There's something magical about turning classic treats into festive fun, and this Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe does just that. These little stacks of rich brownies, frosted and sprinkled like tiny holiday trees, bring a cozy, playful vibe to any gathering. Trust me, they're as delightful to make as they are to eat.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
From the moment I first stacked these brownie layers and piped on that green frosting, I knew I had found a holiday hit. This Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe is more than just a dessert—it's a fun activity and a festive centerpiece all rolled into one.
- Playful Presentation: Transforming brownies into Christmas tree shapes makes dessert time feel extra special and festive.
- Easy to Customize: You can switch up the frosting colors, sprinkles, and even the brownie flavors for a unique spin every time.
- Kid-Friendly and Fun: This recipe doubles as a holiday activity that kids love to help with, from cutting shapes to decorating.
- Great Make-Ahead Treat: These cookies hold up well and actually taste better after chilling overnight, perfect for party prep.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The magic of these Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies comes from simple, approachable ingredients paired thoughtfully to give texture, flavor, and that eye-catching festive color.
- Brownie Mix: Using a boxed brownie mix keeps this recipe quick and consistent, but feel free to use your favorite homemade brownie batter for extra love.
- Eggs: Help bind the batter together to keep your brownies fudgy but firm enough for stacking.
- Vegetable Oil: Contributes moistness without overpowering the chocolate flavor.
- Water: Helps with batter consistency and keeps brownies tender.
- Powdered Sugar: The base of the frosting, it provides that smooth, sweet structure ideal for piping shapes.
- Butter (softened): Adds richness and silkiness to your frosting for that irresistible texture.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor depth of your frosting and compliments the chocolate perfectly.
- Milk: Used sparingly to adjust frosting thickness so piping is easy but not runny.
- Green Food Coloring: Because every Christmas tree needs that perfect pine hue.
- Holiday Sprinkles & Yellow Stars: These finishing touches bring on the holiday cheer and make each cookie feel special.
- Cookie Cutters (various sizes): Essential for cutting uniform brownie circles to create the tree layers.
- Disposable Piping Bag & Wilton Star Tip 1M: Perfect tools for neatly frosting the tree shapes with that classic swirl.
Make It Your Way
One of my favorite things about this Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to make it *your own.* Whether you want a more decadent fudge base or a dairy-free frosting, switch things up without losing the holiday spirit.
- Variation: I once swapped out the green frosting for a peppermint-flavored white frosting tinted with red and green swirls—totally festive and a hit at the office party.
- Dietary Swap: Coconut oil instead of vegetable oil works wonderfully if you want a slight tropical note, and vegan butter keeps frosting just as luscious.
- Seasonal Twist: Instead of stars, try tiny crushed candy canes on top for a refreshing crunch and burst of color.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Bake and Cool Your Brownies
Start by mixing your brownie batter according to the box instructions—eggs, oil, and water—and bake it in a 9x9 pan. A key tip? Don’t overbake! You want the brownies just set, still fudgy but firm enough to slice. Once out of the oven, cool completely. Warm brownies will make cutting and stacking tricky.
Step 2: Prepare the Green Frosting
Whip together powdered sugar, softened butter, and vanilla extract. Add milk one tablespoon at a time until your frosting can hold its shape but still pipe smoothly. Then add green food coloring until you get that perfect evergreen Christmas tree shade. If you’re piping stars, the consistency needs to be just right—not too runny or stiff.
Step 3: Cut Brownie Circles
Use your three different sized cookie cutters to gently press into the brownie slab, making circles in small, medium, and large sizes. My secret? Chill the brownies for at least 30 minutes first—it helps cut cleaner edges and prevents crumbling.
Step 4: Stack and Frost Like a Pro
Fit the Wilton star tip on your piping bag, fill it with frosting, and start stacking: big brownie circle on the bottom, medium next, then small on top. Pipe frosting between each layer, and finally pile frosting on the very top to form your tree’s “branches.” Don’t forget a festive star and sprinkles for the finishing touches!
Top Tip
Having made this recipe several times, I’ve found a few little tricks to make your Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies look like they came from a bakery display.
- Chill the Brownies Before Cutting: It makes slicing neater and helps keep the layers intact when stacking.
- Use a Light Hand With the Piping Bag: Practice your swirl on parchment paper first to get comfortable and control the pressure.
