The Best Peppermint Delight Brownies Recipe for Holiday Magic

Peppermint delight brownies blend rich chocolate with a cool, refreshing twist that dances across your taste buds.

Sweet and indulgent, these treats promise a delightful sensory experience for chocolate enthusiasts.

Imagine biting into a decadent square where smooth cocoa meets icy peppermint in perfect harmony.

Layers of intense flavor create a magical combination that feels both comforting and exciting.

Crisp mint notes weave through dense, fudgy chocolate, offering a sophisticated dessert that surprises and satisfies.

Creamy and intense, these brownies challenge traditional dessert expectations with their bold flavor profile.

You will adore how these delectable squares enhance an ordinary moment into something extraordinary.

Explore this recipe and let your kitchen become a playground of delicious creativity.

Peppermint Brownies That Make a Statement

• These brownies blend rich chocolate with cool peppermint, creating a holiday-inspired dessert that dances between decadent and refreshing.
• The recipe uses professional mixing methods like whisking eggs to create an incredibly light, airy brownie texture that elevates home baking.
• With its beautiful chocolate base and festive peppermint topping, this dessert appeals to kids and adults alike, making it perfect for gatherings and celebrations.
• From start to finish, these brownies take just over an hour to prepare, delivering a stunning result that looks like it came from a gourmet bakery.

What You’ll Need for Minty Goodness

• Butter: Rich, smooth base for brownie batter and chocolate bark, adds deep flavor and tender texture.
• Chocolate Chips: Provides rich chocolate taste and creates smooth, glossy texture for brownies and bark.
• Eggs: Binding agent that helps create structure and contributes to brownie's rich consistency.
• Brown Sugar: Adds moisture, deep caramel-like sweetness, and helps create soft brownie texture.

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and helps create perfect brownie consistency.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness in brownies.

• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, complex background flavor to brownie batter.
• Peppermint Extract, Peppermint Candy: Creates signature cool, refreshing peppermint flavor and festive appearance.
• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, sweet frosting with perfect spreading consistency.
• Milk: Helps adjust frosting's texture and creates creamy consistency.

How to Bake and Cool Peppermint Brownies

Step 1: Prepare Baking Station

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan with butter, then dust it lightly with flour so the brownies won’t stick.

Step 2: Create Chocolate Base

Get your butter and chocolate chips ready.

Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat, then take it off the stove.

Add the chocolate chips and stir until they melt completely.

Let the mixture cool for a few minutes before using it.

Step 3: Whip Brownie Batter

Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, combine eggs, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.

Beat on high speed for 5 to 6 minutes until the mixture turns pale and thick.

Gently fold in the chocolate mixture in three parts so it stays light and fluffy.

Carefully stir in the sifted flour just until blended.

Step 4: Bake Brownies

Pour the batter into your prepared pan.

Bake for 20 minutes, making sure not to overbake.

Let the brownies cool completely in the pan for 1 hour.

Step 5: Create Peppermint Frosting

With an electric mixer and paddle attachment, beat the softened butter until it’s fluffy.

Slowly add powdered sugar, peppermint extract, and a splash of milk.

Start on low speed, then increase to medium-high and beat for another 2 minutes until smooth.

Step 6: Frost and Decorate

Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled brownies.

Chill them in the fridge for 15 minutes.

Melt chocolate chips with a bit of butter and pour it over the frosting.

Sprinkle crushed peppermint candy on top and let the chocolate set before slicing into squares.

Tips for Texture and Rich Flavor

• Whip Eggs Thoroughly: Beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla on high speed for 5-6 minutes to create a light, airy base that gives brownies a luxurious texture and helps them rise beautifully.
• Fold Chocolate Gently: Incorporate melted chocolate mixture in three stages, using a careful folding technique to maintain the air bubbles and prevent deflating the batter.
• Cool Completely Before Frosting: Allow brownies to cool for a full hour at room temperature to prevent frosting from melting and ensure clean, sharp edges when cutting.
• Check Chocolate Consistency: When melting chocolate for the bark, stir constantly and use low heat to prevent burning, creating a smooth, glossy chocolate topping.
• Chill for Clean Cuts: Refrigerate brownies for 15 minutes after adding frosting to help set the layers and make slicing into perfect squares easier.

Store and Warm With Zero Crumbs

• Refrigerate: Store brownies in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
• Freeze: Wrap individual brownies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for maximum 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Reheat: Warm brownies briefly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds at 50% power to maintain their fudgy texture. Avoid overheating to prevent dryness.

