Christmas tree brownies to bake with kids
Prep: 25 min · Cook: 25 min · Makes: about 24 small trees · For:
Brownies are always a favorite, and cut into triangles with green garlands and a little pretzel trunk they turn into a whole forest of Christmas trees. The recipe is made in one pan with a wooden spoon, so there is no mixer to wash up.
Tips
- Do not overbake. Brownies keep cooking as they cool, so take them out while the center is still slightly soft.
- Cool completely before cutting, or the triangles will crumble.
- Use the corners and scraps for a brownie trifle or just for nibbling.
Little helpers
Children can stir the batter, crack the eggs (over a separate cup), pipe the garlands and decorate the trees. Melting the chocolate on the stove is a job for a grown-up.
Ingredients
- 9 tbsp butter
- 5 oz semisweet chocolate
- ¾ cup plus 2 tbsp sugar (half can be light brown sugar)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup plus 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- a pinch of salt
- ¾ cup plus 1 tbsp powdered sugar and 1 tbsp water, for the icing
- green food coloring gel
- sugar pearls or small candy, as ornaments
- 24 small pretzel sticks, for the trunks
Method
- Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9 x 9-inch square pan with parchment paper.
- Melt the butter and chocolate together in a pan over a low heat, stirring, then take it off the heat and let it cool for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the sugar and vanilla, then beat in the eggs one at a time with a wooden spoon until glossy.
- Sift in the flour, cocoa and salt and fold in until no flour is visible.
- Pour the batter into the pan, spread it out and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the top is set and a skewer comes out with a few moist crumbs. Do not overbake.
- Let the brownie cool completely in the pan, then lift it out and cut it into strips, then into triangles. Each triangle is a little tree.
- Mix the powdered sugar with the water and a little green coloring. Pipe zigzag garlands across the trees with a small bag with the corner snipped off.
- Press on sugar pearls as ornaments while the icing is wet and push a pretzel stick into the bottom of each tree as a trunk.
Questions
How do I get neat triangles?
Chill the cooled brownie for 30 minutes and use a large knife dipped in hot water, wiped dry between cuts.
Can I make them ahead?
Bake the brownie up to 3 days ahead and keep it wrapped. Cut and decorate on the day.
Can I freeze brownies?
Yes, undecorated, for up to 3 months.
You might also like
