Festive Homemade Peppermint Brownies have homemade butter cream frosting and crushed candy cane topping!
Peppermint Desserts
I can’t walk past a dessert table that has peppermint desserts on it without gawking at them. The crunchy peppermint candy cane topping is the perfect finish to a sweet chocolate bite of “pepperminty” goodness. I use crushed peppermint candy canes to to make Peppermint Mocha Chocolate Biscotti too.
Pair these peppermint brownies with a hot cup of peppermint cocoa or coffee and you’ve got yourself a nice tasty duo to warm you up. “Baby, it’s cold outside!”
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Brownies with Peppermint Frosting
Ever since made homemade brownies one time, I hardly ever make the box brownies anymore. Homemade brownies are so easy-to-make and you don’t even have to melt chocolate. You can just use cocoa powder and get a good chocolate flavor.
For a few more ingredients than what it takes to make boxed brownies, you can have from scratch brownies that taste a lot better. Give homemade brownies a try. The taste is incredible!
Make this chocolate brownie recipe any time of year! Take the peppermint out of this recipe and you have great tasting brownies for anytime.
Peppermint Pretzel Bark is fun to make and a nice twist on traditional peppermint bark.
Homemade Peppermint Brownies
How to Make Brownies with Peppermint Frosting
*The full recipe is at the bottom of this post.
Homemade Chocolate Brownies:
- First, preheat oven to 350F.
- Next, n a large mixing bowl, beat eggs and vanilla extract. Add sugar and melted butter and mix until blended.
- Then, add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Mix just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Next, pour into a greased 11″x 7″x 3″ baking dish and bake at 350F for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. You can use an 8″x8″x3″ baking dish but, you’ll need about 5 more minutes of baking time.
You know you want to try a brownie. Go ahead! How will you know it’s good if you don’t try one?
How to Make Peppermint Buttercream Frosting:
- First, in a medium mixing bowl, add softened butter and mix until creamy (about one minute.)
- Then, add powdered sugar, half and half creamer, and peppermint extract. Mix until smooth. If the frosting consistency is still hard, you may add a teaspoon more or more of half and half creamer.
Peppermint extract is used to make Peppermint Bark which is one of my favorite Christmas treats! It’s not difficult to make but, if you don’t have time buy some! In my opinion, the best peppermint bark is Williams and Sonoma Peppermint Bark which you can buy on Amazon.com! How convenient! I hope my husband is reading this.
If you LOVE peppermint bark? You’ll probably love this Peppermint Pretzel Bark! It is so easy-to-make. Why spend all afternoon baking cookies from scratch when you can make delicious Peppermint Pretzel Bark in 40 min with cooling time? It is a great homemade gift to box up and give to your neighbors!
Peppermint Candy Cane Topping:
Buy crushed peppermint candy which, is the easiest.
Or, you can crush them yourself.
- First, peel the wrapper off of the candy canes.
- Then, put the unwrapped candy canes in plastic zipper bag (freezer bags are thicker than storage bags and will work better.)
- Next, using a rolling pin, mallet, or tack hammer, hit the candy canes until they break into small pieces and chips as pictured. Your kids would like doing this! But, please monitor them as you don’t want them to get hurt.
Peppermint Brownie Assembly:
- After the brownies have cooled, spread peppermint frosting over the top in a thin layer or cut the brownies and then spread the frosting onto each brownie.
- Last, sprinkle the candy cane topping on top of the peppermint buttercream frosting.
Brownies with Peppermint Frosting
Notes:
- Do NOT substitute mint extract for the peppermint extract. It is not the same. I did that once making peppermint bark because the store was out of peppermint extract. My peppermint bark tasted like a stick of spearmint gum! I had to learn that lesson the hard way.
- I only use one teaspoon of peppermint extract in this peppermint frosting because when you top them with the crushed candy cane pieces, it may be too much peppermint. You can certainly add a little more peppermint extract if you wish but, I wouldn’t go over 1 ½ teaspoons in the frosting or it will be too much.
- Substitute milk or cream for half and half. I like to use half-n-half creamer because it is creamier than milk and I always have it on hand because I put it in my coffee. Mommy + toddlers = plenty of coffee!
Making these tasty homemade peppermint brownies for a holiday party is not only a festive dessert but, also a tasty and aesthetically appealing one.
If you cut the brownies, spread the frosting on them and top with the crushed candy cane pieces and then put them on a platter rather than keep them in the baking dish, it will give the best presentation to your guests and make it easier to serve.
Festive Christmas recipes, like Peppermint Brownies, are great to serve during the holiday season.
Use the homemade brown recipe below for any time of year! It’s delicious!
When you need a great tasting festive Christmas dessert to take to a Christmas party this holiday season, look no further than this homemade recipe! They’re easy-to-make and will disappear from the dessert table! “Get your peppermint on” this holiday season with Fudge Brownies with Peppermint Frosting!
Peppermint Brownies
Ingredients
Chocolate Brownies:
- 3 eggs
- 2 tsp of vanilla extract
- 2 cups of sugar
- 2 sticks of butter melted
- 1 cup of flour
- 3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp of salt
- 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips
Peppermint Buttercream Frosting:
- 1/2 stick of butter softened
- 2 cups of powdered sugar
- 1 tsp of peppermint extract
- 2 tbs of half and half creamer
Peppermint Candy Cane Topping:
- Put 3 unwrapped candy canes into a 1 qt. plastic bag and break with a large spoon until they are broken into small pieces. 3 candy canes
Instructions
Chocolate Brownies:
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs and vanilla extract. Add sugar and melted butter and mix until blended.
- Add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Mix just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Pour into a greased 8"x 11"x 3" baking dish and bake at 350F for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Peppermint Buttercream Frosting:
- In a medium mixing bowl, add softened butter and mix until creamy (about one minute.) Add powdered sugar,half and half creamer, and peppermint extract. Mix until smooth. If the frosting consistency is still hard, you may add a teaspoon more of half and half creamer.
Peppermint Candy Cane Topping:
- Put candy canes in a zipper plastic baggie. With a gravy ladle or mallet, hit the candy cane until it breaks into small pieces and chips as pictured.
Peppermint Brownie Assembly:
- After the brownies have cooled, spread peppermint frosting over the top in a thin layer or cut the brownies and then spread the frosting onto each brownie. Sprinkle the candy cane topping on top of the peppermint buttercream frosting.
I’m glad everyone liked them. Try the brownie recipe when you have time. So good..Merry Christmas and happy new year!
I was in a hurry and used 2 pouches of Ghirardelli brownie mix in a 9×13 pan. I followed your icing recipe and topped with crushed candy canes. They were a huge hit at Christmas dinner!
Peppermint cookies sound good too.
Thank you. I love chocolate and mint myself.
Thank you. Please come back and comment if you make the brownies.
They look so good. I would love to try this recipe!
This looks yummy. I always make peppermint cookies for Christmas. Thanks for another idea 🙂
Let me know if you make them. I bet you’d like the Bourbon chocolate Pecan pie too. I almost licked the plate on that one…almost.
I love the combination of chocolate and peppermint and your brownies look delicious. I’ll have to try this recipe.