Great Holiday Pairings for These Bars

• Pair with Creamy Peppermint Hot Chocolate: The rich, chocolatey brownies find their perfect match in a warm mug of peppermint hot chocolate, creating a delightful winter dessert experience that amplifies the mint and chocolate flavors.
• Complement with Cold Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Serve a scoop of smooth vanilla bean ice cream alongside the brownies to balance the intense peppermint and chocolate notes, offering a cool and creamy contrast.
• Enhance with Espresso Martini: For adult gatherings, an espresso martini provides a sophisticated accompaniment that cuts through the sweetness while echoing the dessert's rich chocolate and mint profile.
• Match with Peppermint Tea: A light, refreshing peppermint tea cleanses the palate between bites and reinforces the minty undertones of the brownie, creating a harmonious flavor connection.

Peppermint Brownie Ideas You’ll Want to Try

• Candy Cane Classic: Swap peppermint extract with crushed candy canes mixed directly into the brownie batter for a festive winter treat with extra crunch and minty flavor.
• Dark Chocolate Mint Fusion: Replace milk chocolate chips with dark chocolate and add espresso powder to intensify the rich chocolate-mint combination, creating a more sophisticated dessert.
• Chocolate Mint Chip Adventure: Incorporate mint chocolate chips into the brownie batter and top with a light green-tinted cream cheese frosting for a playful seasonal version that looks as good as it tastes.
• Nutty Mint Chocolate Layer: Sprinkle chopped toasted almonds or pecans between the brownie layer and peppermint frosting, adding a delightful textural contrast and nutty warmth to the classic recipe.

Peppermint Brownie Questions Answered

• Can I use dark chocolate instead of chocolate chips?

Yes, you can substitute dark chocolate for chocolate chips. Just make sure it’s chopped into small pieces to melt evenly.

• How do I know if the brownies are done baking?

Insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out with a few moist crumbs, the brownies are perfect. Avoid overbaking to keep them fudgy.

• Can I make these brownies ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can bake the brownies a day in advance and add the frosting and chocolate topping just before serving. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

• What if I don't have peppermint extract?

You can use pure mint extract as a substitute, but start with half the amount as it might be stronger. Alternatively, you can skip it, but the peppermint flavor will be less pronounced.

Peppermint Delight Brownies Recipe

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4.6 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 16 1x

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Description

Chocolate meets holiday magic in these peppermint delight brownies, where rich cocoa swirls with cool mint for an irresistible seasonal treat. Festive crumbles of candy cane and silky chocolate ganache promise a delightful dessert you’ll crave all winter long.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 ½ sticks (170 grams) unsalted butter
• 1 ¼ cups (213 grams) bittersweet chocolate chips (60% cacao)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 ½ cups (213 grams) bittersweet chocolate chips (60% cacao)
• 1 stick (113 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature

Sweeteners and Flavorings:

• ¾ cup Domino Light Brown Sugar
• 2 cups Domino Powdered Sugar
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract

Dry and Other Ingredients:

• ½ cup all-purpose flour, sifted
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
• Crushed peppermint candy for topping
• Butter (for melting chocolate)

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Instructions

1. Grease an 8x8x2-inch baking pan and warm the oven to 350°F.
2. Gently melt butter in a saucepan over low heat, then add chocolate chips and stir until completely smooth and glossy. Allow mixture to cool slightly.
3. Whip eggs, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in a stand mixer on high speed for 5-6 minutes until the mixture becomes light and airy.
4. Carefully fold the cooled chocolate mixture into the egg mixture in three separate additions, ensuring smooth incorporation.
5. Gently integrate sifted flour into the batter, maintaining a light texture.
6. Transfer brownie batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly.
7. Bake for approximately 20 minutes, watching carefully to prevent over-browning. Remove from oven and let cool completely for one hour.
8. Cream butter in an electric mixer until fluffy, then gradually blend powdered sugar, peppermint extract, and milk.
9. Beat frosting at medium-high speed for an additional two minutes until smooth and spreadable.
10. Once brownies have cooled, generously spread peppermint frosting across the surface.
11. Chill brownies in refrigerator for 15 minutes to set frosting.
12. Melt remaining chocolate chips with a touch of butter, stirring until silky.
13. Remove brownies from refrigerator and drizzle melted chocolate over frosting.
14. Sprinkle crushed peppermint candy across the top for festive decoration.
15. Allow chocolate to completely harden before cutting into individual squares.

Notes

• Achieve the perfect texture by not overbaking the brownies, which can make them dry and crumbly.
• Cool the brownies completely before frosting to prevent the peppermint layer from melting and becoming runny.
• Use room temperature butter for the frosting to ensure a smooth, creamy consistency without lumps.
• Crush peppermint candies just before sprinkling to maintain their vibrant color and crisp texture.
• Refrigerate briefly after frosting to help set the layers and make cutting cleaner and more precise.
• Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness and prevent drying out.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 16
• Calories: 200
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 27 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg