BRIGHTEN UP YOUR BROWNIES
CHRISTMAS TREE BROWNIES
Brownies are such an easy dessert to whip up last minute. Whether you are craving them, has unexpected guests knock at the door, or have a holiday party in the coming days. I do have a homemade brownie recipe, but I will save that for a future episode. This is all about saving you time, something that is very precious in the days leading up to Christmas.
This vlog is more about dressing up brownies you buy in a box. I mean, anyone can bake brownies from a box! Simple follow the directions on how to cook them on the back of the box, add a couple extra ingredients I tell you to, and cook them a minute or two less than it says. Brownies should not be dry and flaky. If you do have extra time and have your own brownie recipe, you can totally use it for this.
I have a cute idea that is so simple to brighten up your brownies by turning them into edible Christmas trees. I am using a buttercream icing recipe that my good friend Dan Langan from the Food Network came up with. It is easy to make and so delicious (link is below to his recipe).
I did this one year for a Christmas party I had and everyone talked about how cute they were and how creative. The best thing about them is you don’t need a tree cookie cutter, just a round cake pan. Wait, what, shut the front door, a round cake pan for trees! That is exactly what I said. Once the brownies are cooked and cooled, it takes no time to decorate. You are welcome to make the homemade buttercream, or buy the pre-made icing in the store. Again, it is all about making this easy and quick for your guests.
Please copy this link for Dan's Buttercream Icing:
RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS: CHRISTMAS TREE BROWNIES
COURSE: Dessert COOK TIME: 35-45 Min SERVINGS: 8-10 Per Box
INGREDIENTS FOR BROWNIE BATTER :
Follow Box Ingredients & Instructions
MY ADDITIONS TO BATTER:
Tbsp. Flour
1/2 cup Chocolate Chips
Tbsp. Brewed Coffee Or Espresso
Salt Flakes
INGREDIENTS FOR BUTTERCREAM ICING:
2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened
3 1/2 cups 10x powdered sugar (sift if there are any lumps)
1-2 tablespoons of skim milk
1 teaspoons of quality vanilla extract
⅛ teaspoon of table salt (dissolve in milk)
ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:
Small Candy Canes
Red & Green M & M’s
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ICING:
Beat the butter in a stand mixer until it is creamy and slaps the sides of the bowl. Scrape your bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of milk and extracts and blend slowly until combined. Raise speed to medium and beat to form a smooth butter mixture.
Add half of the powdered sugar and blend on low until combined. Scrape bowl, add the remaining sugar and set the mixer to medium low (speed 2 on a Kitchenaid) and blend for 2-3 minutes.
Resist the urge to add more milk right away because the buttercream will thin out as it mixes.
After mixing on low for 2-3 minutes you can choose to add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, to reach your desired consistency.
Scape your bowl and then set the mixture to medium low (speed 2 on a Kitchenaid) and mix for 10 minutes. You may scrape the bowl half way through.
Frosting can be made softer with the addition of milk, ½ teaspoon at a time. Will keep for 3 days at room temp, or 2 weeks refrigerated.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING BROWNIE TREES:
Follow boxed instructions, but to the batter add the coffee and chocolate chips (before you add the chips, in a small bowl coat them with the flour. This will prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the pain when cooking). Once the batter is in the 8 or 9 inch greased cake pan, sprinkle with the salt flakes.
Once the brownies are cooked, and cooled carefully take the brownie out of the pan and place on the counter.
With a sharp knife, dipped in hot water, cut the circle in half, then in half again, and finally in half one more time. This will resemble a pizza cut in slices.
Take the slices and in the middle of the wedge (crust), insert a small candy cane to create the steam of the tree. (break off the curved top part of the candy cane, only need the straight section)
Dye your frosting green and either with a pastry bag or just a small knife, decorate the top of the brownie. I like the pastry bag with a grass or pedal pipping tip to zig-zag green garland down and across the brownie. But use your imagination. But feel free to coat the entire brownie in green icing.
Then place the m&m’s on the icing. Decorate as you wish like Christmas ornaments on the tree. You can even sprinkle with colored sugar to add some flare!
