Oh my gosh, you guys—Frosted Christmas Brownies are hands-down my favorite way to spread holiday cheer in the kitchen! I can still remember my daughter’s face lighting up when we first made these together, her little hands covered in green frosting as we turned simple brownie triangles into a whole forest of edible Christmas trees. The best part? They couldn’t be easier—just bake up your favorite brownies (box mix totally counts!), slice, and decorate with a swirl of festive colors. Whether you’re making Santa hats with red and white frosting or sparkly trees dotted with gold stars, these treats bring so much joy to cookie swaps and holiday parties. Trust me, once you see how quickly these come together, you’ll want to make them every year!
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Frosted Christmas Brownies
Listen, I don’t mess around when it comes to holiday baking—these brownies are a total win for so many reasons:
- Instant holiday magic: A few swirls of colored frosting and BOOM—your brownies transform into edible Christmas decorations that’ll have everyone reaching for their phones to take pictures.
- Easiest baking project ever: We’re talking mix-bake-decorate simple. Even my 5-year-old can help (though fair warning—you might end up with more frosting on faces than brownies!).
- Guaranteed crowd-pleaser: That rich chocolate base with sweet, creamy frosting? I’ve never brought these to a party without someone begging for the recipe.
- Endless creative fun: Go wild with sprinkles, make peppermint swirls, or turn them into little Santa faces—every batch becomes your own edible masterpiece.
Ingredients for Frosted Christmas Brownies
Okay, let’s talk ingredients—because, honestly, this is where the magic starts! You probably have most of this stuff in your pantry already, and if not, it’s super easy to grab at the store. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Brownies: 2 boxes (18-20 oz each) of your favorite brownie mix OR a double batch of homemade brownie batter. (I won’t judge if you go the boxed route—it’s holiday crunch time, after all!)
- White frosting: 1-3 jars (16 oz each) of white frosting. Trust me, you’ll want extra for those perfect swirls.
- Food coloring: Red and green edible gel food coloring—it’s way more vibrant than liquid! If you’re avoiding artificial dyes, natural food coloring works too, though the colors might be softer.
- Edible decorations: A sprinkle of edible gold stars and white pearl sprinkles to make your brownies shine like holiday lights.
- Icing tools: Icing bags (or ziplock bags in a pinch) and a large star frosting tip (like the 1M tip) to create those gorgeous swirls.
That’s it! Simple, right? You’re just a few ingredients away from turning ordinary brownies into a holiday showstopper. Let’s get baking!
How to Make Frosted Christmas Brownies
Baking the Brownies
First things first—heat your oven to whatever temperature your brownie box says (usually 350°F). Here’s my secret: I always spray my 9-inch springform pan with baking spray AND line the bottom with parchment—brownies pop right out every time! Mix up both boxes of brownie batter (or your homemade batter) until just combined—don’t overmix or you’ll get tough brownies. Pour it all into that prepared pan and smooth the top.
Now, bake for the time listed on the box, but start checking 5 minutes early. These brownies are perfect when the edges pull away from the pan and a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs (not wet batter). Overbaked brownies won’t give you those fudgy centers we all love!
Cutting and Decorating
Okay, here’s where the Christmas magic happens! Let the brownies cool completely—I know it’s hard to wait, but warm brownies crumble when you cut them. Once cool, remove them from the pan and place on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut the circle into 8 perfect pizza-like triangles.
While the brownies cool, tint your frosting: separate it into bowls and mix in gel colors—go bold with the red and green! Load each color into piping bags fitted with that star tip. Now comes the fun part: pipe green frosting in swirls from the base to the tip for Christmas trees, then add pearl “ornaments” and a gold star on top. For Santa hats, pipe a red base with a white puff at the tip and brim. Pro tip: if your frosting gets too soft, pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes—it’ll hold those perfect swirls better!
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Irresistible Frosted Christmas Brownies in 30 Minutes Flat
Frosted Christmas Brownies are festive treats perfect for holiday gatherings. Decorated like Christmas trees and Santa hats, they’re simple to make and fun to share.
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 brownies 1x
Ingredients
- 2 Boxes of Brownie Mix, or a double batch of homemade brownies
- White Frosting, 1-3 jars
- Edible Gel Food Coloring (alternative no artificial dye food coloring)
- Edible Gold Stars
- White Pearl Sprinkles
- Icing Bags
- Frosting Tips (large star – 1M)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven according to your brownie box instructions and spray a 9-inch springform pan with oil.
- Mix both brownie mixes and pour them into the springform pan.
- Bake according to the packaging instructions or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Once cooled, remove the brownie from the pan, place it on a cutting board, and cut into 8 triangles.
- In small bowls, mix white frosting with red and green food coloring separately.
- Place each colored frosting and plain white frosting into individual icing bags with frosting tips.
- Decorate the brownies with green frosting, pearl sprinkles, and gold stars for trees, and red and white frosting for Santa hats.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Use homemade brownies for richer flavor if preferred.
- Check brownies early to avoid overbaking.
- Adjust frosting colors to your preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Tips for Perfect Frosted Christmas Brownies
After making these brownies every Christmas for years (and yes, learning from a few frosting disasters), here are my absolute can’t-live-without tips:
- Bake with your nose, not just the timer: Start checking for doneness when you first smell that heavenly chocolate aroma—usually about 5 minutes before the box suggests. Overbaked brownies turn your festive trees into sad, dry stumps!
