doubled in volume. The mixture will trail off the whisk for a couple seconds to indicate readiness.
- Combine chocolate mixture: Fold the cooled melted butter and chocolate mixture gently into the egg and sugar mixture, being careful not to lose the airiness.
- Add dry ingredients: Sift 50 g cocoa powder and 100 g plain flour over the mixture, then carefully fold until fully combined without overmixing.
- Fold in chocolate chips: Incorporate 100 g milk chocolate chips and 100 g white chocolate chips evenly throughout the batter.
- Bake the brownies: Pour the batter into the prepared baking tray and bake in the oven for 30 minutes until just set. Allow the brownies to cool completely in the tin before handling.
- Cut into tree shapes: Once cool, cut the brownies in half, then cut each half into triangle tree shapes. Save and enjoy the offcuts immediately.
- Attach candy cane sticks: Carefully insert the straight parts of 10 candy canes into the base of each brownie tree to act as trunks.
- Prepare green buttercream: Cream together 100 g unsalted butter and 200 g icing sugar until smooth. Add green food colouring gradually until you achieve your desired festive shade.
- Decorate brownies: Transfer the green buttercream to a large piping bag fitted with a 2D closed star tip and pipe zigzag lines over the brownie trees.
- Add festive toppings: Decorate the piped buttercream with sprinkles and sweets, finishing with a yellow star candy such as an M&M on top of each tree. Serve and enjoy your festive brownies!
Notes
- Use regular candy canes; snap off the curved tops to keep only the straight parts for inserting as sticks, and use the leftover pieces for other holiday treats like Christmas bark.
- Store brownies in an airtight container to keep fresh for up to 1 week.
- This recipe is adapted from a BBC Good Food brownie recipe with personalized decorations.
- Choose vibrant green food colouring for a festive look.
- Use piping bags and a 2D closed star tip for optimal buttercream decoration.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
