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Festive, rich and minty, Mint Milano Christmas brownies layer chewy cocoa batter with a hidden cookie center for a fun twist. You whisk the dry mix, melt butter with chocolate, then fold everything together into a glossy batter. A single layer of Mint Milanos bakes inside so each square delivers chocolate and cool mint in one bite. Finish with piped green trees and a tiny star for sparkle. The method is simple and the result looks every bit as pretty as bakery treats.
These Mint Milano Christmas brownies hide a layer of mint cookies inside rich cocoa batter, then finish with piped trees for a festive look and bold chocolate mint flavor.
You might also like mulled wine Fireball jello shots, gingerbread trifle, gingerbread cake, and brownie sundae waffle bowls.
Why You’ll Love It
Mint in every bite: A cookie layer guarantees cool mint through the fudgy crumb.
Easy build: Whisk, melt, fold and bake without complicated steps.
Festive finish: Quick buttercream trees turn simple brownies into showpieces.
Reliable texture: A melted butter base bakes dense, chewy and rich.
Mint Milano Brownies Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Cocoa powder: Intensifies chocolate flavor and keeps the crumb fudgy.
All purpose flour: Adds structure so brownies slice clean yet stay chewy.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens and gives a shiny, crackly top.
Salt: Balances sweetness and sharpens the cocoa taste.
Unsalted butter: Brings moisture and body for dense, rich squares.
Semisweet chocolate chips: Melt into the butter for extra depth and smooth texture.
Eggs: Bind the batter and create that classic chewy bite.
Vanilla extract: Rounds the chocolate and mint notes with warm aroma.
Mint Milano cookies: Form a hidden layer that infuses gentle mint and crisp snap.
Mint Truffle Hershey’s Kisses: Act as simple tree bases with a minty lift.
Green buttercream frosting: Pipes neatly into trees that hold their shape.
Snowflake or star sprinkles: Add a bright topper with holiday vibes.
How to Make Christmas Mint Brownies
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Mix the dry: Whisk cocoa, flour, sugar and salt until evenly combined.
Melt and combine: Gently melt butter with chocolate chips and stir smooth.
Make the batter: Fold eggs and vanilla into dry mix, then add the warm chocolate butter mixture until glossy.
Layer and bake: Spread half the batter in a lined pan, add a single layer of Mint Milanos, cover with remaining batter and bake until set.
Cool and cut: Cool completely, lift from the pan and trim edges if you want tidy lines.
Decorate: Set a Mint Truffle Kiss on each square, pipe green stars upward to form trees and finish with a sprinkle topper.
Subsititutions and Variations
Gluten free option: Use a 1:1 gluten free flour blend and gluten free mint sandwich cookies and Kisses.
Extra chocolate: Stir in mini chips with the batter for pockets of melt.
Peppermint crunch: Scatter crushed candy canes over the trees for sparkle.
Different cookies: Swap in your favorite mint sandwich cookie if Milanos aren’t available.
Serving Suggestions
With savory bites: Enjoy Christmas tree puff pastry appetizers, Christmas tree themed antipasto and perhaps a reindeer cheese ball.
With sweet treats: Serve marshmallow pops and maybe some of these Santa treats.
To drink: Enjoy a gingerbread latte rum cocktail or cranberry orange prosecco with your holiday brownies.
How to Store Mint Milano Brownies
Store: Keep leftovers wrapped in foil or plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature. They will be fine for a day or so like this. If you know you’ll have leftovers, don’t frost them until just before your holiday party starts though, else the frosting will begin to seep into the brownies.
Freeze: Freeze them unfrosted for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost in the fridge overnight or at room temperature and then frost and serve.
Top Tips
Line the pan: Parchment paper makes cooling and clean cuts easier.
Measure accurately: Spoon and level flour so the crumb stays fudgy, not cakey.
Cool fully: Decorating on a warm slab softens frosting and tips the trees.
Pipe with a star tip: Small, tight stars give crisp branches and height.
Warm the knife: A quick wipe and warm blade make smooth cuts.
Festive Christmas Tree Brownies FAQs
Yes. Prepare the mix as directed, add the Milano layer in the middle and bake until set.
Although they complement the mint flavor, you don’t need to add them if you prefer not to. It’s actually easier to pipe the Christmas tree frosting if you’re using a Hershey’s Kiss as a guide, but you can also pipe the trees without them if you prefer, or else use another flavour of Hershey’s Kisses or another brand of candy altogether. If you’re new to piping though, I’d recommend using the candy so you can use it as a kind of ‘frame’.
Mint Milano Christmas Brownies Recipe
Mint Milano Christmas Brownies
Equipment
- Baking Dish 7 x 11-Inch or Similar
- Pastry Bag with Small Star Tip
- Fine Mesh Sieve Optional
Ingredients
- ⅓ Cup cocoa powder
- 1 ½ Cups all purpose flour
- 1 ¼ Cups granulated sugar
- ¼ Teaspoon salt
- ¾ Cup unsalted butter, melted
- ⅓ Cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 3 eggs
- 2 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 16 Mint Milano cookies
- 16 Mint Truffle Hershey's Kisses
- 2 Cups frosting, green buttercream
- 16 sprinkles, snowflake or star
- powdered sugar, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Mix the cocoa powder flour, sugar, and salt together in a mixing bowl.
- In a microwave safe bowl combine the butter and chocolate chips. Heat in the microwave in 15 second increments until the chocolate chips and butter have melted. Mix well.
- Add the eggs, vanilla, melted chocolate, and butter mixture to the dry ingredients in the mixing bowl. Mix until combined.
- Line a baking dish with parchment paper.
- Spread about half the brownie batter into the parchment lined baking pan.
- Cover the top of the batter with a single layer of Mint Milano cookies.
- Spread the remaining batter onto the top of the Milano cookies.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
- Once cooled, remove the brownies from the baking pan. Cut the brownies into 12 even sized pieces. Optional: before cutting, slice all the rough edges off to make nice straight edges.
- Place your green frosting into a piping bag with a small star tip.
- Pipe a small glob of frosting onto the bottom of an opened Hershey's kiss. Place the Hershey's kiss frosting side down onto the center of one of your brownie squares.
- Now starting at the base of the Hershey's kiss, pipe small stars all the way around, working your way up to the very top.
- Place one small snowflake or star shaped sprinkle at the very top of the frosted tree.
- At this point they are ready to serve. For an extra special touch, dust lightly with powdered sugar to give a snowy look.
Notes
Measure accurately: Spoon and level flour so the crumb stays fudgy, not cakey.
Cool fully: Decorating on a warm slab softens frosting and tips the trees.
Pipe with a star tip: Small, tight stars give crisp branches and height.
Warm the knife: A quick wipe and warm blade make smooth cuts.
Nutrition
Chocolate and mint are a classic pair and this build makes the most of both. A quick batter, a neat cookie layer and a playful tree finish give you squares that look intricate without extra effort, and they’re super cute, each serving decorated with a Christmas tree. The crumb stays chewy, the middle carries mint and the top invites easy decoration. Keep the lines clean and the trees simple. Mint Milano Christmas brownies bring instant holiday energy in one pan.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
This recipe is the bomb! So flavorful and easy to prepare! Absolutely my new fave. 🙂
This are adorable!