Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe
This Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe is a showstopper at every holiday gathering—whimsical, deeply chocolatey, and oh-so-festive! Imagine bite-sized brownies, rich and fudgy, twirled high with green frosting and decked out in sprinkles. The playful candy cane trunks and shimmering star toppers make these treats absolutely irresistible for all ages. Whether you’re looking to dazzle at a cookie exchange or make some magic in the kitchen with kids, the Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe brings smiles, cheer, and unforgettable holiday flavor to your dessert table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You won’t believe how everyday pantry staples can transform into something so adorable and delicious. Each ingredient in this Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe lends richness, structure, or sparkle, making every bite a holiday celebration in itself!
- Unsalted butter, melted: Adds richness and moisture, ensuring the brownies are perfectly fudgy.
- Granulated sugar: Gives classic sweetness and helps create the shiny brownie tops everyone loves.
- Brown sugar: Brings a hint of caramel flavor and chewy texture.
- Large eggs: Bind everything together and add a luscious, dense crumb.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the chocolate flavor with a warm, subtle note.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: The star for deep, chocolaty richness—use high-quality for the best flavor.
- All-purpose flour: Gives structure without making the brownie cups cakey.
- Salt: Just a pinch sharpens all the flavors.
- Baking powder: Helps the brownies puff up just enough in the muffin tin.
- Mini chocolate chips (optional): For extra pockets of melty chocolate—totally decadent!
- Green buttercream or frosting: Swirled on top to create festive little Christmas trees.
- Holiday sprinkles: Use any colorful mix for ornaments and tree decorations.
- Mini candy stars: A magical topper for each brownie tree.
- Small candy canes (halved or broken): These form the adorable ‘tree trunks’.
How to Make Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Pan and Preheat
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F, then lightly grease a 12-cup muffin pan or line it with festive paper liners. This step is key for easy removal and those beautiful, defined brownie cup edges!
Step 2: Whisk the Wet Ingredients
In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Whisk until smooth and glossy—the mixture should look like golden caramel. This blend gives the brownies their signature fudgy shine!
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Next, whisk in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Take your time—mix until fully incorporated for an extra tender brownie base and a wonderful depth of flavor in the Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe.
Step 4: Sift and Stir Dry Ingredients
Sift in the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder right over the wet mixture. Gently fold together with a spatula until almost blended; then, if you’re using mini chocolate chips, fold those in too. Be careful not to overmix—the less you stir, the more tender the brownies!
Step 5: Fill and Bake
Spoon the brownie batter evenly into each muffin cup, filling about three-quarters full. Pop the pan in the oven and bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the tops are just set and a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Avoid overbaking—fudgy is fabulous!
Step 6: Cool Completely
Let the brownie cups cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before carefully transferring to a wire rack. They’ll firm up as they cool, making them sturdy for decorating.
Step 7: Decorate as Trees
Once completely cool, use a piping bag fitted with a star tip to swirl green buttercream high onto each brownie cup. Sprinkle on your favorite holiday decorations, press a mini candy star on top, and gently stick a piece of candy cane into the base. Your Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe is ready to dazzle!
How to Serve Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe
Garnishes
For extra sparkle, try an edible glitter dusting, a few gold dragées, or even a shimmer spray. Each Christmas Tree Brownie Cup looks even more magical with a lavish flourish of holiday cheer—you really can’t overdo it with festive decorations here!
Side Dishes
Pair your brownie cups with mugs of hot cocoa, some peppermint bark, or a frosty glass of milk. At parties, they sit beautifully alongside a fruit platter, cheese board, or a simple dish of crushed peppermint candies for extra dipping fun.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange your Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe on a rustic wooden board as a forest scene, or box them up for edible gifts. Try placing each cup in a cellophane bag tied with ribbon, or even add little personalized name tags—perfect for place settings or stocking stuffers!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you happen to have leftovers, store the brownie cups in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They stay soft, rich, and delicious—just be sure to keep them out of direct sunlight or anywhere too warm, especially with the buttercream decorations.
Freezing
To freeze, it’s best to bake and cool the brownie bases first, then wrap individually and stash in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. When ready to serve, thaw at room temperature, then decorate with fresh frosting and candies for best results—your Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe will taste bakery-fresh!
Reheating
If you want to warm the bare brownie cups (before decorating), give them a quick 5-10 seconds in the microwave for that gooey, just-baked texture. Once frosted and garnished, keep them at room temperature—reheating can melt the decorations and candy canes.
FAQs
Can I use boxed brownie mix for this recipe?
Absolutely! If you’re pressed for time, a good quality boxed mix works well—just follow the instructions, bake in a muffin tin as described, and decorate as directed for your own quick Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe.
How can I get vibrant green frosting?
Gel food coloring is your best friend here. Blend a few drops into your buttercream or store-bought frosting for a vivid, tree-green color without watering down the texture.
Can I make these gluten-free?
Yes, swap the all-purpose flour for your favorite gluten-free blend; choose one meant for 1:1 substitution. The rest of the Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe remains unchanged, so everyone can enjoy a tree-shaped treat!
What’s the best way to pipe the tree shapes?
Using a piping bag fitted with a large star or round tip, start at the center of each brownie cup and pipe upward in tight spirals. If you’re new to piping, practice a few swirls on wax paper first—it’s fun and forgiving!
Can I decorate these with kids?
Definitely! Decorating is half the fun, and little hands love swirling on frosting, shaking sprinkles, and topping trees with candy stars. Set up a decorating station and turn the Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe into a festive family tradition.
Final Thoughts
If you want to spread joy and a dash of holiday magic, you can’t go wrong with this Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe. They’re as fun to make as they are to eat, guaranteed to turn any winter day into a sweet celebration—so gather your sprinkles, rally your loved ones, and whip up a batch of holiday happiness today!
Print
Christmas Tree Brownie Cups Recipe
- Total Time: 29 minutes
- Yield: 12 brownie cups 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Christmas Tree Brownie Cups are a festive and delicious holiday treat that will delight both kids and adults. Rich, chocolatey brownie cups topped with green frosting and colorful decorations, these edible Christmas trees are perfect for any holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Brownie Cups:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
For Decoration:
- green buttercream or frosting
- holiday sprinkles
- mini candy stars
- small candy canes (halved or broken to form tree trunks)
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 12-cup muffin pan or line with paper liners.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla, whisk until combined.
- Add dry ingredients: Sift in cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir until just combined, then fold in mini chocolate chips if using.
- Bake: Spoon batter into muffin cups and bake for 12–14 minutes, or until set. Cool in pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- Decorate: Pipe green frosting in a swirl on each brownie cup to form trees. Add sprinkles as ornaments, place a candy star on top, and insert a small candy cane piece as the trunk.
Notes
- Use store-bought frosting or color homemade buttercream with green food coloring.
- Brownie cups can be made a day ahead and decorated just before serving.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie cup
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
