Super fudgy, moist brownies topped with a layer of sweet peppermint frosting, covered in a layer of soft chocolate ganache, then sprinkled with crushed candy canes to dress them up for the holidays.
Today I’ve teamed up with Sara and Kate, my friends from Our Best Bites, for a fun, virtual cookie swap. We’ve chosen a holiday cookie recipe from the other’s website to bake and post. I decided to bake their “heavenly Christmasy brownies.”
Bar cookies are one of my favorite cookies. They’re easy to make and easy to serve – perfect for the busy holiday season. Their Mint Brownie recipe is in their first cookbook, as well as on Our Best Bites. The cookbook version is slightly different than the online version. My version below is sort of a combination of the two.
We’ve also teamed up with McCormick. McCormick sent us spices, peppermint and vanilla extracts, and food coloring to bake with. My mom always used McCormick spices when I was growing up, and I’ve continued to rely on them for my baking. If you have questions about spices, the McCormick website has a great Spices 101 section.
To make it easier to get bar cookies out of the pan, line your pan with foil. To make it easy to mold the foil to your pan, turn your pan upside down and cover the pan tightly with foil, shiny side out. Remove the foil, turn the pan right side up and fit the molded foil into it.
Once you have the brownies out of the pan, peel off the foil and cut them in to squares. I like to use my watermelon knife to cut them. It’s long enough to cut through the entire row in one slice. I then rinse the knife in hot water, dry it and cut the next row. If you really want perfect squares, sometimes I’ll even bring out the ruler and measure the rows.
I loved these brownies. I kept going back to the kitchen for just a little bit more. They remind me of a brownie they make at a local pastry shop, Schmidt’s. Thanks Kate and Sara for sharing the recipe.
Please stop by Our Best Bites to see what holiday cookie they’re baking from Barbara Bakes.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 (1 -ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter, softened
- 1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract
- 1 1/2 tablespoons milk
- red food coloring, 1 to 2 drops
- 6 ounces (about 1 cup) semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1/2-1 cup crushed candy canes
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Line a 9x13 inch pan with foil, making sure the foil extends over the edges by at least one inch. Lightly spray foil with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Chop the baking squares and butter into chucks and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until just melted and smooth. Set aside to cool, stirring occasionally.
- In a stand mixer or with electric beaters, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla for 2 minutes. While the mixer is running, slowly add the melted chocolate and beat to combine. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture and mix just until combined. Pour into prepared 9×13 pan.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick poked in the center comes out mostly clean. Don’t over bake! When brownies are done, cool on a wire rack. When completely cool, put in the fridge to chill (makes the frosting spreading easier).
- Combine all frosting ingredients and beat until light and fluffy. Add more milk a teaspoon at a time if needed. Spread evenly over chilled brownies and place back in the fridge to chill again while you do the final step. (I used an offset spatula to spread the frosting.)
- Place chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until just melted and smooth. Set aside to cool for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, and then quickly spread on top of brownies.
- Sprinkle the crushed candy canes on top and return to the fridge to cool. When chocolate has hardened, use the edges of the foil to remove the entire sheet of brownies from the pan. Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
slightly adapted from Our Best Bites
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by McCormick, but all opinions expressed are always my own.
More bar cookies you might like:
Almond Toffee Bars, Barbara Bakes
Tropical Magic Bar Cookies, Barbara Bakes
Triple Chip Blondies, Our Best Bites
Peanut Butter Cup Caramel Shortbread Bars, Our Best Bites
Some of the links in my posts may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting Barbara Bakes when you shop!
I love to bake, especially cookies, cakes, and pies. I’ll post my adventures in the kitchen, my favorite new recipes, as well as our family favorites.
I love bar cookies and these are especially festive. Can’t wait to eat half a pan.
So pretty! A great gift idea.
Cheers,
Rosa
I love anything peppermint, esp this time of year!
