These rich dark chocolate Peppermint Brownies are the perfect dessert to indulge in with your friends and family this Christmas.

Season: Winter

Holiday: Christmas

~Ingredients:

-Brownie:

5 Ounces Bittersweet Chocolate.*

1/2 Cup Butter.

1 Cup Granulated Sugar.

2 Large Eggs.

3/4 Teaspoon Peppermint Extract.

1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract.

1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour.

2 Tablespoons Dark Chocolate Cocoa Powder.**

1/4 Teaspoon Salt.

-Frosting:

4 Ounces Cream Cheese, softened.

1/4 Cup Butter, softened.

1 3/4 Cups Powdered Sugar.

-Ganache:

3 Tablespoons Heavy Whipping Cream.

1 1/2 Ounces Bittersweet Chocolate Chips.

1 Big Candy Cane, crushed.

~Directions:

~Making the Brownie:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Line a 8 x 8 baking pan with parchment paper or heavy duty foil and spray with cooking spray.

Step 2: Place chocolate and butter together in a bowl and microwave in 30 second increments until melted and smooth. 

Step 3: Mix in the sugar and then the eggs and extracts. 

Step 4: Add the flour, cocoa powder, and salt and mix until combined. 

Step 5: Spread into the lined pan and bake for 30 - 33 minutes until toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Cool completely before frosting.

~Making the Frosting:

Step 6: Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth.

Step 7: Mix in the powdered sugar and then spread over the cooled brownies.

~Making the Ganache:

Step 8: Heat the cream in the microwave until it starts to boil. 

Step 9: Pour the chocolate chips in the cream and cover the bowl for 2 minutes and then whisk until smooth. 

Step 10: Place in a bag and let it cool for 5 - 10 minutes and then drizzle over frosting and immediately sprinkle with the crushed candy cane.

Step 11: Pull out the parchment paper / aluminum foil to remove the brownies and then cut into 16 squares.***

Step 12: Eat and Enjoy!

~Recipe Notes:

*We used bittersweet chocolate but you can use any type of chocolate (Semi Sweet, Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate).

**We used dark chocolate cocoa powder but you can use any type of cocoa powder you want.

***If you want each brownie to look a little cleaner, cut before drizzling the ganache.

Enjoy!

Please leave us a picture in the comments below if you make it or have any questions!

XoXo Hailey and Hannah