Nice Festive Christmas Tree Brownies

FACT: Food is forthwith amend when it’s been holiday-fied ß Not a word, but that’s okay. Remember these candy corn Rice Krispies treats I made for Halloween? Yeah, ADORABLE! So for Christmas, I’m adding a seasonal spin to a classic dessert – BROWNIES!

Quadrilateral brownies are thus overrated. Instead, I’m making Christmas tree brownies! Initially, I used a Christmas tree cookie cutter to cutting the brownies into the appropriate shape, but in that place were also many scraps in addition to non plenty trees alongside that method. So instead, I cutting the brownies into triangles, which await only similar trees alongside significantly less scraps. In fact, in that place are precisely 4 half-triangle scraps that yous should most definitely snack on patch cutting the residuum of the brownies.

But no Christmas tree is consummate without garland in addition to ornaments, right? So I decorated the trees alongside vanilla buttercream frosting, sprinkles, in addition to mini M&Ms! I used vanilla buttercream frosting every bit opposed to cream cheese frosting or chocolate ganache because buttercream frosting hardens, it lasts longer, in addition to it’s easier to carry ß of import if yous desire to stick these inwards cute vacation bags in addition to mitt out every bit gifts to your friends in addition to neighbors.

Also, Christmas trees bring trunks, which are easily made alongside candy canes!

FOREWARNING: You may live surprised that my brownie “recipe” is a box of Ghirardelli brownie mix. I tin already necessitate heed the haters saying, “That’s non actual home-baking!” Well ya know what, I’ve tested out half-a-dozen homemade brownie recipes in addition to the Ghirardelli brownie mix is my favorite. And I intend sometimes nosotros forget that easier is better. So I’m using brownie mix in addition to NO ONE CAN STOP ME FROM LICKING THE BATTER!

Christmas Tree Brownies

Ingredients

For the brownies

• Two boxes of Ghirardelli brownie mix
• 1/2 loving cup water
• 2/3 loving cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs

For the buttercream frosting

• 1 loving cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 4 to five cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 loving cup heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

For the brownies

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Line a 15x10* baking pan alongside aluminum foil in addition to spray alongside nonstick baking spray (the argue for using aluminum foil is thus that they’re slow to push clitoris out of the pan). Set pan aside.
3. Mix the water, vegetable oil, in addition to eggs inwards a bowl.
4. Add the 2 boxes of brownie mix in addition to stir until well-blended.
5. Spread mix into pan.
6. Bake brownies for 39 minutes. Check on them – if yous stick a toothpick inwards the centre in addition to it comes out clean, they’re done! If brownie mix sticks on the toothpick, bake for a 2 to a greater extent than minutes in addition to cheque again.
7. When the brownies bring cooled, life the aluminum foil out of the pan.
8. Slice the brownies inwards one-half length-wise (down the center) in addition to and thus brand half dozen diagonal cuts to cast 22 “trees” alongside 4 edges every bit scraps inwards each corner.

 For the buttercream

1. Beat softened butter on medium speed for close 2 minutes until smoothen in addition to creamy.
2. Add powdered saccharide in addition to mix until combined
3. Add cream, vanilla extract, in addition to tabular array salt in addition to mix until combined
4. Increase mixer to high speed in addition to vanquish for 3 total minutes.
5. Add to a greater extent than powdered saccharide if frosting is also sparse or to a greater extent than cream if frosting is also thick.
6. OPTIONAL: Add 2 to iii drops of greenish nutrient coloring in addition to mix until color is distributed.
7. Decorate brownies alongside frosting, sprinkles, in addition to other toppings of your choice!

*If yous don’t bring a 15x10 pan, purpose a 9x13 pan – the brownies volition only live a petty thicker.