Peppermint Brownie Christmas Trees are a super easy and festive dessert that everyone always loves. They’re rich, chocolatey, and full of peppermint flavor, with a cute holiday twist that makes them look like little edible Christmas trees. This simple recipe is perfect for cookie exchanges, classroom parties, or Christmas dessert tables. They’re fun to make, impressive to serve, and taste just as good as they look.
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I love making desserts that feel playful but don’t take all day, and these brownie trees are just that. They’re easy to decorate, fun for kids to help with, and they always make people smile. Plus, they’re the kind of treat that looks like you spent hours on them, even though they come together in no time.
A Festive Favorite
There’s just something about the combination of chocolate and peppermint that says Christmas to me. I make these when I want something that looks special but doesn’t take all day in the kitchen. The brownies bake up rich and chewy, and when you stack them with cool peppermint icing and a sprinkle of crushed candy canes, you’ve got a treat that tastes like holiday magic.
Ingredients
- Brownie mix – Plus ingredients listed on the package. Usually, this is eggs, oil, and water.
- White icing – Any flavor works, but for the best contrast, use vanilla. Or, make your own icing!
- Crushed candy canes – You can buy them crushed or pop them into a zipper-top bag and go at them with a rolling pin until they’re crushed.
- Silver star sprinkles – Or any festive sprinkles!
How to Make Peppermint Brownie Christmas Trees
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
Start by lining a 9×13 pan with parchment paper so you can lift the brownies out easily once they’re baked. Prepare and bake the brownie mix according to the package directions. Once baked, let them cool completely before removing them from the pan using the parchment. I like to chill them in the freezer for about 10 minutes so they’re easier to cut and stack.
Using round cookie biscuit cutters in three sizes, cut out brownie circles in sets of three: one small, one medium, and one large for each tree. Fit a large piping tip (like a 2D) into a piping bag and fill it with your icing.
Start with the largest brownie circle as your base and pipe a swirl of icing over the top. Sprinkle a few crushed peppermint pieces on the icing, then add the next brownie layer. Repeat with more icing and peppermint, then top it off with the smallest brownie circle. Finish with one last swirl of icing, a sprinkle of crushed peppermint, and a silver star on top.
Repeat until all your brownie trees are assembled. I like to set them on a platter and chill them in the fridge for a bit before serving so the icing stays firm and pretty.
Serving Suggestions
These brownie trees make such a fun addition to any dessert table. Serve them on a white platter for a snowy, wintery look, or wrap them individually in clear treat bags for a cute homemade gift. They pair perfectly with hot chocolate or coffee, and kids love helping decorate them with extra sprinkles or colored sugar. <<<Jenn adding>>> I love serving these Peppermint Brownie Christmas Trees along with <holiday dessert 1, 2, & 3 mentioned here with links>.
Storage Tips
Store your Peppermint Brownie Christmas Trees in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. You can also make the brownie circles ahead of time and freeze them. When ready to serve, just thaw, assemble, and decorate. If you’re making them for a party, I recommend chilling them before serving to help the icing hold its shape.
Peppermint Brownie Christmas Trees
Ingredients
- 1 box brownie mix plus ingredients listed on package
- 1 tub white icing or your favorite icing recipe
- candy canes crushed
- silver star sprinkles
Instructions
- Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Prepare and bake the brownie mix following package directions. Cool completely.
- Remove the brownies from the pan and chill in the freezer for 10 minutes. Using cookie cutters, cut out circles in sets of three (one of each size).
- Insert a piping tip into a piping bag and fill the bag with icing.
- Starting with the largest brownie circle, pipe a layer of icing, then sprinkle with crushed peppermint.
- Add the next brownie layer, more icing, and peppermint. Top with the smallest brownie circle and finish with icing, peppermint, and a silver star sprinkle.
- Repeat the process for the remaining brownie circles. Chill until ready to serve.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.