If you’re looking for a festive treat that’s both fun to make and absolutely delicious, you’re going to love this Holiday Green Frosted Brownie Bites Recipe. I absolutely love how these little brownie bites come out — fudgy, chocolatey, and topped with a luscious green buttercream that looks just like tiny Christmas trees. Whether you’re baking for a holiday party, school event, or just to treat your family, this recipe is sure to become a favorite. Stick with me here, because I’ll share some tips and tricks to get them just right!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy Yet Impressive: These brownie bites use a boxed mix but look and taste homemade with that dreamy buttercream frosting.
- Perfect for Holiday Gatherings: The festive green frosting and sprinkles make them party-ready and eye-catching on any dessert table.
- Kid-Friendly Fun: My kids love helping pipe the frosting and add sprinkles, which makes baking together a blast.
- Customizable: You can adjust the frosting consistency and decorations easily to fit your holiday style or dietary needs.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients come together to make fudgy brownie bites topped with a creamy, perfectly green frosting that holds its shape beautifully. A quick note: be sure to use good quality butter and fresh powdered sugar for the best results — it really makes a difference in the frosting’s texture!
- Boxed brownie mix: I use a classic chocolate brownie mix for convenience—you’ll get great texture every time.
- Unsalted butter: Softened to room temperature for smooth, creamy frosting.
- Powdered sugar: Make sure it’s fresh and sifted if lumpy for a silky frosting.
- Heavy cream: Adds richness and helps adjust frosting consistency easily.
- Vanilla extract: Just a tablespoon brightens and balances the frosting flavor.
- Salt: A pinch enhances the sweetness and chocolate notes.
- Green food coloring: Choose gel-based for vibrant color without thinning the frosting.
- Holiday sprinkles: The fun finishing touch! I love tiny stars or red and white nonpareils.
Variations
I love playing around with these brownie bites to suit different tastes and occasions. Feel free to swap ingredients or decorate in your own unique style!
- Chocolate Ganache Topping: Once, I swapped the buttercream for a glossy chocolate ganache, and it was a decadent twist everyone raved about.
- Nut Allergies: I’ve made these dairy-free by using vegan butter and coconut cream — they still pipe beautifully and taste great.
- Flavor Additions: Adding peppermint extract to the frosting gives a refreshing holiday kick that my family goes crazy for.
- Decorations: Try crushed candy canes instead of sprinkles for a cool crunch and festive look.
How to Make Holiday Green Frosted Brownie Bites Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Mini Cupcake Pan
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and greasing a mini cupcake pan thoroughly with nonstick spray. I’ve learned that this step is crucial to easily popping out the brownie bites later, so don’t skimp on it!
Step 2: Mix and Bake the Brownies
Follow the brownie box instructions carefully, mixing all needed ingredients. Fill each mini muffin cup about two-thirds full with batter. I’m always tempted to fill too much, but keeping the batter at ⅔ helps the brownies bake evenly without overflowing. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes — you want the edges firm and a bit set but the center still slightly soft, not gooey. This ensures chewy, fudgy brownie bites.
Step 3: Create the Indent for Frosting
As soon as they come out of the oven, use the back of a teaspoon to gently press into the center of each brownie bite, making a little well to hold your frosting later. Let them cool about 10 minutes in the pan — they’ll firm up as they cool, so be patient.
Step 4: Cool and Remove Brownie Bites
Carefully loosen each brownie from the pan edges with a paring knife, then pop them out onto a wire rack. Let them cool completely before frosting — this is super important so the buttercream doesn’t melt and slide off.
Step 5: Whip Up the Green Buttercream Frosting
Cream your softened butter on low speed until pale and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar and heavy cream in small portions, alternating between the two while mixing on low for about three minutes. You want a frosting that’s stiff enough to hold shape but still pipeable; add a little more sugar if it’s too soft, or a splash more cream if it’s too thick. Add vanilla extract, salt, and green food coloring, then crank the mixer to high speed for two minutes until smooth and airy.
Step 6: Pipe and Decorate Your Brownie Bites
Fill a piping bag fitted with a large star tip (I use this one: https://amzn.to/3njvNfX) with your green buttercream. Twist the bag as you pipe a tight circular, zigzag pattern on top of each brownie to build a mini Christmas tree shape. Top with holiday sprinkles for that finishing festive touch. I always find this part so fun because it really makes these brownie bites shine!
Pro Tips for Making Holiday Green Frosted Brownie Bites Recipe
- Perfect Pan Greasing: I use a combination of nonstick spray and a light dusting of flour to ensure the brownies come out cleanly without sticking.
- Watch Your Bake Time: Checking a minute or two before the minimum baking time prevents overbaking — fudgy center is key!
- Adjust Frosting Consistency: If your frosting gets too runny, just pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm up before piping.
- Use a Good Piping Tip: The star tip adds texture and dimension that really make the frosting look like Christmas trees.
How to Serve Holiday Green Frosted Brownie Bites Recipe
Garnishes
My go-to garnishes are holiday-themed sprinkles – tiny stars, red and green nonpareils, or edible glitter for sparkle. Sometimes I add a small candy pearl “star” on top of the frosting tree for an extra touch of whimsy. These simple additions amp up the festive vibe without adding fuss.
Side Dishes
I love serving these brownie bites alongside a cup of hot cocoa or spiced apple cider—comfort food meets holiday cheer. For a party spread, they pair wonderfully with peppermint bark or gingerbread cookies, creating a dessert ensemble that everyone raves about.
