Chocolate Mint Brownies with Peppermint Frosting and Chocolate Ganache

These from-scratch Chocolate Mint Brownies are the most perfectly rich peppermint-y Christmas treats. These irresistible holiday brownies are topped with peppermint buttercream icing, easy chocolate ganache and crushed candy canes. Don’t say I didn’t warn you…
candy cane brownies with peppermint mint icing in a stack

Guys, I love these brownies HARD. I love chocolate. I love mint.  I LOVE CHOCOLATE MINT.  Just in case you weren’t understanding my enthusiasm, I went with all caps. I think it was a good choice.

I can remember being a really little kid, visiting my great aunt’s house at Christmas and picking the chocolate-mint bar off of the cookie plate. We used to visit all the great aunts and uncles on Christmas eve, and I’d get a goodie off a cookie plate at every stop. I’d be on such a sugar high by the time we were done.  I remember sitting in the back seat, looking out at the starry sky searching for the glow of Rudolph’s red nose.  I can remember the itch of the wool stockings I’d wear under my Christmas dress, and the way they’d get sweaty at the knees and saggy at the butt. They were uncomfortable in so many ways. Now that I have my own little kids, I find my own childhood memories so fascinating. I wonder what they’ll remember.

chocolate mint christmas brownies

You must know that I inhaled a great deal of candy cane dust to bring you this festive Christmas brownie recipe.  I had been crushing a lot of candy canes, and I was tired of doing it by hand (like a sucker) so I tossed a bunch in the Vitamix and boom. Crushed in a millisecond.

However.

I lifted the lid and stuck my face in for a better look, and a veritable cloud of minty dust was released into my nostrils (how it buuuurned) and there may still be candy cane in my lungs.

It turns out I have the occupational hazards of a Christmas elf.

mint chocolate brownies from scratch cut into pieces

Anyway, more importantly: candy cane Christmas brownies, peppermint buttercream frosting and chocolate ganache. GO!

More Classic Christmas Treats

Peanut Butter Butterscotch Marshmallow Squares

3 Ingredient Easy Chocolate Fudge

Classic Canadian Nanaimo Bars

White Chocolate Candy Cane Christmas Bark

Easy Mint Brownies with Peppermint Frosting and Chocolate Ganache

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 16
Dessert
American

Ingredients
  

For brownies:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 6 oz dark chocolate 60-70% cocoa, chopped
  • 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs lightly beaten
  • ½ tsp pure mint extract
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp coarse salt
  • 2 candy canes finely chopped, for topping

For frosting

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • â…› to ¼ tsp pure mint extract
  • 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream

For ganache

  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 4 oz chopped dark chocolate 60-70% cocoa, chopped

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF.  Line a 9" square pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang.
  • Melt butter and chocolate in the microwave on 50% power for 2 minutes or until about 80% melted. Stir to finish melting.  Stir in sugar and then eggs, one at a time, until well combined. Stir in mint extract and salt, then flour.
  • Spread into prepared pan and bake for about 25 minutes, or until edges are firm and centre is just set. Cool 5 minutes in pan, then lift by the parchment overhang and finish cooling completely on wire rack before frosting.
  • To make frosting, beat all ingredients together until light and fluffy. Start with 1/8 tsp mint extract and add up to 1/4 tsp to taste (I used 1/4 tsp and found it a teeny bit too strong, this extract is pretty potent, so better to err on the side of less to start). Frost the cooled brownies, then pop them in the freezer until you are ready to add ganache.
  • To make ganache, combine chocolate and cream in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on 50% power for 2 minutes then stir to finish melting. Let cool for about 20 minutes at room temperature then pour over the chilled brownies, spreading to edges. Sprinkle with candy cane.  Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour to set the ganache.
  • They'll keep at room temperature for several days, or they freeze really well.

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peppermint christmas brownies

Last Updated on December 11, 2016 by Jennifer Pallian BSc, RD

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