Description
This Easy & Cute Brownies recipe transforms classic baked brownies into festive holiday treats decorated as Christmas trees, Santa hats, and reindeer with colorful buttercream frosting and fun candies. Perfect for holiday parties, these brownie slices are both delicious and visually appealing.
Ingredients
Brownies
- 1 package brownie mix (including required ingredients: egg, oil, water as per package instructions)
Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 to 4 cups powdered sugar (adjust depending on desired firmness)
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Food coloring: red, brown, and green
Decorations
- Assorted holiday sprinkles
- Red M&Ms (for Rudolph noses)
- Candy eyeballs
Instructions
- Bake the Brownies: Preheat your oven as directed by the boxed brownie mix. Line a 9-inch round baking pan with parchment paper and lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray. Prepare the brownie batter according to package instructions. Pour the batter into the pan and bake as directed until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow brownies to cool completely.
- Make the Buttercream Frosting: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat 1 cup of room temperature unsalted butter until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add 3 cups powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 3 tablespoons heavy cream, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix on low speed initially, then increase to medium-high and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes. If the frosting is too soft, add more powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time to reach desired consistency.
- Color the Frostings: Divide the frosting equally into 4 separate bowls. Add red food coloring to one bowl and mix well until you reach the desired color. Repeat this step with green and brown food coloring in two separate bowls. Leave the fourth bowl of frosting white.
- Cut Brownies into Shapes: Once the brownies have cooled fully, remove them from the pan. Cut the brownies into 8 wedge-shaped slices like a pie. The wedges will serve as the base for the holiday-themed decorations.
- Decorate as Christmas Trees: Using the green colored frosting, spread or pipe it over the surface of selected brownie wedges to create the look of Christmas trees. Garnish with assorted holiday sprinkles to resemble tree decorations.
- Create Santa Hats: For some wedges, spread red frosting over most of the surface, leaving the tip and bottom edge bare. Use the white frosting to pipe along the bottom edge to imitate the furry brim of Santa’s hat, and add a dollop of white frosting at the tip for the pom-pom.
- Make Reindeer Brownies: Spread brown or chocolate-colored frosting over remaining brownie wedges. Decorate by placing candy eyeballs near the top and a red M&M at the tip for Rudolph’s signature red nose.
Notes
- Ensure brownies are completely cool before frosting to prevent melting.
- Adjust frosting consistency with powdered sugar or cream to achieve preferred spreading or piping thickness.
- Use gel food coloring for more vibrant colors without thinning the frosting.
- These decorated brownies are perfect for holiday parties and festive gatherings.
- Store leftover brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
