Oh, Christmas Tree!

How fun is trimming the tree when it’s made of bite-size brownies or sugar cookies? Kids and adults will love these delightful tree-shaped treats topped with colorful holiday frosting, sprinkles and candies. They’re sure to get everyone in a festive party mood!

Easy Christmas Tree Cookie Bars

Makes 27 cookie bars

1 pouch (17.5 oz) Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg
14 pretzel sticks
3/4 cup vanilla frosting (such as 1-lb Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting)
Green gel food color
2 tsp green, red and white candy sprinkles
27 yellow M&M’s Minis chocolate candies

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, leaving foil overhanging at 2 opposite sides of pan; spray with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix cookie mix, softened butter, cream cheese and egg with spoon until soft dough forms. Spread dough in bottom of pan. Bake 20 to 23 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1 hour.

Remove bars from pan by lifting foil; peel foil away. Cut into 27 triangles as follows: Cut 3 horizontal rows. Cut each row into 9 triangles so each triangle has a 2-inch wide base. Set aside end pieces for snacking.

Break pretzel sticks in half. Insert pretzel half in short end of each triangle. In small bowl, tint frosting with green food color to desired color. Spoon frosting into small resealable food-storage plastic bag; partially seal bag. Cut off tiny corner of bag. Squeeze bag to pipe frosting over bars. Top with sprinkles. Place 1 chocolate candy on top of each triangle. Store in airtight container at room temperature.

Pull-Apart Brownie Bite Christmas Tree

Makes 36 brownie bites

Bake brownie bites. Prepare a Wilton Bite-Size Brownie Squares Silicone Mold with oil and flour (or use Wilton’s Cake Release). Make brownies according to your favorite brownie mix or recipe instructions. Spoon batter into mold cavities and place on cookie sheet. Once baked and cooled, you’ll need to make 12 additional brownies so that you have a total of 36.

Tint icing. Divide icing into 4 individual bowls, about ½ cup in each (1 dark green, 1 lime green, 1 moss green and 1 leaf green). Combine Wilton’s Kelly Green and Teal icing colors to get dark green shown. Combine Leaf Green and Lemon Yellow icing colors to get lime green shown.

Form tree. Using 32 brownie bites, form a triangle shape. Take the remaining four brownies and create the tree trunk.

Decorate tree. Prepare decorating bags with Wilton’s open star piping tips and icing as follows: tip 21 and dark green; tip 18 and lime green; tip 16 and moss; tip 32 and leaf green. Starting at the bottom of the triangle, pipe pull-out stars, alternating colors as you work your way to the top. Using assorted holiday sprinkles and sugars, take each type of sprinkle and scatter on top of decorated area. Scatter some confetti sprinkles around the tree to add even more of a festive touch.