There’s something magical about turning a classic brownie into a festive centerpiece, and that’s exactly what I love about this Brownie Christmas Tree Dessert Recipe. It’s not just a treat—it’s the kind of dessert that brings joy and conversation to the table, perfect for making your holiday gatherings extra special.

Three small Christmas tree-shaped desserts are shown on a white marbled table. Each dessert has three layers of round, dark brown cake stacked on top of each other. Between and on top of each cake layer, there is bright green frosting that looks like swirled Christmas tree branches. The frosting is decorated with tiny red, white, and green round sprinkles, and a small yellow star sits on the very top of each tree. Behind the desserts, there is some green pine tree branches. The desserts rest on a piece of paper decorated with colorful Christmas light drawings. 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 Dessert Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Brownie Christmas Tree Dessert Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Brownie Christmas Tree Dessert Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

When I first made this Brownie Christmas Tree Dessert Recipe, I was amazed at how simple ingredients and some fun decorating could turn into such a showstopper. It’s joyful, approachable, and perfect whether you want a festive treat for family or impress your friends at a holiday party.

Super Festive Presentation: Stacking brownies like a Christmas tree instantly ups the wow factor—no fancy skills required.
Easy to Customize: You can tweak the frosting colors, sprinkles, or even the cake base to match your holiday vibe.
Quick Prep: Using a boxed mix means less fuss and more time to enjoy the fun parts like piping and decorating.
Kid-Friendly Activity: The decorating part is a hit with kids and adults alike, making it a wonderful holiday family project.

Three small Christmas tree shaped cakes made of three brown cake layers stacked on top of each other with bright green icing swirled between and on top. Each tree is decorated with small red, white, and green round sprinkles and topped with a small yellow star. The cakes sit on a rectangular board with a pattern of colorful Christmas lights on white marbled texture, with some pine leaves visible in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient brings something important to the table here. The brownie mix gives that fudgy, rich base every Christmas treat deserves, while the homemade green frosting adds charm and color without being overly sweet. Here’s why these ingredients make this dessert special and what to look for when you shop.

Flat lay of whole uncracked brown eggs, a small white ceramic bowl of clear water, a small white ceramic bowl of golden vegetable oil, three round brownies stacked in decreasing size (plain, no frosting), a small white ceramic bowl filled with smooth green frosting, a small white ceramic bowl of white powdered sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of soft pale butter, a small white ceramic bowl of milk, a few bright yellow star-shaped sprinkles, assorted colorful holiday sprinkles scattered artfully, all elements arranged symmetrically 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: Pick your favorite brand here—one that yields a moist, fudgy texture works best to hold up when stacked.
Eggs: Eggs help bind the brownies and give that nice rise—no need to substitute here for best results.
Vegetable Oil: Keeps brownies tender and moist; using oil instead of butter makes the texture more flexible for shaping.
Water: Simple, but key to hydrating the mix evenly.
Powdered Sugar: For that smooth, creamy frosting texture that pipes perfectly.
Butter (Softened): Adds richness and a buttery flavor to the frosting—make sure it’s at room temp for easy mixing.
Vanilla Extract: A splash amplifies depth in the frosting, balancing the sweetness.
Milk: Adds just the right consistency to the frosting; add slowly to avoid it becoming too runny.
Green Food Coloring: Because no Christmas tree dessert feels complete without a lush green hue.
Holiday Sprinkles & Yellow Stars: The little festive touches that turn your creation into a sparkling holiday treasure.
Disposable Piping Bag with Wilton Star Tip 1m: This makes frosting application easy and gives those pretty tree-like textures.
Cookie Cutters (3 Round Sizes): Using cutters helps you achieve perfect circles to stack neatly like tree tiers.

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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’ve played around with this Brownie Christmas Tree Dessert Recipe by swapping in peppermint-flavored frosting or even using red velvet brownies instead of chocolate—both bring a delightful twist! You really can make this your own, which is part of the fun.

Variation: Last year I tried adding a little cinnamon to the frosting, and it gave that warm holiday spice vibe that everyone loved.
Dietary Swaps: For a gluten-free version, I switched to a GF brownie mix, and the texture still held up wonderfully.
Seasonal Options: Outside the holidays, you could swap the green frosting for pastel colors for birthdays or spring celebrations—super versatile!

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

Step 1: Bake and cool your brownies

Start by following the package directions to bake your brownie mix—remember to let them cool completely before moving on. This step is crucial because warm brownies can be too fragile to cut and stack without crumbling.

