There’s something magical about turning a classic brownie into a festive treat, and this Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe does just that. Imagine stacks of fudgy brownie rounds decorated like miniature Christmas trees—fun to make, and irresistible to taste!

Three small, stacked chocolate cake towers each have three layers. Between and on top of the layers is smooth, bright green frosting shaped like Christmas tree branches. The frosting has red, white, and green round sprinkles, and a small yellow star sits on the very top of each tower. The cakes sit on a white napkin decorated with colored Christmas lights, all placed on a white marbled surface. Some small yellow star decorations are scattered around. In the background, there is green pine tree foliage. 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 Tree Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made these Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies more times than I can count during the holidays because they’re supremely easy and instantly festive. Plus, they’re a creative way to impress friends and family without spending hours in the kitchen.

Fun Yet Simple: You don’t need fancy skills—just a steady piping hand and a bit of patience for stacking.
Customizable Frosting: The green frosting is just the start—you can tweak the colors and sprinkles any way you like.
Perfect Party Treat: These are bite-sized, shareable, and make a great holiday conversation starter.
Use Store-Bought or Homemade: Whether you bake your brownies from scratch or use a box mix, it’s quick and fuss-free.

The image shows three Christmas tree-shaped cupcakes placed on a white marbled surface with a colorful string light pattern underneath. Each cupcake has three layers of dark brown cake, stacked from largest to smallest from bottom to top. Between each cake layer is a thick swirl of bright green frosting that looks smooth and creamy. The top layer is decorated with the same green frosting shaped like a pointed tree top, sprinkled with small red, white, and green round sprinkles, and finished with a yellow star candy on the very top. Around the cupcakes, there are green pine branches adding a festive feel. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Let’s talk about the magic behind these ingredients that come together to make your Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies sparkle and taste amazing. I like to pick a rich, fudgy brownie mix or homemade batter for that perfect dense texture. The frosting ingredients are straightforward but essential for that classic green tree look.

Flat lay of a block of baked and cooled brownie with a rich chocolate texture, two whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl of golden vegetable oil, a small white bowl of clear water, a small white bowl filled with powdered white sugar, a stick of pale yellow softened butter, a small white bowl of creamy milk, a small white bowl of green frosting vividly colored, a small white bowl containing tiny colorful holiday sprinkles, and a small yellow star-shaped sugar decoration, all arranged in perfect symmetry on simple white ceramic dishes, placed 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: This is your cookie base, and a fudgy mix works best for sturdy stacking without crumbling.
Eggs, Vegetable Oil, Water: These bind the brownie batter and keep it moist.
Powdered Sugar: The key to a smooth, sweet frosting that holds its shape.
Butter (softened): Adds richness and smooth texture to the frosting.
Vanilla Extract: Boosts flavor and rounds out the sweetness.
Milk: Helps adjust frosting consistency so it’s pipeable but firm enough to hold details.
Green Food Coloring: Gives that iconic Christmas tree color that makes these cookies festive.
Holiday Sprinkles and Yellow Stars: Tiny details that bring the tree to life with a twinkle and sparkle.
Disposable Piping Bag + Wilton Star Tip 1M: Essential tools for creating the beautiful layered frosting texture.
Round Cookie Cutters: Use three different sizes to cut consistent brownie rounds for easy stacking.

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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

I love switching up the sprinkles and sometimes adding a hint of peppermint extract to the frosting for a festive twist. You can make these as kid-friendly or as fancy as you want, which makes this Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe fun for every holiday cook in your family.

Variation: One year, I swapped green food coloring for red and white to create candy cane-inspired trees—it was a huge hit!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Your Brownie Base

Start by baking your brownie mix following the package instructions or your favorite recipe. I like to bake them in a lined 9x9 pan so the brownies come out thick and fudgy. Let the brownies cool completely—this step is key because warm brownies can crumble or cause your frosting to melt when you start decorating.

Step 2: Make the Green Frosting

Whip together your powdered sugar, room temp softened butter, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add milk one tablespoon at a time until you get a spreadable yet pipe-friendly consistency. Stir in green food coloring—start with a little and add more to get the perfect pine tree shade.

Step 3: Cut Out the Brownie Circles

Using your three round cookie cutters of varying sizes, gently press them into the cooled brownie slab to cut out neat circles. Pro tip: dip your cutters into hot water before cutting to slice cleaner through the brownies.

Step 4: Pipe the Frosting and Stack

Fit your disposable piping bag with the Wilton 1M star tip and fill it with your green frosting. Start by squeezing swirls of frosting on top of the largest brownie round. Then place the medium-sized brownie on top and pipe more frosting, repeating with the smallest round to form your "tree". This layered effect mimics the shape of a Christmas tree perfectly.

Step 5: Decorate with Sprinkles and Stars

Add holiday sprinkles like tiny red and gold balls or edible glitter for some festive magic. Top each frosting tree with a small yellow star candy. I find the star really pulls the look together—it’s like crowning your edible masterpiece.

Top Tip

From my experience, the key to flawless Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies is patience and the right frosting consistency. Here’s what I learned the hard way so you don’t have to:

Keep Brownies Cool: Don’t cut or frost brownies when warm, or they’ll crumble and soften too much.
Frosting Consistency: Too runny frosting will drip and ruin your crisp tree layers, so add milk slowly and test often.
Use a Sharp Cookie Cutter: Warm it slightly or dip in water for perfect, clean brownie circles every time.
Stack Gently: Handle the brownies with care when stacking to keep trees neat and upright.

How to Serve Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe

Brownie Christmas Tree - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually top these with festive sprinkles I’ve collected over the years—red nonpareils, edible glitter, and those tiny silver balls that catch the light just right. The yellow candy star is a must-have for that authentic tree topper look.

Side Dishes

These cookies are sweet enough to shine on their own, but I love pairing them with a crisp glass of cold milk or a warm cup of spiced hot cocoa for an extra cozy holiday vibe.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I arranged the Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies on a big platter with sprigs of fresh rosemary to mimic pine branches, and it was such a crowd-pleaser. Wrapping each cookie in a cellophane bag tied with a festive ribbon also makes a heartfelt gift for neighbors and coworkers.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. The frosting stays lovely if you avoid humid environments, and the brownies retain their fudgy texture perfectly.

Freezing

These freeze surprisingly well! I tuck them into a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. When ready, just thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours before serving.

Reheating

If you want that just-baked warm feeling, pop the brownie cookies in the microwave for about 10 seconds. This softens them slightly without melting the frosting, making each bite extra cozy and delicious.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use homemade brownies for this Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe?

Absolutely! Homemade brownies work wonderfully. Just make sure they're fully cooled and dense enough to hold their shape when cut and stacked.

What’s the best way to get the green frosting texture right?

Using a star tip like the Wilton 1M gives the frosting a nice ridged effect that looks like pine needles. The key is frosting consistency—not too runny or too stiff—to pipe perfectly.

Can I prepare these Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies ahead of time?

Yes! You can bake and cut the brownies a day or two ahead, then assemble and decorate them right before serving to keep the frosting fresh.

Are there any substitutions for the sprinkles?

Definitely! You can swap holiday sprinkles with mini chocolate chips, crushed peppermint candies, or even chopped nuts to customize your cookies.

Final Thoughts

These Brownie Christmas Tree Cookies hold a special place in my holiday baking because they’re so cheerful and easy to share. They remind me of cozy afternoons spent with friends, piping frosting and giggling over the perfect tree shape. Give this recipe a try—you'll love the smiles they bring (and the delicious bites you get to sneak, of course)!