Peppermint Candy Cane Brownies

My #1 top favorite holiday dessert!  I’ve been making this mint brownie recipe since I was a kid and during Christmas time we love replacing the green food coloring with red, and giving them a festive sprinkling of crushed candy cane.  This starts with a super rich and fudgy brownie, topped with a cool layer of peppermint frosting, and finished with a creamy chocolate ganache.

I made a jumbo batch of these yesterday to deliver to neighbors and think it’s worth the highlight here.  These brownies have a few steps, and take a little extra planning, but they’re so, so worth it.  You can even make them all the way, or part of the way, a day ahead of time and spread out the work.  This is my Mother’s recipe, and something I requested from her often, so I have tender memories associated with it.

Ingredient and Recipe Notes

• Chocolate – This recipe calls for unsweetened chocolate. This is the unsweetened Baker’s squares, found near the chocolate chips on the baking aisle.
• Peppermint Flavoring – Extract or flavoring oil can be used here. You could certainly use this same recipe for other flavor profiles. Orange frosting and candied oranges or raspberry frosting and raspberry chocolate chips in the ganache would be delicious!
• Butter – Real butter is always best!
• Food Coloring – These AmeriColors gel colors are my new favorites.  I LOVE that they conveniently squirt out instead of me having to get out a toothpick to dip into the little jar and then inevitably getting it all over my hands and counter.

How to Make Peppermint Candy Cane Brownies

Step 1: Make the Brownies

1. You’ll start by making the brownie layer. You want to use unsweetened baking chocolate, which is sold in bars by the chocolate chips. Make sure it is unsweetened.  Place it in a microwave-safe bowl along with 2 sticks of butter that you’ve chopped up. Melt in 30-45 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Set aside. Don’t accidentally stick your finger in the melted butter and chocolate combo because it will laugh at you for forgetting that it is unsweetened.  I do it every. single. time.

2. Beat eggs and sugar for a minute, until they’re nice and smooth.  Then slowly pour in your chocolaty butter mixture and mix just until it’s combined.

3. You’ll add a bit of flour and baking powder, and again just mix until it’s combined.  You never want to over-mix brownies.  I also always sift my flour for this recipe.  You can just put it in a mesh strainer and shake it right into the batter.  I’ve noticed when I don’t, I sometimes get little visible flour spots in my brownies.

4. Bake those until a knife comes out clean.  I’ve found that baking time really varies on these, so make sure to do the knife test. And I always line my pan with foil because it makes cutting and serving so much easier when you can just lift the whole sheet right out of there.

5. Let those cool all the way.  If it’s cold out, pop them outside, otherwise after they’ve cooled to room temp, I just stick them in the fridge.

Step 2: Make The Frosting

1. Next layer is the frosting.  Whip up some butter (real butter!) and then add powdered sugar.

2. You’ll add a little milk (this frosting is on the firm side, don’t go crazy with the milk),

and quite a lot of peppermint extract.  It will probably seem like too much, but it’s purposely strong.  This is the only peppermint going into the brownies, and it’s a thin layer.  So that one cool, creamy layer has to be enough to contrast all of the rich chocolate.

3. Whip, whip, whip,

to creamy perfection.

3. Add a couple drops of red food coloring. 

A couple of drops will do it.

4. Then carefully spread the frosting on your cooled brownies.  You have to use a soft hand in order to not tear up the top of the brownie layer.  If you get a few bits in there it’s okay though, because we’re going to cover that up anyway.

Pop that in the fridge again to chill.

Step 3: Make the Chocolate Topping

1. Melt some semi-sweet (or dark) chocolate chips and more butter.  I prefer to use unsalted in this top layer, but you can use either.

Melt it until it’s smooth and creamy. Remember in the first step when I told you to not accidentally let your finger fall in the chocolate butter mixture? Totally doesn’t apply to this chocolate butter mixture.

2. Let it cool off so it’s still super spreadable, but not hot (if it’s hot it will melt your frosting and make a big gooey mess.

Just spread it on quickly and evenly.

3. While it’s still wet, sprinkle on some crushed candy cane.

A little, a lot, whatever floats your boat.

You can make this whole pan a day ahead of time.  Just cover well and place in the fridge (uncut) overnight.)  When you’re ready to serve, pull the foil out so you remove the whole sheet of brownies and cutting is a cinch.

You get three distinct layers here of rich and fudgy brownie, cool creamy frosting, and smooth decadent chocolate.

The little bits of candy cane are icing on the cake.  Or topping on the brownie. Whatever.

FAQs

• Can I make these ahead of time? Yep. Feel free to make them completely a whole day ahead of time. Just cover and keep in the fridge. You can also make the brownies a couple of days in advance and store in the fridge or freezer until ready to assemble.
• Can I double this recipe? The safest way to double recipes for baked goods is to simply set out two bowls and measure one-batch worth of ingredients into each as you go.

Related Recipes You May Like

• Mint-Chip Ice Cream Brownie Squares
• Peppermint Meltaway Cookies
• Peppermint Candy Cane Whipped Cream
• Perfect Chocolate Brownies
• Chocolate Peppermint Chex Mix

Did You Make These?

I’d love to hear from you! Snap a picture and tag me on Instagram, then come back and give this recipe a rating!

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