Christmas Brownies

1 . Stage

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8-inch square pan.

2 . Stage

Melt butter in a large saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Beat in flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into the prepared pan.

3 . Stage

Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes.

4 . Stage

Meanwhile cream shortening for frosting until fluffy. Gradually add confectioner's sugar and continue beating until creamy and well blended. Add 3 ounces cream, vanilla, and salt and blend on low speed until moistened. Add up to 1 more ounce cream if necessary. Beat on high speed until frosting is fluffy.

5 . Stage

Transfer 1/2 of the frosting into another bowl and mix in green gel food coloring to get your preferred shade of green.

6 . Stage

Use a tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out 8 Christmas trees from the pan of cooled brownies.

7 . Stage

Pipe green and white frostings onto cooled brownies to look like snow-covered trees. Decorate with candies.