Christmas Brownies
Posted Nov 15, 2026
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These Christmas brownies are easy to make with the best from-scratch fudgy brownies and homemade vanilla frosting. Cut the brownies into triangles, then decorate them as Christmas tree brownies or Santa hats for a fun and festive Christmas dessert!
These Christmas brownies are a fun and festive holiday dessert that’s easy to make and so fun to decorate!
All you have to do is bake a pan of fudgy homemade brownies, let them cool and then cut them into triangles- no cookie cutters and very minimal waste.
Then, you can decorate an entire batch as Christmas tree brownies, make all Santa hats, or do a combination of both. Either way, these Christmas brownies a fun dessert to add to your Christmas cookie trays, serve at holiday parties, or bake and enjoy them with your kids while you drive around and look at Christmas lights with a cup of homemade hot cocoa.
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Brownies
- Two festive designs. Make Christmas trees, Santa hats or a combination of both from the same batch!
- So fudgy. The brownies are rich, fudgy and intensely chocolatey.
- Made from scratch. No box mix or canned frosting.
- Fun to decorate. My kids love helping frosting and adding sprinlkles!
- Perfect for Christmas. They’re a fun addition to Christmas parties, dessert trays and holiday baking days.
Christmas Brownies Ingredients & Substitutions
Brownies
I use my favorite homemade brownies for this recipe. You can use a box mix if you prefer.
- Chocolate. Use high-quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate. Chocolate chips, bars or discs all work well because it’s being melted.
- Salted Butter. Unsalted butter works well too. So does vegan butter.
- Granulated sugar. Regular granulated sugar or organic cane sugar both work well.
- All-purpose flour. A 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour can be used to make gluten-free Christmas brownies.
- Cocoa powder. Regular unsweetened cocoa powder is the best choice, but dark cocoa powder can be used for an even richer chocolate flavor.
Vanilla Frosting & Decorations
- Vanilla buttercream frosting. I use my homemade vanilla frosting because it’s easy to pipe and tastes delicious. See this post for substitution ideas.
- Food coloring. You’ll need red gel food coloring and green gel food coloring to make both designs. I suggest gel food coloring because it creates vibrant colors without thinning the frosting.
- Sprinkles. Use your favorite Christmas sprinkles to decorate the Christmas tree brownies.
- You can also use small candy decorations to make ornaments and stars on top of the trees.
Christmas Brownies – Tools
- Disposable piping bags for easy cleanup.
- 9×9″ baking dish (for baking the brownies) I have had this one from crate and barrel forever, it’s my favorite.
- Wilton tips, start and round. This is the perfect set.
- Couplers for the tips.
How to Make Christmas Brownies
Let’s walk through this Christmas brownies recipe together – and don’t forget to watch the video. This recipe is pretty easy, and it flows like this:
- Make the brownies & let them cool completely.
- Make & color the frosting.
- Decorate and let set.
- Serve
Make the Brownies
The first step is to make the brownies. You need to let them cool completely before cutting and decorating so please keep that in mind. Line a 9×9″ (23 cm) square baking dish with parchment paper and lightly grease, then set it aside.
Next, melt the butter and chocolate together either in the microwave or on the stovetop. The mixture needs to cool slightly before putting into the batter – which is why it’s the first step!
While the melted chocolate/butter mixture is cooling, beat the eggs in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the wire whisk attachment. Or you can use a large bowl and a handheld mixer.
You want to beat for at least 1 minute, or until the eggs are light, slightly thick and foamy. Do not skimp on the beating, this is what gives you shiny crackly tops perfect for decorating.
Next, add the sugar and beat for another minute – or until the mixture is thick and pale yellow in color.
Then add the melted chocolate/butter mixture and the vanilla and beat until incorporated.
Then, add the flour, cocoa powder and sea salt and beat again until combined. You don’t want to over-beat the mixture here.
