The BEST scratch brownie recipe! (decorated as Christmas trees)

These posts are just too fun! Although it's a bit stressful to bake with Bennett as my little helper, it's getting easier the older he gets. He likes measuring out ingredients, and mixing things together. He ALWAYS has to be sitting up on the counter so he can look into the bowl of the mixer while its on. He is so funny! He has the biggest personality for a 2 year old.

This recipe is by far my favorite brownie recipe I've been able to find! I've been searching for one for almost 3 years and I found this one a couple months ago. I've made these 5 times in the last 2 months, and that says a lot for me, with the pregnancy and being so exhausted.

My FAVORITE way to eat these, is waiting about 5 mins after they come out of the oven, cutting a big ol' brownie out of the pan, and topping it with vanilla ice cream. SO SO SO GOOD Y'ALL! I'm obsessed with these! You don't HAVE to decorate these like trees... OBVIOUSLY, but i figured this was a fun way to turn a simple recipe into something more Christmas-y :)

I hope yall atleast try the brownie recipe, if not the decorating as well... because these babies are the BOMB.COM! haha ;)


---- The BEST brownies, Ever!----

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I use dark chocolate, but you don't have to!)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
*can totally add 1/2 cup chopped nuts, if you'd like!

Pre-heat oven to 350F. Spray 9x9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

In mixing bowl, mix together oil, sugar, and vanilla until well combined. Add eggs, combine.

Add dry ingredients, mix on medium speed for a minute. Scrape down sides of the mixer, and turn back on for an additional 15-20 seconds, until well combined.

Pour batter into pan, and bake for 20-25 minutes. I like my brownies still a bit soft in the middle, and I find that 21 minutes is perfect for that! (For the christmas tree brownies, I baked for 24 minutes so they would be easier to handle)

Once they're done, let them fully cool before cutting into them!

Decorating

I made a standard buttercream recipe, split it into 3 bowls, and colored them with food coloring. I didn't have red, so I used pink. I put the buttercream into small sandwich bags, and cut off a tiny tip. I also had sprinkles, cinnamon candies, and small candy pearls to decorate these with. It was so fun! Bennett had a blast and it didn't hurt that they were super tasty ;)