Brownies Frosted with Peppermint Candy Cane Icing

Brownies by themselves are good, however if you like peppermint patties combining the tastes make for an extraordinary treat.

Either you can use your favorite brownie recipe or a good box mix; both are quite appropriate. Top it with a candy cane/peppermint flavored butter cream frosting and drizzle it with dark chocolate.

Brownies frosted with candy cane icing is sure to please even the sweetest of sweet tooth’s.

Ingredients for homemade brownie and peppermint butter cream frosting:

• ½ cup butter, margarine or olive oil
• ¼ cup chocolate chips; semi sweet or dark chocolate
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3  cup cocoa
• ½  cup flour
• ¼  teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder

For Frosting:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ¼  cup butter or margarine, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 1/4 teaspoons peppermint extract or Crème de Menthe
• 3 candy canes, crushed
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips, dark chocolate or semi sweet
• 1 teaspoon olive oil; add more if needed

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, if your oven does not have a timer 20-30 minutes will suffice.  
    
2. Grease a 9-inch by 11-inch pan. If you are like me and enjoy a thicker brownie, double the recipe, however double the baking time too.
    
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder.
    
4. Melt the butter.  Pour into a large bowl and whisk in the chocolate chips until melted.  Whisk in the sugar and then the eggs. Stir in the dry ingredients. 
    
5. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool completely.
    
6. For the peppermint butter cream frosting, beat the butter together with the powdered sugar and extract. Add enough milk until it reaches a desired consistency.
    
7. Add the crushed candy cane and frost the cooled brownies.  Cut into squares now if you want to keep the chocolate drizzle in tact.
    
8. Melt the remaining ¼-cup chocolate chips and stir in the oil. Drizzle over the peppermint frosting.

Tips:

• If you use a box mix, you can replace the water with crème de menthe for extra flavor.
• If you are serving the brownies only to adults, the substitute the peppermint extract with crème de menthe.