Next, evenly spread the brownie batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is set and the brownies are only slightly jiggly when then pan is shaken. Then, remove them from the oven and let them cool completely.
Cool Completely
Let the Christmas brownies cool completely before cutting and decorating them. Warm brownies are more likely to fall apart when they’re cut, and they’ll melt the frosting.
Once the brownies are cooled completely, it’s time to turn them into Christmas brownies. I chose to do this by cutting them into triangles so there is the least amount of waste possible while still being able to make cute designs. You can also use cookie cutters to make different shapes, but you’ll end up with more brownie scraps.
Start by cutting the brownies in half horizontally to make two rectangles.
On one end of the first rectangle, make a diagonal cut to remove a small right triangle. Then, make another diagonal cut in the opposite direction to create your first full triangle brownie.
Make three more diagonal cuts in alternating directions to cut the rest of the brownies into triangles.
When you reach the other end, you’ll have one more small right triangle to trim off. Repeat the process with the second rectangle. Now your Christmas brownies are ready to decorate!
Make the Frosting
While the brownies are cooling, make the vanilla buttercream frosting. Start by beating the butter, vanilla and sea salt together for 1 minute. You can use a standing mixer, or a large bowl and a handheld mixer.
Then add the milk and powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy. You may need to pause, scrape down the sides and then resume beating.
Next, divide the frosting into three bowls, one small portion (to keep white) and two bowls with equal amounts.
Make one of the larger bowls red by adding the red gel food coloring, and make one green.
Then transfer the frosting to piping bags fitted with a round tip or star tip.
Next, gather your sprinkles and get ready to decorate.
Make Ahead
You can make the brownies 1-2 days before you plan to decorate them. Let them cool completely, then store them in an airtight container until you’re ready to cut and decorate.
You can also make the vanilla frosting ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature and whip it again before decorating.
Decorate the Christmas Brownies
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that there’s really no wrong way to decorate these brownies—especially if you’re making them with kids! You can even set out bowls of decorations and let everyone decorate their own!
Christmas Tree Brownies
To make Christmas tree brownies, place the brownie triangles with the wide side at the bottom.
Pipe green frosting back and forth across each brownie, starting at the bottom and gradually making the lines shorter as you work toward the top to create the shape of a Christmas tree.
Decorate with Christmas sprinkles, nonpareils or small candies that look like ornaments. Add a star sprinkle or candy to the top, if desired.
Santa Hat Brownies
To make Santa hat brownies, pipe red frosting back and forth over the brownie triangle, space at the top and bottom to pipe on a white ball and white trim. Then add sprinkles if you want to.
Let the frosting harden before serving.
How to Serve Christmas Brownies
Serve these Christmas brownies at room temperature with a cup of homemade hot chocolate. They’re a fun addition to Christmas cookie trays, holiday parties and dessert tables!
More Delicious Christmas Recipes
If you love these Christmas tree brownies, you need to try these recipes too!
- Peppermint brownies are another holiday fave.
- Double chocolate cookies are so good!
- Cut out sugar cookies are a must-bake holiday tradition.
- Chocolate brownie cookies are so fudgy.
- Also try these chocolate crinkle cookies.
How to Store Christmas Brownies
Store decorated Christmas brownies in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
The frosting hardens, but not quite as hard as my sugar cookie icing – so I don’t recommend stacking these brownies unless they’re on the top of another treat or cookie (like on a Christmas cookie tray).
Freeze
To freeze decorated Christmas brownies, put them on a baking sheet in a single layer in the freezer until hardened. Then transfer to an airtight container and store in a single layer for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Absolutely do not microwave – it will melt the frosting.
Christmas Brownies Recipe FAQS
Cold! Let the brownies cool completely before cutting them. Warm brownies will fall apart and will melt the frosting.
Yes, technically you can use your favorite boxed brownie mix and decorate it the same way. However, I recommend making my homemade brownies because they taste so much better!