Mmm heavenly!
these brownies look great Barbara! Fudgy and rich, just how I like them. And peppermint, mmm, I can not get enough of chocolate and peppermint this time of the year.
Would love if you bring your brownies to my December Chocolate Party http://www.roxanashomebaking.com/peppermint-chocolate-cake-recipe-chocolateparty/
Whoa… you know everyone Barbara! Who doesn’t love OBB and those brownies look phenomenal! You did them well
Agreed! Everyone loves OBB. Sara and Kate have Utah ties too. Thanks!
Barbara – the brownies are gorgeous and Ive made many layered (mint) brownies in my day and as impressed with your recipe that I am, I am more impressed by how neat they are and the perfectly clean cuts. That is a real feat! Photographically, not an easy recipe to deal with
Thanks Averie! I have to admit I was a little nervous that I wouldn’t get pretty cuts for the pictures. I think chilling the brownies before cutting them really help.
These are lovely, and you couldn’t have teamed up with a better pair. Kinda laughing though, Deborah and I literally swapped on each other’s blogs. HAHA, we must have misunderstood. LOL!
Thanks Carrian – I thought it was fun the way you and Deb did it too.
These look super – I have always meant to do something with candy canes. We don’t get them that much in the UK but I have a box stashed away!
How fun to have a secret stash. Enjoy!
Such fun brownies for the holidays!
Your brownies look wonderful! What a festive treat. Thanks!
C’est extra gourmnd et très beau, j’adore ces douceurs
Merci Barbara
Je te souhiate une belle soirée, chez moi c’est sous pas mal de neige
Valérie.
Oh Barbara, you are speaking my brownie language! Yum.
These look so delicious. I love mint with chocolate. I can’t wait to try these.
Got here by way of Our Best Bites. Love your site!
Sign me up to follow!
Thanks Lynn – that’s so nice! So glad you stopped by.
Ok lining the pan is sheer genius but covering the outside first to get the shape.. Barbara what a clever idea! That will save me buying those expensive disposable foil tins too.
These look deliciously festive!
Thanks Claire! Don’t know where I picked up that tip, but it is a time saver.
One of my favorite treats–now on two great blogs! Thanks.
Thanks Cindy – so sweet!
I’ve never met a brownie that didn’t become a good friend and these will be no exception. What festive brownies they are!
These brownies are adorable! Absolutely perfect for Christmas…yum!
They look delicious, Barbara! I haven’t done any holiday baking yet – I’d better get busy. These have given me inspiration
Wow, all geard up for the festive season. Can’t hlep drooling over those pictures!
What festive and awesome brownies!
Such pretty brownies and I love the layers of peppermint and ganache! A great addition to the Chocolate Party this month! : )
Wow these look fantastic! Headed over to see what recipe OBB made of yours!
They are absolutely beautiful bars!
I love the idea of a virtual cookie swap! And what a perfect recipe to choose – love it!
Beautiful! And you cut them so precisely! These would make a great holiday project and a lovely gift.
I can’t imagine more festive brownies than these!
mmm barbara, you are right – these brownies do look incredibly fudgy. And how festive 1I adore… completely ADORE chocolate and peppermint together. That gorgeous pink peppermint layer has to be my favorite. I’m now drooling and need something chocolate/peppermint-y for breakfast!
These look totally amazing! Chocolate and peppermint is a great combo but one I don’t make often enough to be honest so gotta try these!
These pretty pepermint brownies are perfect for the holiday season. Looks great:)
I’m in love with all the layers in these! It makes them look so festive and perfect for this time of year….
These look lovely and perfect wrapped up as Christmas gifts
I’ve been giving friends and colleagues cookies but I think it’s time to give them BROWNIES! Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
These brownies look so fudgy and delicious! Thanks for the tip about the tin foil. I’ve had a few accidents with brownies sticking to the pan, but yours came out perfectly!
Nice recipe. I love a simple brownie recipe which is easy for the kids to help with
Thanks for sharing,
Kelly