Creative Ways to Present
I’ve arranged these brownie bites on tiered dessert stands to create a forest effect — it looks magical and makes a fabulous centerpiece. Another fun idea is to place each brownie in a mini cupcake liner with a festive pattern; it adds color and keeps the frosting protected during transport. Gift boxes with clear lids also make charming homemade gifts!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover brownie bites in an airtight container in the fridge to keep the frosting fresh and the brownies chewy. They stay delicious for up to 4 days — just bring to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
Freezing
Freezing brownie bites with frosting can be tricky, but I’ve had success by flash-freezing them first on a baking sheet, then transferring to a freezer-safe container. They keep well for a few weeks. When you want to enjoy them, thaw overnight in the fridge to avoid melting the buttercream.
Reheating
I usually don’t reheat these because the frosting is best served cool, but if you want the brownies a bit warm, gently microwave a bite-sized piece for 5-7 seconds, avoiding the frosting area. That way, you get that fresh-baked brownie warmth without melting the icing.
FAQs
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Can I make this Holiday Green Frosted Brownie Bites Recipe from scratch instead of using a boxed mix?
Absolutely! While I love the convenience of a boxed mix, you can use your favorite homemade brownie recipe. Just bake them in mini muffin tins and follow the same frosting technique. Homemade brownies will add a personal touch and can make the bites even richer.
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How should I adjust the frosting if I want a different shade of green?
Start with a small amount of green gel food coloring and add more little by little until you reach your desired shade. Gel colors are great because they don’t thin the frosting. If you want a lighter pastel green, try mixing a bit of yellow into the green for a subtle tint.
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Can I prepare these brownie bites ahead of time?
You can bake the brownie bases a day or two in advance and store them airtight. Frost them right before serving so the buttercream stays fresh and looks its best, especially for parties.
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What’s the best way to pipe the frosting if I’m new to piping bags?
Don’t worry if you’re new! Use a large star tip and steady your piping bag with both hands. Start from the bottom of each brownie bite and pipe upwards in gentle zigzags or spirals to create a tree effect. Practicing on parchment paper first can help build confidence.
Final Thoughts
These Holiday Green Frosted Brownie Bites Recipe are one of my all-time favorites to bake around the holidays. They’re fun, festive, and a total crowd-pleaser. Plus, I love how easy they come together with a boxed brownie mix but taste so rich and homemade thanks to the buttery green frosting. I hope you have as much fun making them as my family and I do — and trust me, once you whip these up, they’ll become a holiday tradition you look forward to every year. Happy baking!
Print
Holiday Green Frosted Brownie Bites Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Total Time: 47 minutes
- Yield: 36 brownie bites
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Christmas Tree Brownie Bites combine a fudgy boxed brownie base with a fluffy homemade green buttercream frosting, shaped into festive mini Christmas trees topped with holiday sprinkles. Perfect for holiday parties and kid-friendly treats, this easy recipe delivers a delightful combination of rich chocolate and creamy sweetness in bite-sized form.
Ingredients
Brownie Base
- 1 box brownie mix (plus ingredients called for on the back of the box, usually water, eggs, and oil)
Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Green food coloring, as needed for desired shade
- Holiday sprinkles, for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a mini cupcake pan thoroughly with nonstick spray and set aside to prevent sticking.
- Make brownie batter: Prepare the brownie mix according to the package instructions, typically combining the mix with water, eggs, and oil. Mix until smooth.
- Fill cupcake pan: Spoon the brownie batter into each mini cupcake cavity, filling about two-thirds full to allow room for rising.
- Bake the brownies: Bake the batter in the preheated oven for 15 to 17 minutes. Look for firm edges with a center that is slightly soft but not gooey.
- Indent centers: Remove the pan from the oven. Using the back of a round teaspoon, gently press down the center of each brownie to create an indentation for the frosting. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
- Cool brownies completely: Use a paring knife to carefully loosen and pop out each brownie bite. Transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Make buttercream frosting: In a mixing bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter on low speed until pale and creamy.
- Add powdered sugar and cream: Gradually add 3 cups powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons heavy cream, alternating between each, while mixing on low speed over about 3 minutes. Adjust consistency by adding remaining powdered sugar if frosting is too thin, or more heavy cream if too stiff.
- Flavor and color frosting: Add vanilla extract, salt, and green food coloring. Whip on high speed for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Pipe frosting: Fill a piping bag fitted with a large star tip with the green buttercream. Pipe the frosting onto each cooled brownie bite in a swirling, twisting motion to create a Christmas tree shape.
- Decorate: Sprinkle holiday-themed sprinkles on top of each frosted brownie tree for festive decoration.
Notes
- Using boxed brownie mix saves time and ensures consistent texture—feel free to use your favorite brand.
- Softening the butter to room temperature is key for smooth buttercream frosting.
- Adjust the amount of powdered sugar and cream to achieve your preferred frosting consistency—stiffer frosting holds shape better for piping trees.
- Green food coloring intensity can be modified to your liking; gel food coloring works best without thinning the frosting.
- This recipe yields approximately 36 mini brownie bites—perfect for holiday gatherings or as fun, festive gifts.
- If desired, add peppermint extract to the frosting for a minty twist.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; bring to room temperature before serving for best flavor and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie bite
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 19g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