Vanilla buttercream or vanilla decorator’s frosting are the best because it holds its shape when piped and can be dyed to whatever color you want.
Yes. The brownies can be baked a day or two in advance and stored in the covered baking pan before cutting and decorating.
Cut completely cooled brownies into rows, then make alternating diagonal cuts across each row to create triangles. Chilling the brownies before cutting makes it even easier to get clean edges.
If you make and love my recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so I can see your creations!
Christmas Brownies (Christmas Tree Brownies)
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
Brownies
- ½ cup salted butter
- 6 oz 1 cup semisweet chocolate*
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup salted butter
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 2-5 drops red gel food coloring
- 2 drops green gel food coloring
Instructions
Make the Brownies
- Preheat oven to 350℉ (177℃), line a 9×9” (23 cm) baking dish with parchment paper and lightly grease, set aside.
- Melt chocolate and butter together in a microwave safe bowl, or on the stovetop over low heat. Stir until smooth and glossy. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a standing mixer, beat eggs for 1 minute or until pale and thick.
- Add sugar and beat for an additional 1 minute.
- Add melted chocolate/butter mixture and vanilla and stir on low speed until batter is smooth.
- Add flour, cocoa powder and salt and mix on low speed until just incorporated and there are no lumps.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center is barley jiggly.
- Remove from the oven, put on a wire rack and let cool completely.
Make the Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- Once the brownies are cooled, make the buttercream frosting.
- In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer, beat the butter, vanilla and sea salt for 1 minute.
- Add 2 cups of the powered sugar and beat until incorporated.
- Then, add the milk and the rest of the powdered sugar, beat until smooth and fluffy.
- Divide the frosting into three bowls, one small portion (to keep white) and two bowls with equal amounts.
- Make one of the larger bowls red by adding the red food coloring, and make one green.
- Put into piping bags fitted with a round tip or star tip.
Cut the Christmas Brownies
- Start by cutting the brownies in half horizontally to make two rectangles.
- On one end of the first rectangle, make adiagonal cut to remove a small right triangle. Then, make another diagonal cutin the opposite direction to create your first full triangle brownie.
- Make three more diagonal cuts in alternating directions to cut the rest of the brownies into triangles.
- When you reach the other end, you'll have one more small right triangle to trim off.
- Repeat the process with the second rectangle.
Decorate the Brownies – Christmas Tree Brownies
- To make Christmas tree brownies, place the brownie triangles with the wide side at the bottom.
- Pipe green frosting back and forth across each brownie,starting at the bottom and gradually making the lines shorter as you worktoward the top to create the shape of a Christmas tree
- Decorate with Christmas sprinkles that look like ornaments. Add a star sprinkle or candy to the top, if desired.
Decorate the Brownies – Santa Hat Brownies
- To make Santa hat brownies, pipe red frosting back and forth over the brownie triangle, leaving space at the top and bottom to pipe on a white ball and white trim. Then add sprinkles if you want to.
Harden & Serve
- Let the frosting harden before serving the brownies at room temperature.
Notes
- Chocolate. Use high-quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate. Chocolate chips, bars or discs all work well because it’s being melted.
- Salted Butter. Unsalted butter works well too. So does vegan butter.
- Granulated sugar. Regular granulated sugar or organic cane sugar both work well.
- All-purpose flour. A 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour can be used to make gluten-free Christmas brownies.
- Cocoa powder. Regular unsweetened cocoa powder is the best choice, but dark cocoa powder can be used for an even richer chocolate flavor.
- Vanilla buttercream frosting. I use my homemade vanilla frosting because it’s easy to pipe and tastes delicious. See this post for substitution ideas.
- Food coloring. You’ll need red gel food coloring and green gel food coloring to make both designs. I suggest gel food coloring because it creates vibrant colors without thinning the frosting.
- Sprinkles. Use your favorite Christmas sprinkles to decorate the Christmas tree brownies.
- You can also use small candy decorations to make ornaments and stars on top of the trees.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
