Description
Rich chocolate peppermint brownies deliver pure holiday magic in one delectable dessert. Cold winter nights become sweeter when you savor these festive chocolate treats with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup (170 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips (or dark chocolate chips)
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter (melted)
- ⅓ cup (30 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- ¼ cup (60 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Elevate the oven to 350F (175C) and line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper, allowing overhang for easy extraction.
- Liquid Fusion: Whisk melted butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and peppermint extract in a mixing bowl until achieving a seamless, glossy emulsion.
- Dry Ingredient Integration: Sift cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder, then delicately fold into the liquid mixture, maintaining a light touch to preserve batter integrity.
- Baking Transformation: Distribute batter evenly in the prepared pan, then bake for 22-26 minutes. Validate doneness with a toothpick test, revealing moist crumbs. Cool completely within the pan.
- Ganache Creation: Combine chocolate chips and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl, heating in 30-second intervals and stirring until reaching a luxurious, smooth consistency.
- Decorative Finale: Cascade ganache over cooled brownies, spreading meticulously. Immediately scatter crushed peppermint candies across the liquid chocolate surface.
- Serving Preparation: Allow ganache to solidify at room temperature for 30 minutes, or accelerate in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Extract brownies using parchment edges, slice into squares, and present.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing Batter: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture to maintain a tender, fudgy texture. Aggressive stirring can develop gluten, resulting in tough, dense brownies.
- Control Chocolate Melting: Use low, steady microwave heat or a double boiler when creating ganache to avoid scorching. Stir frequently and remove from heat when just melted for smooth consistency.
- Monitor Baking Time Carefully: Brownies continue cooking after removal from oven, so remove when toothpick shows slightly moist crumbs. Overbaking leads to dry, crumbly texture.
- Customize Peppermint Intensity: Adjust peppermint extract quantity to personal preference. Start with smaller amounts, taste, and incrementally increase for balanced flavor without overwhelming mint notes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 15
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg