There’s something truly magical about festive treats, and these Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe bring that magic to your holiday table. They’re not just delicious brownies—they’re little works of edible art that light up any celebration with charm and sweetness.

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 Trees with Green Frosting Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe combines the best of both worlds: rich, fudgy brownies and vibrant, creamy green frosting shaped into festive Christmas trees. Every bite feels like a holiday hug, and the decorating part is as fun as eating them!

Fun and Festive: It’s not just a brownie; it’s a holiday centerpiece on your dessert table.
Simple Yet Impressive: You don’t need piping pro skills—just a bit of patience and love to create these cuties.
Customizable: You can easily tweak the frosting colors or decorate with sprinkles to fit any holiday mood.
Kid-Friendly Activity: Kids love helping with the frosting and decorating, making it a great 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

The ingredient list might look short, but each one plays a starring role in making these brownie Christmas trees come alive. The boxed brownie mix is a time-saver but feel free to use your favorite homemade recipe. The frosting balances between creamy but thick enough to hold the tree shape, thanks to a combination of powdered sugar and butter.

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: Using a good quality mix ensures deep chocolate flavor and fudgy texture without fuss.
Eggs: They bind everything together for brownies that hold their shape when cut.
Vegetable oil: Makes brownies moist and tender without overwhelming flavor.
Water: Keeps the batter smooth and helps with the right consistency.
Powdered sugar: Essential for smooth, sweet frosting that pipes beautifully.
Butter: Softened to room temp, it brings richness and creaminess to the frosting.
Vanilla extract: Adds a warm, comforting flavor to balance the chocolate.
Milk: The secret to getting frosting just soft enough to pipe but firm enough to hold.
Green food coloring: Because, well, it’s a Christmas tree! Use gel for vibrant color without watering down frosting.
Holiday sprinkles & yellow stars: For that festive sparkle and finishing touch.
Disposable piping bag & Wilton Star tip 1m: These tools make frosting those trees easier and more precise.
Cookie cutters (3 sizes): Perfect for getting those tiered tree shapes neat and easy.

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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 mixing things up with this Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe. Sometimes I add a pinch of cinnamon to the brownie batter for a cozy twist, or swap out the classic green for a minty pastel frosting color that still feels festive but a little more modern.

Variation: Last year, I made a peppermint version by adding peppermint extract to the frosting and crushing candy canes on top—so fun and refreshing!
Dietary modifications: You can try gluten-free brownie mixes or use dairy-free butter alternatives to fit special diets.
Difficulty: Feeling brave? Try adding edible glitter or tiny chocolate chips for extra texture.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Baking the Perfect Brownies

Start by following the instructions on your brownie mix box, but here’s my tip: less baking time by 1-2 minutes keeps the brownies fudgy, which helps when you cut them into shapes. After baking, make sure to cool them completely—warm brownies crumble and won’t stack well.

Step 2: Preparing the Green Frosting

Combine powdered sugar, softened butter, and vanilla in a bowl. Then, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until the frosting is thick enough to pipe but smooth enough to flow. Add enough green food coloring to get that perfect evergreen hue. Fill your piping bag fitted with the Wilton Star tip 1m.

Step 3: Cutting and Stacking Your Brownie Trees

Using your three different-sized round cookie cutters, gently cut circles out of the brownies. Start with the largest circle and layer smaller circles on top to resemble a tree shape. Use your piping bag to squeeze swirls of frosting on top of each layer to “glue” it in place and create texture like pine branches.

Step 4: Adding the Finishing Touches

Top each tree with a dollop of frosting shaped like a star, sprinkle holiday sprinkles, and place a yellow star candy or edible decoration right at the top. These little details bring the whole tree to life and get plenty of admiring “oohs” from your guests!

Top Tip

From my experience making these brownie Christmas trees multiple times, a few tricks really help them turn out picture-perfect and delicious.

Cutting with Care: Use a gentle sawing motion with the cookie cutters to avoid crumbling.
Frosting Consistency: Too runny frosting will slide off; too stiff won’t pipe well—aim for soft peaks.
Cooling Matters: Don’t skip cooling your brownies completely; warm brownies ruin the stacking effect.
Decorate Last: Add sprinkles and stars carefully after frosting to keep the look neat and festive.

How to Serve Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe

Brownie Christmas Trees - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually go with classic holiday sprinkles—tiny red, white, and gold balls, with a few silver stars scattered around. The yellow star on top isn’t optional for me; it completes the Christmas tree vibe and always delights kids and adults alike.

Side Dishes

These brownies shine as a festive dessert, but pairing them with a cup of spiced hot cocoa or peppermint mochas really elevates the experience. If you want a crunchy contrast, try serving with a side of candied nuts or gingerbread cookies.

Creative Ways to Present

Try arranging the brownie trees on a platter dusted with powdered sugar to mimic snow. Or place them standing in small paper cups decorated like wrapped gifts. For a party, creating a “forest” with a few dozen on tiered trays makes a stunning display that’s sure to impress.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once decorated, store your brownie Christmas trees in an airtight container in the fridge. I find they keep their freshness and texture beautifully for up to 4 days, perfect if you want to make them ahead of a party.

Freezing

If you want to freeze, I recommend freezing the plain brownie circles before frosting. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Once you’re ready to serve, thaw and decorate fresh. Frosting doesn’t always freeze well, so this keeps your “trees” looking their best.

Reheating

For leftover brownies without frosting, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave revives that warm, gooey feel. For decorated trees, just bring them to room temp before serving—that keeps frosting firm but soft enough to enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use homemade brownie batter instead of a mix?

Absolutely! Homemade brownies work wonderfully — just make sure they’re firm and fully cooled before cutting and stacking with frosting to avoid crumbling.

What if I don’t have cookie cutters in different sizes?

You can use various glass rims, small bowls, or even freehand cut with a knife. Just be gentle to keep the circles neat for the tree shape.

How do I make the frosting green without affecting flavor?

Use gel food coloring instead of liquid—it’s more concentrated and won’t water down or alter the taste of your frosting.

Can these Brownie Christmas Trees be made ahead?

Yes! You can bake and cut the brownies a day in advance, frost and decorate the day you’ll serve them to keep everything fresh and looking perfect.

Final Thoughts

These Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe truly bring me joy every holiday season. They’re more than just a treat—they’re a way to bring family together, create memories, and fill your kitchen with festive spirit. Go ahead and give this recipe a try; I promise it’ll become one of your holiday favorites, just like it is for me.