Peppermint Mocha Brownies
Peppermint Mocha Brownies are your favorite holiday latte in dessert formāas in brownies loaded with a hint of coffee and peppermint flavors shining through each bite, all decked out with crushed bits of striped candy canes sprinkled on top. 'Cause when it's the holidays, nothing screams FESTIVE quite like something sweet and totally, unapologetically over the top.
š³ Cook: 30 minš½ļø Makes 24
Ingredients
| 1 tbsp (15 ml) | boiling water |
| 1Ā½ tbsp (9 g) | espresso powder |
| 1 cup (85 g) | unsweetened natural or Dutch-process cocoa powder |
| 1 cup (220 g) | dark brown sugar |
| 1 cup (200 g) | granulated sugar |
| 1 cup (230 g) | unsalted butter, melted |
| 4 | large eggs |
| 2 tsp (10 ml) | vanilla extract |
| 1Ā½ tsp (8 ml) | peppermint extract |
| Ā½ tsp | kosher salt |
| 1Ā¼ cups (150 g) | all-purpose flour |
| ā | crushed peppermint candy, for topping, optional |
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350Ā°F (180Ā°C). Grease a 9 x 13āinch (22 x 33ācm) pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray and then line the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on all sides. Grease the parchment with butter or nonstick cooking spray and then set it aside.
- To a small saucepan, add approximately Ā½ cup (120 ml) of water and bring it to a boil. In a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of the boiling water. Add the espresso powder and stir it to combine until a thick liquid or paste forms, then set it aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, dark brown sugar and granulated sugar. Add the melted butter and espresso mixture and whisk until combined.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, making sure to beat the mixture in between each addition. Then stir in the vanilla and peppermint extracts.
- Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, fold in the salt and flour until just combined, and then spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, sprinkling the crushed peppermint candy, if using, on top of the brownies halfway through baking. Test the brownies with a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan. If it comes out with wet batter, the brownies are not done. If there are only a few moist crumbs, the brownies are done!
- Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares.
- Cover and store leftover brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days.
TOTAL TIME: 1 hour 15 minutes. YIELD: 24 bars.