Description

These Christmas Tree Brownie Bites are a festive and fun holiday treat made from a boxed brownie mix topped with homemade green buttercream frosting piped to resemble Christmas trees. Perfect for parties or gifting, these bite-sized desserts combine the rich fudginess of brownies with a creamy, sweet vanilla frosting and holiday sprinkles for a cheerful finish.

Ingredients

Scale

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 (for decoration)

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Instructions

Prepare the Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a mini cupcake pan thoroughly with nonstick spray to ensure easy removal later.
Make Brownie Batter: Follow the directions on your boxed brownie mix package, combining the mix with the required water, eggs, and oil to make the batter. Fill each mini cupcake cavity about two-thirds full with this batter.
Bake Brownies: Place the pan in the oven and bake the brownies for 15 to 17 minutes. They should be firm around the edges but still slightly soft in the center (not gooey).
Create an Indentation: Remove the pan from the oven and use the back of a round teaspoon to gently press an indentation into the center of each brownie to hold the frosting later. Let the brownies cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
Cool Completely: Carefully use a paring knife to loosen and pop the brownie bites out of the pan. Transfer them to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely before frosting.
Make Buttercream Frosting: In a mixing bowl, cream 1 cup of softened unsalted butter on low speed with a paddle attachment until pale and creamy. Gradually add 3 cups of powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons heavy cream alternately in small amounts while mixing on low for about 3 minutes. Adjust the consistency by adding more powdered sugar for thicker frosting or more cream for thinner frosting.
Add Flavor and Color: Mix in 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon salt, and green food coloring. Increase the mixer speed to high and whip the frosting for 2 minutes until fluffy and well combined.
Pipe Frosting: Fill a piping bag fitted with a large star tip with the green buttercream. Pipe the frosting onto each cooled brownie bite, twisting back and forth slightly as you go to create a Christmas tree shape.
Decorate: Top each frosted brownie bite with festive holiday sprinkles to add color and cheer.

Notes

Using a boxed brownie mix simplifies the process but you can substitute with your favorite homemade brownie recipe if desired.
The indentation in the brownies helps the frosting sit securely and creates a more visually appealing shape.
If the frosting is too soft to pipe, chill it briefly before decorating.
These brownie bites are perfect for holiday parties and can be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container.
Use a fresh piping bag without food coloring residue for the brightest green frosting.
For a thicker frosting, add more powdered sugar in small increments until desired consistency is achieved.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 brownie bite (approx. 30g)
Calories: 160
Sugar: 20g
Sodium: 85mg
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 2g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 22g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 20mg