If you’re looking for a dessert that instantly brings holiday cheer and impresses everyone at your Christmas gathering, I’ve got just the thing. This Festive Christmas Tree Brownie Bites Recipe is an absolute showstopper — cute little brownie bases topped with luscious green buttercream piped into adorable Christmas tree shapes, finished off with sprinkles that sparkle like holiday lights. Trust me, once you try these, they’ll be your go-to treat every season!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy & approachable: Using a boxed brownie mix keeps things simple without sacrificing flavor or fun.
- Adorable presentation: The piped buttercream Christmas trees always make guests smile and say “wow!”
- Perfect portion size: These bites are great for sharing or sneaking one (or three) when no one’s watching.
- Family favorite: My kiddos can’t get enough, and I bet yours will love them too!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this Festive Christmas Tree Brownie Bites Recipe is in its simple, classic ingredients that come together for a festive finale. I always make sure to use unsalted butter for the frosting—it lets me control the saltiness—and green food coloring that’s vibrant enough to really pop on the brownies. Plus, holiday sprinkles are where you can get creative or stick to tradition!
- Brownie mix: I stick with my favorite brand for consistency, but feel free to use gluten-free or vegan mixes if that suits your crowd.
- Unsalted butter: Room temperature is key here for easy creaming that makes that frosting silky smooth.
- Powdered sugar: Adds sweetness and a fluffy texture to the frosting — sift it if you want extra smoothness.
- Heavy cream: This helps get the frosting to the perfect consistency; you can swap with milk but cream makes it extra rich.
- Vanilla extract: Just a splash to deepen the sweetness and aroma.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness in the frosting — don’t skip it!
- Green food coloring: Use gel for a more concentrated color that won’t thin your frosting.
- Holiday sprinkles: Get festive with stars, silver balls, or classic red and green for that final magical touch.
Variations
I love how this Festive Christmas Tree Brownie Bites Recipe invites personalization, so I encourage you to play around with flavors and decorations. Whether it’s switching up the frosting flavor or adding a little peppermint extract for a festive twist, the possibilities are endless.
- Mint Chocolate: Adding peppermint extract to your frosting instantly transforms these bites into a refreshing holiday treat — my family goes crazy for this one!
- Peanut Butter Frosting: Substitute half of the butter with peanut butter and reduce vanilla for a nutty, rich topping.
- Nut-free and Vegan: Use dairy-free butter and vegan brownie mix to accommodate dietary restrictions without compromising the festive vibe.
- Sprinkle Mix: Try edible glitter or candy cane pieces instead of traditional sprinkles for a seasonal touch.
How to Make Festive Christmas Tree Brownie Bites Recipe
Step 1: Bake the Brownies Into Mini Shapes
First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F and generously grease a mini cupcake pan with nonstick spray — this will make popping out the brownie bites a breeze. Prepare the boxed brownie mix as the instructions say, then fill each cavity about two-thirds full. Bake for around 15-17 minutes; you want the edges to be set and slightly firm but the centers still a tad soft, just not wet or gooey. This texture is perfect because it’ll hold the frosting without crumbling.
Step 2: Create Indentations and Cool
Right after taking them out of the oven, use the back of a round teaspoon to press down gently in the center of each brownie bite. This creates a perfect little well for the frosting to nestle into. Let them cool in the pan for about 10 minutes; then use a paring knife or small thin spatula to carefully loosen and pop them out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Patience here is key — frosting warm brownies can turn melty and messy.
Step 3: Whip Up the Buttercream Frosting
While your brownies are cooling, it’s frosting time! Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the softened butter on low speed until pale and creamy. Slowly add powdered sugar and heavy cream alternately — this balancing act prevents your frosting from becoming too stiff or soupy. After about 3 minutes, adjust the consistency by adding more sugar if it’s too loose or cream if too firm. Finally, add vanilla, salt, and a generous squeeze of green gel food coloring, whipping on high speed for 2 minutes to get that light, airy texture you want for piping.
Step 4: Pipe the Frosting Into Christmas Trees and Decorate
Fill a piping bag fitted with a large star tip (I use this one and love it: https://amzn.to/3njvNfX) with your buttery frosting. Starting from the bottom edge of each brownie, pipe back and forth, spiraling upwards to create the classic layered Christmas tree shape. Top your frosted trees with festive holiday sprinkles — I like mixing mini stars and tiny silver balls for that twinkling effect. And voila, you’ve got yourself one ridiculously charming batch of Festive Christmas Tree Brownie Bites!
Pro Tips for Making Festive Christmas Tree Brownie Bites Recipe
- Don’t overbake brownies: I learned the hard way that even a minute too long makes them too crumbly, so keep a close eye starting at 15 minutes.
- Frost brownies completely cool: Piping on warm brownies melts your buttercream and loses shape — cooling on a rack is essential.
- Use gel food coloring: This packs more punch without thinning the frosting, keeping the trees perfectly piped.
- Spray the pan generously: My biggest fail was under-greasing, resulting in broken brownie bites — don’t skip this step!
How to Serve Festive Christmas Tree Brownie Bites Recipe
Garnishes
For me, the sprinkles are the main garnish — they actually bring these little trees to life! I mix different shapes like stars and tiny balls and sometimes add edible glitter for an extra sparkle that catches the light. You can also toss on mini candy canes, crushed peppermint, or even tiny chocolate chips depending on your theme or taste.
