Tillie Doyle
Christmas tree brownies are a fun and festive treat that is perfect for the holiday season. They are easy to make and can be decorated in a variety of ways. Whether you're using a boxed mix or making your brownies from scratch, the key to achieving the perfect Christmas tree shape is in the way you cut the pan of brownies. In this article, we will guide you through the best techniques for cutting and decorating your brownies, so they look and taste amazing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Line a baking pan with parchment paper or aluminium foil and spray with cooking spray or oil. |
| Bake brownies according to package instructions or homemade recipe. | |
| Cooling | Allow brownies to cool to room temperature before removing from the pan to avoid cracking. |
| Cutting | Cut the pan of brownies into thirds lengthways, then cut diagonally to form triangles. |
| Decoration | Use frosting, sprinkles, candy canes, M&Ms, pretzel sticks, or peppermint extract/oil to decorate the brownies like Christmas trees. |
| Storage | Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or at room temperature for 2-3 days. |
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What You'll Learn
Bake brownies and let them cool
Baking brownies is a simple process, but it's important to follow the steps carefully to ensure your brownies are cooked properly and are easy to work with. First, prepare your pan. You can use an 8x8 or 9x9 square baking pan, depending on the number of brownies you want to make. Line your pan with parchment paper or aluminium foil, then spray with cooking spray or grease with butter or oil. If you're using foil, you can also dust the pan with flour so that the brownies will come out clean.
Next, prepare your brownie mix. You can make your brownie batter from scratch, using a recipe that includes ingredients like unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla extract, salt, chocolate chips, or nuts. Alternatively, you can use a boxed brownie mix, which often includes water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake according to the package or recipe instructions. As a guide, bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 31 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Once your brownies are baked, let them cool completely before removing them from the pan. This is an important step, as it helps the brownies set and ensures they don't crack or break when you cut them. Cooling times can vary, but generally, you should allow at least 30 minutes to an hour and a half. You can speed up the cooling process by placing the pan in the fridge.
When the brownies are cooled, lift them out of the pan using the parchment paper or foil. Gently transfer them to your work surface, ensuring they remain intact. Now you're ready to cut your brownies into Christmas tree shapes!
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Cut brownies into triangles
To cut brownies into triangles, it's recommended to first let the brownies cool to room temperature. This helps the brownie to have clean lines when serving. You can put them in the fridge to speed this up.
The easiest way to cut the brownies into triangles is to first cut the pan of brownies into three equal strips lengthways. Then, cut diagonally, making triangles down each strip. Depending on how big you make them, you should get about 8 triangles per strip. There will be extra brownie at the ends, which you can use for a taste test or to snack on.
If you want to be more precise, you can use skewers as a guide to help you visualise the triangles before cutting. Simply place the skewers on the brownie in the shape of the triangles, then remove them before cutting.
If you want to create Christmas tree brownies, you can decorate the triangles with frosting, sprinkles, and candy canes for the tree trunk.
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Decorate with frosting
Once your brownies are ready and cut into triangles, it's time to decorate them with frosting. You can use a simple zip-top storage bag or a piping bag to pipe the frosting onto the brownies. If you're using a zip-top bag, cut a small hole in one corner of the bag and squeeze the frosting onto the brownies through it. If you don't have a piping bag, you can also use a small plastic bag or a pastry bag.
To make the frosting, you can use homemade frosting or store-bought frosting, depending on your preference. If you want green frosting, add a few drops of green food colouring to the white frosting until you achieve the desired colour. You can also add other colours like red or yellow.
Now, let's start decorating! Pipe the frosting onto the brownies in a zigzag motion, starting at the top of the triangle and working your way down to the bottom. You can create frosting ribbons or garlands on your brownie trees.
Feel free to add some sprinkles to your Holiday Brownie Trees for extra festivity. You can use Christmas-themed sprinkles, holiday-coloured pearls, or both. Press the sprinkles gently but firmly so they stick to the frosting. A star sprinkle at the top of each brownie tree can be a nice touch. You can also use M&M's or other candies as ornaments.
Your Brownie Christmas Trees are now ready to serve! These festive treats are perfect for the holiday season and can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.
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Add sprinkles and candy
Once you've cut your brownies into triangles, it's time to decorate them with sprinkles and candy. If you want to add some extra colour, you can tint your frosting red, green, or yellow. You can also use white chocolate to drizzle on your Christmas treats.
If you want to create a starry night sky effect, use dark blue frosting and sprinkle nonpareils or rainbow sprinkles on top. You can also add a yellow star sprinkle or M&M to the top of each brownie tree. If you can't find star-shaped sprinkles, you can use yellow M&Ms or other small candies.
For a more traditional look, use green frosting to resemble Christmas trees. You can also use green candy melts and drizzle them over the brownies or dip the tops of the brownies into the melted candy. Then, add rainbow sprinkles or Christmas-themed sprinkles to resemble ornaments. You can also use M&Ms or other small candies in festive colours.
Finally, create the tree trunk using a candy cane, pretzel stick, or a stick of KitKat candy. If you don't want an overly sweet treat, you can use a peppermint stick instead. Break off the curved end of the candy cane and insert the straight section into the bottom of the brownie tree.
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Store in an airtight container
Once you've decorated your brownies, it's important to let the frosting set before storing them. You can store your Christmas tree brownies in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days at room temperature. This will keep them fresh and moist. If you want to keep them longer, you can store them in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
If your frosting contains milk, it is recommended to store your brownies in the fridge for up to a week. You can cover the baking pan in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. This will ensure that your brownies stay fresh and delicious for your holiday party or cookie exchange!
Proper storage is essential to maintain the quality and freshness of your brownies. By using airtight containers or freezer bags, you can extend their shelf life and enjoy them for several days or even months.
Additionally, if you have leftover brownie crumbs or broken pieces, you can use them as a crumble topping on ice cream or cake. You can also line the bottom of a muffin cup with the crumbs before baking cupcakes or muffins.
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Frequently asked questions
Cut the pan of brownies into three equal strips, then cut each strip into four or five triangles.
Allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting them, as this will help them to have clean lines. If any pieces do crack or break apart, you can squish them back together.
You can decorate the brownies with frosting, sprinkles, and a candy cane trunk. First, frost an outer line of the tree and then fill in. Starting at the top of the triangle, pipe on frosting in a zigzag motion as you work down to the bottom. Then, add sprinkles and a star sprinkle to the top.
