Fudge Mint Brownies

via Glorious Treats

I'll be honest--I only sort of made these.  I was in a bit of a pinch, so I bought ready made batter from Trader Joe's for the brownie (literally, the batter--cut open bag, pour into pan.  Does that count as baking?) But the mint, glaze, etc... was yummy. I couldn't find Andes mints, so I used mint cookie malt balls that I found at Draeggers, which sounds strange, but was actually tasty. 

Fudge Mint Brownies

Brownie Layer~

1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces

4 oz. dark chocolate (apx. 80% cocoa, or use half unsweetened and half bittersweet)

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 large eggs

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

Mint Layer~

3 Tablespoons butter, at room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar

1 Tablespoon heavy cream (or milk)

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract  (or 1/4 teaspoon creme de menthe and 1/4 teaspoon peppermint)

1 drop green food coloring (I use americolor mint green)

Chocolate Glaze~

3 oz. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate (apx. 70 % cocoa)

1 Tablespoon butter

Andes Mints (apx. 1/2 package, or 14 whole pieces, about 2.5 oz.), chopped

Directions~

Preheat oven to 325*F.   Prepare a 9"x9" (or 8"x8") square baking pan by lining parchment paper across the bottom and sides of the pan, like a sling.  You can use a little butter on the pan to help the paper stay in place.

Brownies~

In a stainless steel bowl over a pan of simmering water (or double boiler), melt the butter and chocolate.

Once melted, remove from heat and stir in the sugar and vanilla.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well with a spoon.  Stir in flour and salt and beat with a spoon until the batter is smooth and glossy (about 1 minute).  Pour the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until brownies start to pull away from the sides and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean.  Remove pan from oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely (about 1 hour).

Mint Layer~

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat all ingredients until smooth.  Add 1 or two drops of green food coloring (one at a time, you don't want it too green).  If the frosting is too thick, add a bit more cream (the frosting should be just thin enough to spread).  Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled brownie layer.  Place in the refrigerator for about 5-10 minutes, or until slightly firm.

Chocolate Glaze~

In a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter.  Spread over the mint filling, then top with chopped Andes mints.  Refrigerate for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate glaze starts to dull.

To Serve~

Remove brownies from the pan by lifting the ends of the parchment paper, and transfer to a cutting board.  With a sharp knife, cut into apx. 1-1 1/2 inch squares.  For best results, rinse off the knife in hot water, then wipe dry after each cut.

Brownies can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, best served at room temperature.

Makes about 25-30 small squares.

Recipe adapted from Joy of Baking.

Sea Salt Caramel Brownies

Doughmestic

Yum.  Yumyumyumyum.  Except I think I'll search around for a different brownie--but the caramel was divine. 

Sea Salt Caramel – adapted from Baked Cookbook

• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1/4 cup sour cream

In a small saucepan, combine the cream and the salt.  Simmer over very low heat until the salt is dissolved. set aside.
In a medium saucepan combine the sugar and corn syrup carefully. They will not combine well until the sugar begins to melt. Cook over high heat until an instant-read thermometer reads 350 degrees, 6 to 8 minutes.  Without a thermometer, just pull the sugar off the heat when it is a medium goldish brown – it will continue to cook in the heat of the pan. Better to pull it too early than too late. Remove from the heat and let cool for one minute.
Add the cream mixture and the vanilla to the sugar mixture.  Whisk in the sour cream.  Let the caramel cool to room temp, then follow the brownie instructions. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate any leftover caramel. it makes a great ice cream topping or tastes great straight out of the jar.

Shelly's Healthy Brownies

We were surprised (and delighted) when we found out what was in them.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup nut butter
1/2 cup honey
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
3 T cocoa
1/2 cup cooked butternut squash (mashed)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
some dark chocolate mint bar (melted)

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes in a 9 x 9 pan.

Blonde Brownies

via Nestle Tollhouse website

Because Mark wanted them.

INGREDIENTS
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups packed brown sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups (12-ounce package) Semi-Sweet Chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan.

COMBINE flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract; gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Spread into prepared pan.

BAKE for 20 to 25 minutes or until top is golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack.