Christmas Tree Brownies Recipe

Brownies

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour an 8-inch square pan.
2. In a saucepan , melt the butter. Add the chocolate chips and cocoa powder. Mix until combined and the chocolate is perfectly melted.
3. In a standing mixer, mix the eggs until they are light and fluffy. Begin to add the sugar little by little. It is very important that before you add anything else, you have to let them rise until the eggs and sugar look pale yellow.
4. Add some of the sugar mixture into the chocolate, so it cools off. Once it is at room temperature, add the chocolate mixture back into the standing mixer bowl with the rest of the sugar and eggs. Mix until combined.
5. Sift the flour into the mixture and mix until combined. Do NOT over mix. You can also mix it manually instead of using the standing mixer.
6. Pour the batter into your lined baking pan and bake in the oven for 20 - 25 minutes or until the texture does not bounce, and it doesn't look shiny anymore. Do not overcook.
7. Allow them to cool for 10 minutes before removing the brownies from the pan.
8. Once baked, allow the brownies to cool completely until they reach room temperature. Remove the brownies from the pan and cut into triangles. There should be three rows, 4 large triangles per row, so they are even, and you will have some edges that would work for smaller trees. You will make 12 large brownie trees.
9. If you are using candy canes, unwrap each one and with a knife cut some 1.5 inch long pieces. Press the sharper ends of the candy cane into the bottom of the tree.
10. Meanwhile, prepare your buttercream frosting, and when it’s ready use a piping bag and starting at the top of the tree, gently squeeze your piping bag to make a zigzag from the top to bottom of the tree.
11. Add your favorite Christmas sprinkles on top of your buttercream frosting and enjoy!

Buttercream Frosting

1. Prepare your buttercream frosting by beating the butter with a hand mixer, until light and fluffy.
2. Add the powdered sugar little by little until thoroughly combined. Add the milk and mix until combined. Then add the green food coloring and mix until you have the desired color that is spread throughout all of the frosting. (You can add a teaspoon of peppermint extract or vanilla extract if you want the frosting to have a hint of flavor)
3. Put some frosting in your piping bag to decorate your brownies; if you don’t have a piping bag spread some of the buttercream frosting with a spatula over each brownie and top with sprinkles. Let the frosting firm up before serving.