One of my favorite flavors is peppermint, especially when incorporated into something chocolaty. Take a break from counting calories this holiday season and try out these mind-boggling 3-layer mint cream brownies. There are a few extra steps and added waiting times involved to put this together, but, you should still go for it.
Make the brownie by melting butter and mixing in chocolate morsels until they melt. Mix in brown and white sugars, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir in flour, salt, baking powder, and cocoa powder. Bake. Let cool. Then make the mint cream, which is made up of butter, confectioner’s sugar, milk, and peppermint extract (or peppermint oil–use 1/4 to 1/3 of the amount noted for extract). Spread it on.
Let the mint layer cool and harden in the fridge. Then make the chocolate glaze and spread that layer on. Let the chocolate layer harden in the fridge, slice, and serve. D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!
Cutting the brownie into servings can be tricky because of the chocolate glaze. Keep the brownie refrigerated before cutting to make slicing into the cake less messy. Dip the knife in hot water for cleaner slices.
The refreshing peppermint taste makes it hard to stop at one!
| Servings |
bars
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- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature, (8 ounces or 2 sticks)
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
- 4 large eggs lightly beaten with a fork
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature, (4 ounces or1 stick)
- 2 cups confectioner's sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract, or to taste (1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil may be substituted)
- green food coloring (optional)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (4 ounces butter or 1 stick)
- 1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Ingredients
For the Brownies
For the Mint Cream
For the Chocolate Glaze
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- In a medium saucepan, heat the butter until melted and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Pour chocolate chips into the saucepan all at once and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Allow the chocolate mixture to cool 5-10 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350⁰F. Line a lightly greased 9" x 13" baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang along the sides.
- Using an electric mixer, beat together the sugars with the chocolate mixture. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, sift together salt, flour, baking powder and cocoa powder. With a spatula, stir the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture until well combined, but not over-mixed. Transfer batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a cake tester (or toothpick) inserted into the center of the cake comes out with a few crumbs attached. Remove from oven and allow cake to cool completely in pan on wire rack.
- Using an electric mixer, beat the butter until creamy. Add the confectioner’s sugar and milk. Beat on low speed until incorporated and then increase the speed. Beat until smooth.
- Add the peppermint extract and 3 drops of the green food coloring (if using). Beat on high speed until fully incorporated.
- Spread the mint frosting evenly onto the brownie layer and let set in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add in the chocolate chips all at once. Stir until the chips have melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Pour and spread the chocolate over the mint layer. Let set for at least one hour in the refrigerator.
- The brownies will be ready to serve when the chocolate layer has hardened. Lift the brownie out of the pan using the overhang, and cut into squares to serve. (Dip the knife in hot water for cleaner slices.)
This recipe is adapted from the "Intense Mint Chocolate Brownies" recipe in the Favorite Brand Name Holiday cookbook, as well as the "Classic Mint Chocolate Brownie" recipe posted on Sally's Baking Addiction website: Sally's Baking Addiction Classic Mint Chocolate Brownie recipe
