Recipe--Mint Brownies

With St. Patrick’s Day being celebrated this month, we’ve been making and eating some green foods! These brownies are the bomb . . . almost literally! These are for a very special occasion; super rich and chocolatey! There’s almost no way you can’t enjoy these if you like chocolate and mint!

Mint Brownies

Brownies:

4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate

1 cup unsalted butter

4 large eggs

2 cups granulated sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup flour

Filling:

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

4 Tablespoons green crème de menthe (or use green food coloring plus a dash of peppermint extract)

Icing

6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

6 Tablespoons unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mist 9x13 baking pan with cooking spray. Prepare brownies: In double boiler (or microwave), melt baking chocolate and 1 cup butter over simmering water; cool slightly. In medium mixing bowl, beat eggs with a whisk until blended, then add the 2 cups granulated sugar and continue whisking until mixture is light and fluffy. Add cooled chocolate mixture, salt, vanilla and flour. Keep whisking until thoroughly blended. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 25 minutes. Remove from oven and leave brownies to cool in pan.

Make filling: Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the ½ cup butter and confectioners’ sugar together until well blended. Stir in the crème de menthe and blend well (if you’re not using crème de menthe, add 1-2 Tablespoons of milk with the peppermint extract and food coloring.) Spread over cooled brownies. Refrigerate in original baking pan until filling is firm.

For the icing, melt the chocolate chips and 6 Tablespoons butter in the top of a double boiler, stirring until smooth. (You can do this in the microwave, just monitor closely and stir a few times.) Pour the warm glaze over the filling and tilt pan to distribute the icing evenly. Refrigerate until chocolate hardens.

To cut, allow brownies to come to room temperature in the pan so chocolate doesn’t crack. Makes 24 brownies.