These rich, decadent peppermint brownies offer the perfect marriage of fudgy chocolate and cool mint flavors. Ready in just one hour, this crowd-pleasing dessert brings together classic brownie indulgence with a refreshing twist that’ll make your taste buds dance.

With their satisfying 288 calories per serving and velvety texture, these brownies strike an irresistible balance between dense chocolate goodness and bright peppermint zest. They’re guaranteed to become your new favorite holiday treat or year-round chocolate craving solution.

Ingredient Section

Brownies Base:
- 4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate – room temperature for better melting
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks) – cut into tablespoons
- 4 large eggs – room temperature for better incorporation
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour – sifted for smoother texture
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Peppermint Frosting:
- 2 cups powdered sugar – sifted to avoid lumps
- 3 Tablespoons softened butter
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 Tablespoon milk
- Red food coloring (optional)
Chocolate Glaze:
- 1 cup high-quality semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4-5 candy canes, crushed

Instructions Section

Preparation: Heat oven to 350°F. Line 9×13 pan with parchment paper or grease well.
Chocolate Base: Combine chopped chocolate and butter, microwave in 30-second intervals until smooth.
Wet Mixture: Beat eggs until frothy (about 3 minutes), then blend in sugar and vanilla. Incorporate melted chocolate mixture.
Final Batter: Gently fold in flour and baking powder until just combined. Pour into prepared pan.
Baking: Bake 23-27 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
Frosting: Beat together all frosting ingredients until light and fluffy. Spread over cooled brownies.
Finishing Touch: Melt chocolate chips in 30-second intervals. Drizzle over frosting and sprinkle with crushed candy canes.

Chocolate Melting Tips

Getting your chocolate just right makes these brownies extra special! While the microwave method works great, you can also use a double boiler – just place your chocolate and butter in a heat-safe bowl over simmering water.

Keep stirring until smooth and silky. If your chocolate starts to look grainy or seize up, try adding a tiny splash of warm milk and stirring gently.

Make-Ahead & Storage

These brownies taste amazing the next day when all the minty flavors have had time to blend! Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Want to freeze them? Cut into squares, place wax paper between layers, and pop them in a freezer container. They’ll stay fresh for up to 3 months – just thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy!

Serving Tips

These brownies are a showstopper during the holidays! Serve them on a pretty platter with a light dusting of powdered sugar for extra sparkle. For an extra-special dessert, warm each piece slightly and add a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. The contrast between warm brownie and cool peppermint is magical!

Simple Variations

Love these but want to mix it up? Try using dark chocolate instead of semi-sweet for the glaze, or swap the peppermint extract for vanilla in the frosting for classic brownies.

Want them extra minty? Add a few drops of peppermint extract to the brownie batter. You can also try different toppings – crushed chocolate-mint cookies or chocolate sprinkles work beautifully!