Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare two 8-inch round cake pans by greasing them with butter and lining the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Whisk together melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and eggs until smooth and well combined.
• Mix in another bowl the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder. Fold this dry mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined, then add the semisweet chocolate chips.
• Divide the brownie batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean but with moist crumbs.
• Let the brownies cool completely in the pans.
• Prepare the frosting by beating together the butter, confectioners' sugar, salt, and vanilla until smooth, then gradually add whole milk until light and fluffy. Color the frosting with green food coloring.
• Cut each brownie into 8 triangles to form the tree shapes, and poke a hole at the base of each triangle for the candy cane trunk.
• Decorate each brownie tree by piping green frosting in a zig-zag pattern, then sprinkle with sanding sugar and colorful sprinkles to mimic ornaments.