As I bit into the chocolate peppermint cookie, I realized the ginormous problem with my approach to Santa’s treats. Almost every other family leaves him cookies, so baking a different type of dessert would bring him more joy and break up the cookie monotony.
I still liked the chocolate and peppermint combination, but I poured out the last few drops from my bottle of peppermint extract to make the cookies. I needed another source of peppermint for my next batch of treats…
Adding bits of candy cane to the batter seemed like a disaster waiting to happen. The pieces would stick to Santa’s teeth, making it really hard for him to open his mouth to chuckle, “Ho, ho, ho!” Spying a half-eaten bag of peppermint patties on the countertop, the wheels in my brain started turning.
By crushing and melting these little candies, I got the same candy cane flavor with none of the mess. And in under an hour, my pan of peppermint brownies sat cooling on the counter, their delicious smells dancing around the house.
Peppermint Patty Brownies
based on CL’s Junior Mint Brownies
makes 16 squares
My brownies took 25-30 minutes to bake, so don’t be alarmed if yours take longer too! Pull them out a little sooner if you like them fudgy. Serve with vanilla ice cream if it isn’t too cold outside!
¼ c. butter
12 peppermint patties
2 eggs
⅔ c. sugar
⅓ c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 c. flour
¼ tsp baking soda
⅛ tsp salt
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly coat an 8×8” baking pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- Microwave the butter and peppermint patties for 30-45 seconds or until soft. Stir until smooth, and set aside.
- Mix the eggs, sugar, and cocoa together in a large bowl. Add in the peppermint mixture, stirring until smooth. Add in the flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring just until everything is incorporated.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, and bake at 350° for 20-25 min, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan before cutting and serving.
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