Name: Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 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; 10 candy canes; 100 g unsalted butter; 200 g icing sugar; Green food colouring; Sprinkles; Sweets (such as M&Ms for stars)

There’s something truly magical about festive treats that bring the holiday spirit right into your kitchen. This Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe is one of those delightful desserts that’s not only rich and fudgy but also joyfully festive to make and share with family and friends around the holidays.

The image shows several triangular chocolate brownies arranged on a white marbled surface. Each brownie has one layer of dark brown cake topped with a thick layer of bright green frosting shaped like a zigzag Christmas tree. The frosting is decorated with small, round, colorful candy balls in shades of pink, purple, blue, red, yellow, green, and orange. Sticking out from the base of each brownie is a small candy cane with white, pink, and green stripes, acting as the tree trunk. Additional colorful candy balls are scattered around the brownies on the white marbled surface. 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 Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I absolutely adore this Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe because it combines a classic fudgy brownie base with a playful, festive presentation that kids and adults both love. It’s a showstopper on holiday dessert tables and surprisingly easy to make!

Festive fun factor: These brownies transform into charming Christmas trees, making them perfect for holiday parties or gifting.
Rich, fudgy texture: The combination of dark and milk chocolate chips ensures every bite is moist and bursting with chocolate.
Easy-to-follow steps: Even if you’re new to baking, this recipe walks you through everything with easy instructions to guarantee success.
Customizable decorations: You can make it your own by switching up the frosting colors or the candies you use to decorate each tree.

A woman's hand is holding a triangular brownie piece shaped like a Christmas tree, with a pink and white striped candy stick at the bottom as the trunk. The brownie has two layers: the dark brown, textured base and a thick swirl of smooth, bright green frosting on top, decorated with small, shiny, round candy balls in colors like pink, orange, purple, blue, and yellow. In the background, more brownies with the same decoration are placed on a white marbled surface, along with blurred gingerbread men and soft warm lights in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic behind these Christmas Tree Brownies lies in the quality of the ingredients and the balance between richness and sweetness. Each one brings something special to bake incredibly fudgy, tender brownies that hold up well for decorating.

Flat lay of a small block of unsalted butter, a roughly chopped dark chocolate bar, four whole medium eggs with clean shells, a simple white ceramic bowl filled with caster sugar, a small white bowl holding plain flour, a small white bowl with cocoa powder, a small white bowl overflowing with milk chocolate chips, a small white bowl with white chocolate chips, several straight candy cane sticks with their curved tops snapped off, a small white bowl filled with unsalted butter for buttercream, a small white bowl containing icing sugar, a small white bowl with vibrant green food colouring liquid, assorted colorful sprinkles scattered neatly, assorted small sweets arranged artfully, all ingredients carefully arranged with perfect symmetry, 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

Unsalted butter: Gives a creamy richness without adding saltiness, which lets the chocolate shine.
Dark chocolate: Adds bitterness and deep cocoa flavor to balance the sweetness.
Medium eggs: Provide structure and moisture to the batter.
Caster sugar: Dissolves easily for a smooth texture and proper sweetness.
Plain flour: The base that holds everything together without too much heaviness.
Cocoa powder: Powers that chocolate flavor and adds an intense color.
Milk chocolate chips: For pockets of melty, creamy sweet bites inside the brownies.
White chocolate chips: Offers sweet contrast and a bit of textural variety.
Candy canes: Used as “tree trunks” and adds a peppermint crunch.
Unsalted butter (for icing): Creates a luscious base for the green buttercream icing.
Icing sugar: Sweetens the frosting and thickens it for piping.
Green food colouring: Gives your frosting that signature Christmas tree hue.
Sprinkles & sweets: Bring color, sparkle, and fun decoration options to your brownies.

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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 love adding my personal spin when making these festive brownies, and you should totally do the same. This recipe is a fantastic base to experiment on, whether you want a richer chocolate hit or a different festive twist.

Variation: One year, I swapped out candy canes for pretzel rods to give a salty crunch that pairs perfectly with the sweet brownies. I highly recommend trying it if you love sweet and salty flavors.
Dairy-free option: Use a dairy-free butter substitute and dairy-free chocolate chips to make these brownies vegan-friendly. Just keep an eye on the chocolate melting step for best results.
Nutty twist: Toss in chopped walnuts or pecans for extra texture—perfect if you enjoy a bit of crunch in your brownies.

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

Step 1: Melt the Chocolate and Butter

Start by gently melting the unsalted butter and dark chocolate together. I find doing this in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water helps control the heat and prevents burning. Alternatively, a quick 1-2 minute burst in the microwave works too. Once smooth, let it cool to room temperature. Trust me, rushing this step can scramble your eggs later, so patience pays off!

Step 2: Whisk Eggs and Sugar

Now whisk your eggs and caster sugar together with an electric mixer until the mixture doubles in volume, becomes pale, and mousse-like in texture. Here’s a little insider tip: when you lift up the whisk, you want to see trails that fade away after a few seconds. This aeration is what gives your brownies that lovely lightness inside.

