These Christmas Tree Brownies are an adorable and festive holiday treat. They’re perfect for Christmas parties, school treats, or neighbor gifts — rich chocolate brownies cut into tree shapes and decorated with green frosting and sprinkles make a crowd-pleasing dessert.
Why this recipe works
A small amount of corn starch in the batter gives these brownies a thick, fudgy, chewy texture. Baking in a metal pan helps them set evenly so they’re easy to cut into neat tree shapes for decorating.
For more Christmas treats, try Italian Christmas Cookies, Christmas Cookie Bars, or Grinch Cookies.
Key ingredients
These fudgy homemade brownies are easy to turn into festive Christmas trees every holiday season.
- Baking chocolate – Use good-quality baking chocolate for best flavor and texture.
- Corn starch – The secret to thick, fudgy brownies. For a cakier texture, omit the corn starch and add ½ teaspoon baking powder.
- Festive sprinkles – Use small candy stars or colored sprinkles to top each tree.
How to make Christmas brownies
Follow these simple steps to make, cut, and decorate the brownies.
- Melt the chocolate and butter in 30-second intervals in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring between bursts until smooth.
- Whisk in sugar, then add eggs and vanilla. Beat until glossy. Fold in flour, corn starch, and salt just until combined.
- Pour the batter into a parchment-lined metal 9×13-inch pan. Bake at 350° F for 30–35 minutes.
- Remove from oven and cool completely. Trim edges if needed and cut into triangles to form the tree shapes.
- Color buttercream frosting green, pipe a zigzag or swirl on each triangle, then add festive sprinkles and a small star candy on top.
Hint: Use a metal pan for even baking. Glass pans can bake too hot at the edges and leave the center underdone.
Common mistakes
Overbaking is the most common issue. Pull the brownies from the oven when a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs — this keeps them soft and fudgy rather than dry.
Top tip
Let the brownies cool completely before cutting so the shapes stay clean. Use a sharp knife (wipe it between cuts) and decorate after slicing for the best presentation.
Recipe
Easy Christmas Brownies
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, salted
- 5 ounces baking chocolate
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 eggs, large
- 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup flour
- 1 ½ Tablespoons corn starch
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- buttercream frosting
- Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a metal 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper, spray lightly with cooking spray, and set aside.
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Melt the butter and baking chocolate together and combine in a mixing bowl. Stir in the sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat on high for 1½ minutes with a whisk or whisk vigorously by hand for 2 minutes. Fold in the flour, corn starch, and salt with a spatula just until combined. Pour into the prepared pan and bake 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
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Cool completely, then cut brownies into triangles. Tint buttercream green, place in a piping bag or snip a corner of a baggie, pipe frosting onto each triangle, add sprinkles and a small star on top, and serve.
Notes
- Corn starch gives brownies a thick, fudgy chew. For a cakier brownie, omit the corn starch and add ½ teaspoon baking powder.
- Use a metal pan when possible; glass pans may bake edges too quickly and leave the center underdone. If using glass, add 3–8 minutes and test with a toothpick.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Chilled brownies eat fudgier straight from the fridge.
Nutrition
Calories: 173 kcal
Variations
Try these simple twists to customize your Christmas Tree Brownies.
- Fudgy vs. cakey: Keep the corn starch for fudgy brownies; omit it and add ½ teaspoon baking powder for a lighter texture.
- Decorations: Swap sprinkles for red and green M&Ms, gold sugar pearls, or crushed candy canes.
- Flavors: Add a drop of peppermint extract for mint brownies or swirl in caramel before baking for a richer taste.
- Shortcut: Use a favorite boxed mix or other brownie recipe as the base — both work well for decorating.
Storing Christmas Brownies
Keep leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Serve chilled for an extra fudgy bite.
FAQ
Cool brownies fully, lift them from the pan using the parchment, trim uneven edges, slice into long rectangles, then cut each rectangle into triangles. Wiping the knife between cuts and slightly chilling the brownies helps get cleaner edges.
Pipe green frosting in a zigzag to resemble tree branches, add colorful sprinkles or mini candies as ornaments, top with a small star sprinkle, and optionally insert a small pretzel piece as the trunk.
Bake a fudgy brownie base, cool completely, cut into triangles, frost with green buttercream, and decorate with sprinkles and a star for a festive finish.
Drizzle white chocolate, dust with powdered sugar, add crushed peppermint, or individually wrap decorated brownie trees in cellophane and ribbon for charming holiday gifts.