There’s something magical about the holidays when you bite into a rich, fudgy treat that also looks like a festive decoration. My Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe combines that joy perfectly — you get a delicious brownie and a charming Christmas tree all in one bite. It’s fun, impressive, and surprisingly easy!

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

I’ve shared this recipe countless times during holiday get-togethers, and it never fails to bring smiles. The balance of fudgy brownies with that creamy green frosting shaped like Christmas trees is just pure happiness. Plus, it’s a neat way to jazz up your dessert table with minimal fuss.

Festive Fun: The layers stacked with green frosting look exactly like miniature Christmas trees, making them a joyful centerpiece.
Easy to Make: Using cookie cutters to shape brownies means little mess and no complicated decorating skills needed.
Customizable: You can tailor the frosting consistency and decorations to your liking—perfect if you want to experiment.
Kid-Friendly: A great hands-on activity for little helpers who want to get in on the holiday baking fun.

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 magic behind these Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe is in the combination of a classic brownie base and a smooth, buttery green frosting. Each ingredient plays its part in creating that perfect blend of flavor, texture, and festive color.

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: Starting with a boxed mix keeps things quick and reliable, but you could use your favorite homemade brownie recipe too.
Eggs: These bind everything together for a lovely fudgy texture.
Vegetable Oil: Helps make the brownies moist and rich.
Water: Adds just the right amount of liquid for perfect brownie batter consistency.
Powdered Sugar: The base of the frosting for a smooth, sweet finish.
Butter (softened): Gives creaminess to the frosting — make sure it’s softened to room temp for easy mixing.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances flavor and balances the sweetness.
Milk: Added gradually to achieve the perfect piping consistency for frosting.
Green Food Coloring: Brings the frosting alive with a vibrant Christmas tree green.
Holiday Sprinkles & Yellow Stars: For that magical final touch — these little decorations make all the difference.
Cookie Cutters (various sizes): Using round cutters helps form the stacked tree shape with ease.
Disposable Piping Bag & Wilton Star Tip 1M: Gives you control when piping frosting layers and creates beautiful textures.

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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

One of my favorite things about this Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe is how easy it is to put your own spin on it. Don’t hesitate to switch up the frosting colors or add different sprinkles according to your holiday theme. I love adding edible glitter for an extra sparkle during family parties.

Variation: Once, I swapped out yellow stars for tiny candy canes and it brought a peppermint twist that everyone adored!
Dietary tweaks: Try using dairy-free butter and vegan brownie mixes if you have guests with dietary restrictions.
Flavor boosts: Adding a pinch of cinnamon or peppermint extract to the frosting turns these into holiday flavor bombs.

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

Step 1: Baking the Brownie Base

Start by preparing your brownie mix according to the box instructions—eggs, oil, water, mix well. Pour the batter into a greased pan and bake until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Let the brownies cool completely before moving on — this step is crucial for clean cookie cutter shapes and frosting that won’t melt.

Step 2: Making the Green Frosting

While the brownies cool, whip up your frosting by combining powdered sugar, softened butter, and vanilla extract. Add milk tablespoon by tablespoon to get a soft but thick poaching consistency—not runny, not stiff. Mix in green food coloring until you get that rich Christmas tree hue.

Step 3: Cutting the Brownie Circles

Using your three round cookie cutters, gently press down into the brownies to create circles of decreasing sizes. Take your time here — gently wiggle and lift them out so the shapes stay intact.

Step 4: Assembling the Trees

Fit your Wilton Star tip onto a disposable piping bag and fill it with frosting. On a serving plate, start stacking your brownie circles from largest to smallest, piping a generous swirl of frosting between each layer. The top brownie gets a pointy frosting peak to mimic the tree’s top.

Step 5: Decorating Your Brownie Christmas Trees

Finish by pressing a yellow star onto the frosting peak and scattering festive sprinkles over the tree “branches.” It’s these little details that turn simple brownies into holiday masterpieces.

Top Tip

I’ve made these Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe dozens of times, so I learned a few things that make the whole experience smoother and more fun. These tips will save you from common hiccups and get better results every time.

Soft brownies are easier to cut: Always let your brownies cool completely—warm brownies tend to crumble when cutting.
Frosting consistency matters: Too thin and it runs, too thick and it’s hard to pipe. Add liquid slowly for control.
Stack like a pro: Pipe frosting between layers as glue, holding them steady and adding that tree-like texture.
Decorate gently: Press stars and sprinkles lightly to avoid toppling your little tree creations.

How to Serve Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe

Brownie Christmas Trees - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually go for classic holiday sprinkles — little red and white dots, tiny edible pearls, and star-shaped candies. The yellow star on top is my favorite because it instantly screams Christmas. I’ve even used crushed peppermint candies for a minty crunch that pairs wonderfully with the rich brownie.

Side Dishes

Since these brownies stand out on their own, I like pairing them with simple sides like a hot cup of cocoa or spiced cider. For a holiday party, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or some whipped cream is a delightful addition that everyone enjoys.

Creative Ways to Present

I love setting up a festive dessert table with these brownie trees arranged on a bed of powdered sugar “snow.” Another fun idea is to place them on cupcake liners and line them around a centerpiece for a wow-worthy display. Adding fairy lights or holly leaves nearby sets the mood instantly.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover brownie trees keep best in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend refrigerating because the frosting is butter-based and can soften at room temperature, especially in warm kitchens. Just bring them to room temperature before serving for best flavor.

Freezing

I’ve had good luck freezing the individual brownie layers before assembling. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to a month. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the fridge. Assemble and frost just before serving to avoid sogginess.

Reheating

I typically avoid reheating assembled brownie trees since it can melt the frosting. If you want warm brownies, heat individual brownie layers briefly in the microwave before assembling fresh frosting and stacking.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can bake the brownies a day or two in advance and keep them wrapped airtight. For best results, assemble and frost the trees the same day you plan to serve them so the frosting stays fresh and stable.

What if I don't have cookie cutters?

No worries! You can carefully cut the brownie into progressively smaller circles or triangles using a sharp knife. Alternatively, use any round household items like glass rims to trace shapes gently before cutting.

How do I get the perfect green color for the frosting?

Start with a few drops of green food coloring and mix well; add more drop by drop to deepen the color. Gel food coloring tends to give brighter, more vibrant colors without watering down the frosting too much.

Can kids help make Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe?

Definitely! Kids will love cutting out brownie shapes and decorating the trees with frosting and sprinkles. Just supervise the use of piping bags or let them decorate with spoons or plastic knives to keep it fun and safe.

Final Thoughts

This Brownie Christmas Trees with Green Frosting Recipe has become my go-to holiday treat because it’s as much fun to make as it is to eat. I love how it brings a little creative sparkle to the kitchen, even on busy days. Give it a try this season — I promise it will light up your dessert table and delight everyone lucky enough to take a bite!