Step 2: Whip up your green frosting

Mix the powdered sugar, softened butter, and vanilla extract until smooth. Beat in milk one tablespoon at a time until you get a creamy but pipeable consistency. Add the green food coloring until you achieve that perfect bright holiday green. I find starting with less coloring and building up is less messy!

Step 3: Cut your brownie circles

Use your three round cookie cutters to gently press out circles from the cooled brownies. Aim for different sizes to create your stacked tree effect—biggest at the bottom, smallest at the top. I like to leave about a half-inch space around the cutter for clean edges.

Step 4: Pipe frosting and stack

Fill your disposable piping bag fitted with the Wilton star tip with the green frosting. Start by gently squeezing a dollop onto the biggest brownie, then place the medium brownie on top and pipe frosting again. Repeat with the smallest brownie for the top of your tree. This frosting not only secures the brownies but also mimics tree branches beautifully.

Step 5: Decorate your tree

Top your tree with a yellow star candy and sprinkle those festive sprinkles all over for that perfect holiday sparkle. This step is where you get to unleash your creativity. Sometimes I add tiny edible pearls or crushed candy canes—both are delightful.

Top Tip

From my trials with this Brownie Christmas Tree Dessert Recipe, here are some tips I swear by to make your experience smoother and even more enjoyable.

Cutting Clean Circles: Chill the brownies in the fridge before cutting. It firms them up and prevents crumbling, making those perfect tree layers easier.
Consistent Frosting Texture: Adding milk slowly to the frosting helps you avoid it being too runny or stiff—aim for a pipe-friendly texture that holds shape but spreads easily.
Stack Stability: Pipe enough frosting between layers to glue them well, but not so much that it oozes out. A little patience here makes a sturdier “tree.”
Sprinkle Placement: Add sprinkles right after piping while the frosting is fresh; it sticks better and looks neater.

How to Serve Brownie Christmas Tree Dessert Recipe

Brownie Christmas Tree - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I go for classic holiday garnishes like edible yellow star candies for the tree toppers and use a variety of festive sprinkles—silver balls, tiny red and white candy canes crushed finely, and even mini M&Ms for that pop of color. Fresh mint leaves around the base also bring a lovely green accent and fresh aroma.

Side Dishes

This dessert pairs wonderfully with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra indulgence. For a contrasting bite, a light peppermint tea or a frothy hot cocoa work beautifully alongside these brownies.

Creative Ways to Present

One seasonal favorite of mine is placing the brownie trees on a mirrored platter surrounded by edible glitter and cranberries—so it feels like a sparkling winter wonderland. Another fun idea is building mini individual trees on cupcake liners for party favors or a kids’ table surprise.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I usually cover the assembled brownie trees loosely with plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator. They stay fresh for about 3-4 days, but honestly, they tend to disappear much faster around here!

Freezing

Freezing worked surprisingly well for me when I froze the brownie circles separately before assembly. Just thaw them overnight in the fridge before frosting and stacking. Avoid freezing the decorated tree as sprinkles and frosting can get a bit messy upon thawing.

Reheating

I don’t recommend reheating once decorated, but if you want warm brownies, gently warm the brownie layers before frosting in a low oven for a few minutes. Just be sure they cool enough to frost without melting your decorations.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make the green frosting ahead of time?

Yes! You can make the green frosting a day or two in advance. Just store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and bring it back to room temperature before piping.

What if I don’t have round cookie cutters?

No worries! You can use a glass or small bowl as a template to cut out the brownie circles with a sharp knife. Just press gently and use a sawing motion to avoid crumbling.

Can I use homemade brownies instead of boxed mix?

Absolutely! Homemade brownies work perfectly in this recipe, especially if they are fudgy and firm enough to hold their shape when cut and stacked.

How do I keep the brownie Christmas tree stable?

The key is to use enough frosting between each brownie layer to act as a glue, and to pipe the frosting evenly. Chilling the assembled tree for a bit before serving also helps it hold its shape.

Final Thoughts

This Brownie Christmas Tree Dessert Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it blends the cozy warmth of homemade brownies with that playful, festive spirit we all look forward to during the holidays. It’s fun to make, delightful to serve, and brings smiles around the table every single time. I can’t wait for you to try it—and trust me, once you do, this will be your go-to holiday showstopper too!