- Frosting too runny? Easy fix: If your swirls keep collapsing, stir in a tablespoon of powdered sugar at a time until it holds its shape. Too thick? A few drops of milk will save the day.
- Gel colors are game-changers: Those little bottles of liquid food coloring? They’ll turn your frosting into a watery mess. Gel colors give you that vibrant holiday red and green without altering the texture.
- The cooling patience test: I know it’s tempting, but decorating warm brownies leads to melty frosting puddles. Wait until they’re completely cool—your decorations will stay picture-perfect.
- Less is more with sprinkles: Toss them on from about a foot above the brownies—they’ll distribute evenly instead of clumping in one spot like my first batch did!
Remember—even if your trees look more like abstract art, they’ll still taste incredible. The real magic is in the making and sharing!
Frosted Christmas Brownies Variations
Oh friends, here’s where you can really make these Frosted Christmas Brownies your own! Over the years, I’ve played with so many fun twists—here are my favorite ways to mix things up when the holiday spirit strikes:
- Peppermint party: Stir 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract into the white frosting before dividing it—that cool minty flavor pairs perfectly with rich chocolate. Crush some candy canes and sprinkle them on top for extra crunch and holiday cheer.
- Dark chocolate drizzle: After frosting, melt 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips with a teaspoon of coconut oil and drizzle it artfully over your trees or hats. It adds a gorgeous contrast and makes them look like they came from a fancy bakery!
- Gluten-free magic: Simply swap in your favorite gluten-free brownie mix—I promise no one will know the difference once they’re decorated. My go-to is the King Arthur mix—it bakes up just as fudgy as the regular kind.
- Snowy coconut trees: Mix shredded coconut into the green frosting for a textured “pine needle” effect, then dust the tops with powdered sugar “snow.” So pretty!
- Nutty reindeer: Turn some triangles into reindeer by adding pretzel antlers, chocolate chip eyes, and a red M&M nose. My kids beg me to make these every year!
The best part? You can mix and match these ideas—maybe gluten-free peppermint brownies with a chocolate drizzle? However you decorate them, they’ll disappear just as fast!
Storing and Serving Frosted Christmas Brownies
Okay, here’s the deal—these brownies disappear FAST at my house (seriously, I have to hide a few just to get decent photos!), but if you somehow end up with leftovers, here’s how to keep them fresh:
- Room temp is best: Pop them in an airtight container with parchment between layers, and they’ll stay delicious for about 3 days. The frosting might soften a touch, but that chocolate base actually gets even fudgier—bonus!
- Freezing for later: If you’re prepping ahead, freeze the undecorated brownie triangles in a single layer first, then stack them with parchment in a freezer bag. They’ll keep for 2 months—just thaw overnight and decorate the next day. (Though my kids insist frozen brownies taste amazing straight from the freezer…)
- Serving tip: Always let them come to room temperature before serving—cold frosting doesn’t have that luscious creamy texture we all love. I arrange mine on a festive platter about an hour before guests arrive.
- Travel trick: Taking these to a party? Stick ’em in a cupcake carrier with the lids slightly ajar—no smushed frosting, and they stay picture-perfect!
Honestly? The only real problem you’ll have is keeping them around long enough to store. Last year, my neighbor “accidentally” took home six wrapped up in holiday napkins—not that I blame her!
Frosted Christmas Brownies FAQ
I get so many questions about these festive brownies—here are the answers to the ones that pop up most often in my kitchen and inbox:
Can I use homemade brownies instead of box mix?
Absolutely! My favorite homemade version uses 3/4 cup melted butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 3 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 3/4 cup cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 3/4 cup flour—just bake in that same springform pan at 350°F for about 25-30 minutes. That said, box mixes totally work in a pinch (I won’t tell Santa!).
How do I prevent overbaking my brownies?
Set that timer for 5 minutes less than the package says, then do the toothpick test. You want moist crumbs—not clean, not wet batter. The edges should just start pulling away from the pan. Oh, and never trust an oven’s built-in thermometer—mine lies by about 15 degrees!
Can I make these ahead of time?
You bet! Bake and freeze the undecorated triangles up to 2 months ahead—just thaw overnight before frosting. The decorated brownies keep at room temperature for 3 days, though the colors might bleed slightly after day 2 (still tasty!). Pro tip: frost them the morning of your event for the prettiest presentation.
Nutritional Information
Now, I’m no nutritionist—and let’s be real, these are holiday treats meant to be enjoyed—but here’s the general scoop per brownie (remember, these are estimates and will vary depending on your specific ingredients):
- Calories: Around 320 per brownie—but hey, it’s Christmas!
- Fat: 12g (4g saturated, 6g unsaturated)
- Carbs: 48g—mostly from that delicious chocolate base and sweet frosting
- Sugar: 25g (I told you these were festive!)
- Protein: A modest 3g—but we’re here for the flavor, not gains
Want to lighten them up? Try swapping in sugar-free brownie mix or frosting—though honestly, I say go all out for the holidays and enjoy every bite! After all, you can’t put a number on that Christmas joy.
Alright, you’ve got the recipe, the tips, and all the festive inspiration—now it’s your turn to bring these Frosted Christmas Brownies to life! Whether you’re baking them for a party, gifting them to neighbors, or just treating yourself (no judgment here!), I can’t wait to see your creations. Snap a pic of your edible Christmas trees and Santa hats, and don’t forget to tag us @FrostyRecipes so I can share in the holiday fun. Let’s make this the sweetest Christmas yet—happy baking, friends!
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