Today’s Christmas Tree Brownies happen to be one of the kid’s favorite holiday desserts. They are such a cute and easy holiday treat made with boxed brownie mix, vanilla frosting, green food coloring, sprinkles, red hots, and candy canes. The brownies are cut into triangles, decorated with frosting garland, and finished with a candy cane trunk for the sweetest little Christmas trees.
We love making these for class parties, cookie trays, Christmas movie nights, and holiday baking with kids because they are fun without being complicated. Not only do kids love to help decorate them, but adults love them too because they’re festive AND delicious.
For more favorites, check out our Snowman Cake, Christmas Sugar Cookies, and Peppermint Brownies.
Why You’ll Love It + Why it works:
- Starts With a Favorite Shortcut: Cute Christmas brownies that start with a boxed mix.
- A Showstopper to Share: Great for cookie trays, class parties, movie nights, and Christmas dessert tables.
- Boxed Brownie Mix Keeps it Simple: It gives you a quick, sturdy brownie base for cutting and decorating.
- Fully Cooled Brownies Cut Cleaner: Letting the brownies cool completely helps the triangle shapes hold together.
Christmas Tree Brownies Ingredients
- Brownie mix (1 box, 18.3 ounces): Creates the chocolate brownie base and keeps the recipe quick and easy. Or use a favorite Fudgy Brownie or Homemade Brownie recipe.
- Vanilla frosting (1 container, 16 ounces): Becomes the green frosting garland for decorating the brownie trees. Or use Vanilla Buttercream Frosting.
- Green food coloring: Turns the frosting into a Christmas tree color.
- Sprinkles and red hots: Adds festive color, texture, and fun decorations.
- Candy canes (6): Creates the little trunks for each brownie tree.
- Red hot candies (12): Makes cute toppers for the Christmas tree brownies.
How to Make Christmas Tree Brownies
PREP. Preheat the oven to the temperature listed for a 9×9 pan. Line a 9×9 metal pan with foil then coat with cooking spray.
BROWNIES. In a large bowl, prepare the 18.3-ounce brownie mix as directed on the box, pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan, and bake the amount of time listed for a 9×9 pan. Cool then remove from pan.
Cut brownies into three equal strips and then cut each strip into 4 triangles.
DECORATE. Cut candy canes into about 2-inch pieces and place them in the end of the triangle brownie for the tree trunk.
Mix ½ can of frosting with green food coloring (about 20-25 drops of green food coloring).
Place green frosting in a small baggie and snip the end (or use a piping bag). Starting at the top of the brownie triangle, pipe on frosting garland moving from side to side as you work down to the bottom.
Sprinkle as desired and add a red hot to the tops.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Line the pan with foil and spray it well so the brownies lift out easily.
- Let the brownies cool completely before cutting so the triangles stay neat.
- Use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts for cleaner brownie edges.
- Snip just a small corner off the baggie so the frosting garland is easier to control.
- Make-ahead tip: bake and cut the brownies ahead, then decorate closer to serving so the candy and frosting look fresh.
Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (18.3-ounce) box brownie mix
- 1 (16-ounce) container vanilla frosting
- green food coloring
- sprinkles and red hots
- 6 candy canes
- 12 red hot candies
Instructions
- Line a 9×9 brownie pan with foil then coat with vegetable spray.
- In a large bowl, prepare the brownie mix as directed on the box and bake as directed for a 9×9-inch pan.
- Remove from oven, let cool completely, and then lift out.
- Cut into three equal strips and then cut each strip into 4 triangles.
- Cut candy canes into about 2-inch pieces and place them in the end of a triangle brownie.
- Mix ½ can of frosting with green food coloring (about 20-25 drops).
- Place frosting in a small baggie and snip the end. Starting at the top of the brownie triangle, pipe on frosting garland moving from side to side as you work down to the bottom.
- Sprinkle as desired and top with a red hot candy.
Notes
- Line the pan with foil and spray it well so the brownies lift out easily.
- Let the brownies cool completely before cutting so the triangles stay neat.
- Use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts for cleaner brownie edges.
- Snip just a small corner off the baggie so the frosting garland is easier to control.
- Make-ahead tip: bake and cut the brownies ahead, then decorate closer to serving so the candy and frosting look fresh.
Nutrition
Recipe FAQ
Bake the brownies a day ahead of time, but keep them covered until you are ready to cut and add the decorations.
Allow decorated brownies to set. Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days at room temperature or in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
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This recipe was first shared November, 2016.
This recipe looks very fun and festive!
But watching the video and then reading instructions, I realize that the cutting instructions don’t match up. I wish you would do a new video with correct cutting instructions.
These brownie Christmas trees are so cute and very festive! Fun to make with the kids.
These brownies are delicious & festive!! Love that you can hold them by the peppermint stick.
Wow what a great recipe for Christmas Tree Brownies! So easy to follow and well explained. My daughter loves brownies so this was so exciting for me to find here.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing christmas tree brownies recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
So cute and easy!