Side Dishes
I love serving these festive bites alongside a warm drink station set up with hot cocoa, spiced cider, or eggnog. They also pair beautifully with simple vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if you’re aiming for a more indulgent dessert plate without overpowering the brownies.
Creative Ways to Present
Over the years, I’ve had fun arranging these brownie bites in a wreath shape on a festive platter or stacking them into a tiered “Christmas tree” centerpiece. Wrapping each one in clear cellophane with a bright ribbon also makes for charming party favors or gifts. Presentation is half the joy with this recipe!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually store leftover Festive Christmas Tree Brownie Bites in an airtight container in the fridge to keep the buttercream frosting fresh and firm. They’ll happily stay fresh for about 3-4 days. Just be sure to bring them to room temperature before serving again for the best flavor and texture.
Freezing
Freezing these bites is possible, but I recommend freezing the un-frosted brownies separately in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring to a container. Thaw fully and pipe fresh frosting right before serving. This keeps the frosting bright and delicious instead of icy or separated.
Reheating
If you want to warm brownies slightly, avoid the frosting and gently microwave the brownie base alone for 8-10 seconds. Otherwise, just enjoy them cool or at room temp — the buttercream frosting is at its best and most photogenic when chilled but not cold.
FAQs
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Can I use homemade brownies instead of boxed mix for this recipe?
Absolutely! Homemade brownies work wonderfully if you want a more personalized flavor or texture. Just make sure to bake them in a mini cupcake pan and adjust baking time accordingly. The frosting and decorating method stays the same.
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What if I don’t have a piping bag or star tip?
No worries! You can use a zip-top bag and cut a corner off to pipe the frosting, though the tree shape may be less defined. Alternatively, spread the frosting with a small knife or offset spatula and decorate with sprinkles for a rustic look.
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How do I keep the frosting from melting?
Making sure your brownies are completely cool before frosting is crucial, as warm brownies cause the buttercream to melt. Also, storing finished brownies in a cool environment will keep the frosting stable and pretty.
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Can I make these gluten-free or vegan?
Yes! Swap in your favorite gluten-free brownie mix and use vegan butter or margarine plus a non-dairy cream (like coconut cream) for the frosting. The color and decorating stay just as festive!
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How long do these brownie bites last?
Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, they last about 3-4 days. For best taste and frosting texture, enjoy within that window.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love how this Festive Christmas Tree Brownie Bites Recipe combines simplicity with festive flair — it’s the kind of recipe that gets everyone talking and makes your holiday table look so inviting. When I first made these, I was surprised by how little time it took to transform basic ingredients into something magical, and my family has been asking for them at every holiday since. If you’re after a dessert that’s as joyful to make as it is to eat, you’re going to want to try this — I promise, you won’t regret it!
Print
Festive Christmas Tree Brownie Bites Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Total Time: 87 minutes
- Yield: 36 brownie bites
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Festive Christmas Tree Brownie Bites featuring rich boxed brownies topped with creamy homemade green buttercream frosting shaped like Christmas trees and decorated with holiday sprinkles. A fun and easy holiday treat perfect for parties and gifting.
Ingredients
Brownie Base
- 1 box brownie mix (plus ingredients called for on the back of the box, usually water, eggs, oil)
Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Green food coloring
- Holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a mini cupcake pan thoroughly with nonstick spray to prevent sticking. Set the pan aside.
- Make Brownie Batter: Prepare the brownie mix according to the box directions, usually combining the mix with water, eggs, and oil as specified.
- Fill Pan and Bake: Fill each mini cupcake cavity about two-thirds full with the brownie batter. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until the edges are firm but the centers remain slightly soft without being gooey.
- Indent Centers: Remove the brownies from the oven and use the back of a rounded teaspoon to gently press an indentation into the center of each brownie bite while still warm. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
- Cool Completely: Use a paring knife to carefully loosen and pop the brownie bites out of the pan. Transfer them to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely before frosting.
- Cream Butter for Frosting: While the brownies cool, cream the softened butter on low speed using a paddle attachment until pale and creamy.
- Add Sugar and Cream: Gradually add 3 cups of powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons of heavy cream alternately to the butter while mixing on low speed over approximately 3 minutes. Adjust consistency by adding more powdered sugar for stiffness or more cream to thin if needed.
- Flavor and Color: Add the vanilla extract, salt, and green food coloring to the frosting. Whip on high speed for 2 minutes to aerate and combine well.
- Pipe Frosting: Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe the frosting onto each cooled brownie bite using a twisting motion to shape a Christmas tree.
- Add Sprinkles and Serve: Decorate the frosted brownie bites with holiday sprinkles to complete the festive look. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- These Christmas Tree Brownie Bites mix homemade buttercream frosting with easy boxed brownies for a quick and festive dessert.
- The indentation in the center of each brownie bite helps create a space for the frosting tree.
- You can adjust the frosting color and decorations to match your holiday theme.
- This recipe yields about 36 mini brownie bites, perfect for parties or holiday gifting.
- The frosting consistency can be adjusted by varying powdered sugar and cream amounts for easier piping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie bite
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg