Little Debbie Christmas Tree Brownies are less iconic than the Christmas Tree Cakes, but they're quietly adored by fans who like fudge more than fluff. Introduced in 1999, these festive firs feature Little Debbie's year-round Cosmic Brownie formula at the base. The tree cutouts are then dressed up with a chunky layer of bright green frosting and a multicolored sprinkle of candy-coated chocolate chip ornaments. Appearance-wise, we can all agree they're homespun and absolutely adorable. And there's real appeal in the texture. Overall, these brownies are soft, dense, and wonderfully chewy. And yet ... something's changed.

I remember really enjoying these brownies in my younger years, but this time the green icing hit me with a Play-Doh-like quality that was nostalgic in an inedible sort of way. The online reviews for Little Debbie Christmas Tree Brownies are generally positive, but you'll also find comments about the "artificial," chemical," or "kinda fake" flavor. Others lament that the brownies are yet another example of snack-product shrinkflation. "The Christmas Tree Brownies this year look like they have fewer growth rings," said one Redditor. "They're both skinnier and smaller." While we can usually count on Little Debbie for consistency, it seems these "Littler Debbie" Christmas Tree Brownies are not what they used to be.