- Keep Frosting at Room Temperature: This makes piping smoother and helps the stars hold their shape beautifully.
- Add Decorations While Frosting Is Slightly Soft: Press your sprinkles in gently for better adhesion.
How to Serve Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping these festive brownies with a mix of tiny holiday sprinkles and a single bright yellow star for that perfect little tree topper. Sometimes I add finely chopped nuts or mini chocolate chips just to give a little unexpected crunch and contrast.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of peppermint tea or hot cocoa. I also like to serve them alongside a fruit platter to balance the rich chocolate with fresh citrus and berries.
Creative Ways to Present
For a party, arrange the Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies on a large platter lined with fresh pine sprigs or cranberries for a festive touch. I've even placed edible gold dust on the frosting for a little holiday sparkle that guests totally loved.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep my finished brownie trees in an airtight container in the fridge, layered carefully with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They stay moist and flavorful for about 4-5 days, which is perfect for spreading out holiday snacking.
Freezing
While I rarely freeze the fully assembled trees (mostly because they look so good fresh!), you can freeze the brownie rounds before assembling. Just stack them between parchment sheets in a freezer-safe container; thaw gently before frosting.
Reheating
To enjoy the brownies slightly warm, I gently microwave a single cookie for 10-15 seconds. It softens the brownie and frosting just enough without melting the delicate decorations—perfect for that fresh-baked feeling.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! You can make the frosting a day or two ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. Just bring it to room temperature and give it a quick whip before piping.
No worries! You can use round cutters or a sharp knife to cut triangle shapes freehand. The key is stacking layers from largest to smallest to mimic the classic Christmas tree shape.
Make sure your brownies are completely cooled before frosting and pipe a generous but not overly thick layer between layers. Chilling assembled trees for 15-20 minutes before serving also helps stabilize everything.
Definitely! Homemade brownies work beautifully here and make the treat even more special. Just ensure they’re baked firm enough to cut and stack without crumbling.
Final Thoughts
Making these Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies always fills me with a bit of holiday nostalgia—it’s like wrapping up the joy of baking and decorating into one handheld treat. I hope you’ll give this recipe a try and create your own festive moments in the kitchen. Trust me, once you see those little green trees stacked high and sparkling with sprinkles, you’ll want to make them every year!
Print
Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Create festive Brownie Christmas Trees with this easy recipe featuring chewy brownies stacked with green buttercream frosting, holiday sprinkles, and star toppers. Perfect for holiday gatherings and sweet celebrations.
Ingredients
Brownie Base
- 1 box brownie mix any brand, baked and cooled
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons water
Frosting
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup butter softened to room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
- green food coloring
Decoration
- Holiday sprinkles
- Yellow star decorations
- Disposable piping bag
- Wilton Star tip 1m
- 3 round cookie/biscuit cutters in varying sizes
Instructions
- Prepare the Frosting: In a mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, softened butter, and vanilla extract. Slowly add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time, mixing well until the frosting reaches a smooth, pipe-able consistency. Add green food coloring to tint the frosting to your desired shade.
- Prepare the Piping Bag: Attach the Wilton Star tip 1m to the disposable piping bag and fill it with the green frosting, ensuring no air bubbles remain.
- Cut Brownie Shapes: Using the three round cookie cutters of varying sizes, gently cut out circles from the cooled baked brownie to create layered pieces for the Christmas trees.
- Assemble the Trees: Starting with the largest brownie circle, pipe green frosting onto its top surface. Stack the medium-sized brownie on top followed by more frosting, then finish with the smallest brownie piece, using frosting to glue each layer.
- Decorate the Tops: Pipe a final layer of frosting on the top brownie to represent the treetop. Place a yellow star decoration on top and sprinkle holiday sprinkles over the frosting to decorate the tree.
- Repeat Assembly: Continue assembling and decorating the rest of the brownies following the same steps until all are transformed into festive Brownie Christmas Trees.
Notes
- Ensure brownies are completely cooled before cutting to prevent crumbling.
- The frosting consistency should be thick enough to hold the shape but soft enough to pipe smoothly.
- You can substitute vegetable oil with melted butter in the brownie mix for richer flavor.
- If you don’t have cookie cutters, use a knife to carefully cut circles in decreasing sizes.
- Store assembled brownie trees in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie tree
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
Leave a Reply