Let the holiday baking commence!!!
The hustle and bustle is in full swing here in Hong Kong. With over 8 million people crammed in this little city, it is pure chaos everyday, holiday or not. However, now, with happy Christmas music playing in the background and holiday decorations to view while you are out rushing about it helps add a little spring in your daily steps. Taxi's are honking. Trolleys are tooting. MTR's are crammed. Jackhammers are hammering. People are buzzing, just like it is every day here in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong people recognize the December holiday season of others but for them the big holiday coming up is Chinese New Year.
My dear friend, Aiko-sensei, has been requesting a good brownie recipe. So here is my double chocolate chunk brownie all dressed up for the holidays in a little bit of Christmas flare.
Double Chocolate Chunk Christmas Tree Brownies: (makes between 8-12 Christmas Trees)
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home
Ingredients
- ¾ cup baking cocoa
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅔ cup butter, melted (divided uses see below)
- ½ cup boiling water
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1-⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup coarsely chopped pecans (optional my kids dislike nuts so of course I left this ingredient out)
- 2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chunks (I know this can be difficult to find in Asia so I just crumbled some good Meiji chocolate into my brownies instead)
- Mini candy canes (for the bark of the x-mas tree)
- Decorating Icing tubes (green and red). If you are living in Asia and have difficulty getting your hands on decorating supplies, you can make a quick royal icing by mixing 1 cup confectioners or icing sugar, 2 teaspoons of milk, 2 teaspoons of corn syrup, and food coloring. Mix items together and add this royal icing mixture to a baggie, then cut a little hole on the end of the baggie. It's not glamorous by any means but it will work. Been there- done that!)
- Candies for decorating such as M and M's, red hots and sprinkles (optional)
Directions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C)
Step 2: In a large bowl, combine cocoa and baking soda; blend ⅓ cup melted butter. Add boiling water; stir until well blended. Stir in sugar, eggs and remaining butter. Add flour, vanilla salt. Stir in the pecans (if you must) and chocolate chunks.
Step 3: Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350°( for 35-40 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool.
Step 4: Cut brownies into triangles and place on parchment paper to prepare for decorating. Let your imagination run wild and have a little fun and get creative. Use some ingredients and candies that are easy to get your hands on in the country you live in. At the bottom of the triangle, I pushed in a mini candy cane for the bark of the tree. I iced my tree with green and red royal icing to make it look like a little Christmas Tree. I was going to add some little chocolate sprinkles but low and behold my teenager had been eating them straight out of the container. (I am certain the little tyrant is drinking straight out of the milk container when I am not looking. Uggh BOYS! Double Uggh! TEENAGE BOYS!)
Step 5: Enjoy Double Chocolate Chunk Christmas Tree Brownies with a big glass of milk. Leave a very special treat for Santa on the night before x-mas with a few carrots for the reindeer.
Ingredients
- unsweetened cocoa powder -
- butter -
- eggs -
- sugar or sugar alternative -
- vanilla -
- semi-sweet chocolate chips -
- candy canes -
- decorating icing -
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe says
These are too cute, great creativity with the candy canes and icing! Love!
Choc Chip Uru says
These are too cute - how would I eat them but I then question, how could I not 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Choc Chip Uru!
Jenny says
Hi, I'm Safie's friend,I'm Jenny.Nice to me you, I always hear Safie say you cook delicious food,I also like cook, but just Chinese food,I want to learn how to cook western food,so I hope you can teach me.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Dear Jenny, I would be more than happy to teach you how to make some different Western dishes. I will touch base via e-mail to discuss the details.
safie says
Hi,It's Safie.I feel hungry when i look at this adorable food.They are so cute.Can i buy some?Haha
Healthy World Cuisine says
谢谢 Safie! 你是一个很不错的人. Good news for you! This month, I will be doing lots of holiday baking and because we should not be eating all of that good food,I will be sharing it with my good friends and neighbors.
1recette 1minute says
Your Christmas Tree Brownies looks delicious, it's perfect for kids... and for everyone:)
P.S.: thanks for your comments on my blog.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks for stopping by. I have really enjoyed reading your recipes on 1recette 1 minute and looking forward to your upcoming posts. Take Care
RecipeAdaptors says
These are just great. I love the candy canes as the tree trunks.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you. Maybe one could also use a stubby pretzel or licorice chunk for the tree truck. Whatever you have around.
Sibella says
These are b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l! Very, very creative you are! 😀
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Sibella. But look at the picture of your lovely heart cookies on your website. Now, that is creative. Take care
Dawn says
SO creative - I am so impressed!!!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hi Dawn, We should have combined our efforts on this one- your yummy brownies and my decoration attempts. Maybe next time as great minds do think alike.
Three-Cookies says
Beautiful colors, very gooey looking brownie, absolutely delicious
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you, it is a very chewy brownie recipe. I love that part of it.
Zoe @ Pantry and Fridge says
Adorable!! :))
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Zoe.
PAM says
These look great Bobbie. I'd like to decorate one big bownie tree made up of brownie triangle pieces and use a full size candy cane. I think it would make a festive centerpiece for my table before dinner AND a tasty treat at the end with a mini candy cane and candy "star" on each piece for little dessert trees after.dinner.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Pam , Brillant idea! You are so creative. Please Send me pictures, well at least of you and the kids for the holiday!Take care
The Moonlight & Star Cafe says
So cute!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you. Have a great holiday.
Just A Smidgen says
So pretty... perfect little trees for Christmas!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you. Well I do not think they are perfectly shaped. Who would have thought that cutting a rectangle full size brownie into same shaped triangles would be such a feat. They said there would be no geometry!!!! Uggh! However my teenager found the perfect solution for the irregular shaped one- immediate consumption- problem solved. Take Care
gardenfreshtomatoes says
Those are adorable!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks for stopping by.
thecompletecookbook says
You are so clever! I LOVE the way you turned these into Christmas Trees - awesome and so pretty.
🙂 Mandy
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Mandy. Give it a try and explore your creative side. Take Care