Brownie tree

by Alison Miksch

Stack brownies on a cake stand to make a gorgeous holiday dessert.
1. Prepare and bake 1 box (21.4 ounces) family-style brownie mix according to directions for 13-x-9-inch pan and cake variation using an additional egg. Let cool completely. Cut seven circles from baked brownie in the following sizes: 6 inches, 4 3/4 inches, 3 1/2 inches, 2 3/4 inches, 2 inches, 1 3/4 inches, and 1 inch. Stack circles to make tree. Push a bamboo skewer through the center of the tree to secure the layers, trimming if it sticks out of the top.
2. To decorate you'll need 1 can (12 ounces) whipped vanilla frosting and green, yellow, blue, and red icing colors. Place 1/2 can (6 ounces) of vanilla frosting into a bowl and tint it bright green using green and yellow icing colors. Divide remaining icing between two bowls. Tint one portion blue and the other red. Place green icing in a pastry bag fitted with a medium star tip, blue icing in a pastry bag fitted with a #4 writing tip, and red icing in a pastry bag fitted with a #6 writing tip. Once tree is assembled, pipe a "garland" of green stars around base of each brownie layer. Randomly pipe red and blue dots onto brownie layers. Make a star out of a soft red candy.