Ice Cream Cone Christmas Tree Brownies

My Ice Cream Cone Christmas Tree Brownies are guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit. The fudgy brownies are topped with a creamy chocolate ganache, ice cream cone Christmas trees and cute mini gingerbread men. Almost too cute to eat!

Start with my fudgy brownie recipe as the base, then use waffle ice cream cones as the “trees,” decorating them with green frosting to mimic branches. Then of course you have to dust with icing sugar to create a snowy winter wonderland. The result? A show-stopping dessert that’s not only delicious but also a fun project to make with family or friends. Perfect for holiday parties or cozy nights in, and they are great to make with the kids!

Why should I make these Ice cream cone Christmas tree brownies?

Well I mean look at them…no but really they look so impressive and are easy to make. Who doesn’t love a show stopper that doesn’t involve spending all day in the kitchen! ME!!

Decorating the trees with the family or kids is a fun way to bring everyone together at Christmas. You would need extra piping tips so everyone could take part, I used a Wilton 20 open star tip but I can’t seem to find it on Amazon so you can also use the Wilton 21 open star tip

When should I make these Ice cream cone Christmas Tree Brownies?

Obviously you should make these festive brownies for Christmas, but here’s a few ideas you may not have thought of below:

1. Holiday Parties: They’re a show-stopping centrepiece for dessert tables that guests will love.
2. Family Baking Time: A fun and festive activity to do with kids or loved ones during the holiday season.
3. Gifts for Neighbors or Friends: Packaged beautifully, these unique treats make thoughtful, homemade holiday gifts.
4. School or Office Events: Perfect for holiday potlucks, classroom parties, or office gatherings, where they’re sure to stand out.
5. Holiday Movie Nights: Serve these alongside hot cocoa for a cozy, festive snack while watching Christmas classics.
6. DIY Dessert Challenge: Showcase your creativity by decorating each tree uniquely with candy, sprinkles, and frosting.
7. New Holiday Tradition: Start a tradition of making these every year to spread holiday cheer in your household.
8. Winter Birthdays: Add a festive twist to a birthday dessert for someone celebrating during the holiday season.
9. Just for Fun: Who needs a reason to make something delicious and festive during the holidays?

How do I make these ice cream cone Christmas tree brownies?

1. Line a 20x20cm brownie tin with baking paper.
2. Melt the dark chocolate and butter in the microwave, 20 secs at a time. Mix together, make sure the melted chocolate and butter are well combined. This stops the brownie batter from splitting. Set aside.
3. Mix the eggs, sugar & vanilla extract with an electric beater/stand mixer for 3 mins until creamy.
4. Fold in the slightly cooled melted chocolate and butter mix with a spatula.
5. Sift half the flour, cocoa and salt into the wet ingredients, fold in with a spatula. Repeat with the remaining dry ingredients until combined.
6. Fold in the optional dark chocolate chunks.
7. Add 3/4 of the brownie batter into the brownie tin, spread evenly with a spatula.
8. Spoon the Nutella on top of brownie mix, use the back of the spoon to carefully spread the Nutella towards the edges. Do not spread all the way to the sides of the tin, leave a little gap.
9. Spoon the remaining brownie batter on top, use a spatula to cover the Nutella underneath.
10. Bake in the oven at 170c fan for 25mins-30mins. The more you bake the brownies the less fudgy they will be.

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Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 5.0/5

( 1 voted )

Ingredients

Brownies

• 160g butter
• 180g dark chocolate (use dark chocolate between 50%-60% cocoa)
• 160g plain flour
• 40g cocoa powder
• 3 medium eggs
• 200g caster sugar
• 60g soft light brown sugar
• 1tbsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Optional - 40g dark chocolate chunks

Chocolate ganache

• 6oz/170g dark chocolate (use dark chocolate between 50%-60% cocoa)
• 5oz/141ml double/heavy cream
• 3-4tbsp golden/corn syrup or your choice of syrup (add more if you would like it sweeter)

Ice cream cone Christmas trees

• 12 waffle ice cream cones (get extra cones because they might break when you cut them)
• 2 x 400g vanilla buttercream icing tubs
• 2-3tsp Green gel food colouring

Other items needed

• Mini gingerbread men
• Icing/powdered sugar for dusting on top 
• Green gel food colouring
• Piping bags
• Wilton 20 or 21 open star tip

 

Instructions

Brownies

1. Line a 20x20cm brownie tin with baking paper.
2. Melt the dark chocolate and butter in the microwave, 20 secs at a time. Mix together, make sure the melted chocolate and butter are well combined. This stops the brownie batter from splitting. Set aside.
3. Mix the eggs, sugar & vanilla extract with an electric beater/stand mixer for 3 mins until creamy.
4. Fold in the melted chocolate and butter mix with a spatula.
5. Sift half the flour, cocoa and salt into the wet ingredients, fold in with a spatula. Repeat with the remaining dry ingredients until combined.
6. Fold in the optional dark chocolate chunks.
7. Spread the brownie batter in the tin, use a spatula to make sure too is even.
8. Bake in the oven at 170c fan for 30-32mins. The more you bake the brownies the less fudgy they will be.

Chocolate ganache

1. Chop the chocolate into very small pieces.
2. Do not make the chocolate ganache until the brownies have cooled. The longer you leave the ganache it will become hard and then you will have to warm it up to make it soft again.
3. Heat the cream in the microwave for 40 seconds, then for 10-20 seconds. Do not let it become too hot as it will split the ganache.  Pour it over the chocolate.
4. Let it sit for 1 minute , then stir  to combine using a spatula. Stop as soon as the cream and chocolate is combined. Do not over mix.
5. Once the ganache has cooled and has become firmer, add the golden syrup. The ganache is ready once it has become firmer, and a spreadable texture. if you leave it too long to will become hard. if this happens heat for 5 seconds at a time in the microwave.

Ice cream cone Christmas trees

1. Gently cut the waffle cones, so they are different heights. 
2. Mix 2-3tsp of green gel food colouring into 1 and a half tubs of vanilla buttercream icing. (you shouldn't need to use all of the 2 x 400g tubs) If it is not green enough add more food colouring but be careful not to add too much because you might be able to taste it.
3. Place the 20 or 21 open star tip in a piping bag, then add some of the icing.
4. Hold the waffle cone at the top and pipe little star shapes going round the waffle cone starting at the bottom until you reach close to the top. Now you have 2 option- 1 place the tree on a board with baking paper and pipe the icing to the tip of the tree. Then wait for the icing to set very hard so you can pick them up without damaging the icing. Option 2 leave the top of the tree without icing, place them on the brownies and then pipe the tops. this option is a but harder as you can not access the trees as easily due to the other trees around them.

Assemble

1. Once the brownies have cooled, spread the chocolate ganache over the top of the brownies.
2. Place 9 ice cream cone Christmas trees on top, in rows of 3. Thick about where you would slice the brownies so the trees are not in the way.
3. Place the 3 small trees wherever you like next to the bigger trees.
4. Place the mini gingerbread men next to a few of the trees, then dust with icing/powdered sugar.