Step 3: Fold in the Chocolate Mixture

Pour in your cooled chocolate and butter blend and carefully fold it into your egg and sugar foam. Take your time here to keep as much air in the batter as possible—it may take a few gentle turns to combine but it’s worth it! Avoid aggressive mixing to keep your brownies nice and airy.

Step 4: Add Dry Ingredients and Chocolate Chips

Sift in the plain flour and cocoa powder and fold them in gently. Finally, stir through the milk and white chocolate chips. These add surprise bursts of melty creaminess throughout each square of brownie, which always feels like a little treat inside a treat.

Step 5: Bake and Cool

Pour the batter into your parchment-lined baking tray and bake at 180°C (160°C fan) for about 25-30 minutes. The key here is to watch for the edges being set and just a slight wobble in the center. Once out, let your brownies cool completely in the tray before cutting. Nothing ruins the shape like warm, gooey brownies!

Step 6: Cut and Decorate

I cut mine by splitting the tray in half, then creating triangles from each half to mimic tree shapes. The offcuts? They made my taste testing rounds extra fun! Insert candy cane sticks gently into the base to create trunks. Then whip up a green buttercream with icing sugar, butter, and food coloring, pipe it on in zigzag lines, and decorate with sprinkles and a little star on top—an M&M works perfectly. So festive and cute!

Top Tip

After making these Christmas Tree Brownies a handful of times, I’ve learned a few tips that really make all the difference in the final treat.

Whisking patience: Don’t rush the eggs and sugar step. You want that fluffy mousse texture to get the best rise and moisture in your brownies.
Cooling time: Let your brownies cool completely before cutting and decorating — this helps maintain the shape and stop chocolate smudging during frosting.
Gentle folding: Be kind when folding in flour and chocolate - overmixing can make the brownies dense. Keep it light and patient for that tender crumb.
Decoration idea: Using a closed star piping tip helps mimick pine needles beautifully in the buttercream.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe

Christmas Tree Brownies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love using colorful Christmas-themed sprinkles, little candy baubles, and bright M&Ms to decorate. They add sparkle and personality, making each brownie look like its own tiny edible Christmas tree. Plus, kids adore helping with the decorating—it’s a fun holiday craft and dessert all in one.

Side Dishes

These brownies pair beautifully with a mug of hot cocoa or mulled wine, depending on your crowd. I also like serving them alongside a simple fruit salad or fresh whipped cream to lighten up the richness a little.

Creative Ways to Present

Try arranging several decorated brownies on a platter to form a big Christmas tree shape, or place them in individual clear treat bags tied with festive ribbons for charming holiday gifts. Last year, I made little brownie tree centerpieces for a party, and they were such a hit everyone wanted the recipe!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover brownies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay moist and delicious for up to one week—perfect for enjoying throughout the Christmas season or for last-minute treats.

Freezing

If I want to prep early, I freeze the baked and cooled brownies uncut, wrapped in clingfilm and foil. When I’m ready, I thaw them in the fridge overnight and cut them fresh to decorate. The taste and texture hold up surprisingly well after freezing!

Reheating

Leftover brownies are best enjoyed at room temp, but if you prefer warm, I pop a brownie in the microwave for 10 seconds—just enough to warm it through without melting the decorations. This little trick keeps it soft and enjoyable without losing the festive look.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make the brownies gluten-free?

Absolutely! You can substitute the plain flour for a gluten-free all-purpose blend. Just make sure the blend contains xanthan gum to help with texture. Baking times might be similar, but keep an eye on them as gluten-free batters sometimes cook a little faster or slower.

What’s the best way to insert the candy canes without breaking them?

I recommend breaking off the curved tops of the candy canes and using just the straight parts. This way, they’re less fragile and easier to insert into the brownie base without cracking. Warm the candy canes slightly with your hands if they’re brittle to avoid snapping.

How do I keep the green frosting from fading or melting?

Use gel or paste food colouring rather than liquid—it gives a richer color without thinning your buttercream. Also, keep the decorated brownies refrigerated if not serving right away, but let them come to room temperature before eating for best flavor and texture.

Can I prepare the brownies and decorate them in advance?

Yes! Bake and cool the brownies completely, then store them undecorated in an airtight container for up to three days. Decorate just before serving to keep the buttercream fresh and vibrant. Alternatively, you can prepare the frosting ahead and keep it refrigerated until ready to pipe.

Final Thoughts

I love making this Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe every holiday because it combines my favorite thing—chocolate—with the joy of festive decorating. It’s easy enough to whip up after a busy day, fun for a family project, and always impresses guests. If you’re looking for a cheerful, delicious dessert that doubles as a festive centerpiece, give this recipe a try. I promise it’ll bring smiles and satisfy even the biggest brownie lovers!