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Peppermint Brownies are the perfect combination of fudgy chocolate brownie and rich white chocolate frosting with a crunchy peppermint topping. This recipe is simple and quick to put together thanks to a few foodie shortcuts.
Featured with this recipe
- Ingredients for Peppermint Brownies
- Tips for making Homemade Peppermint Brownies
- Peppermint Bark vs. Peppermint Brownies
- How to Make These Easy Brownies with a Box Mix
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How to Store Peppermint Brownies
- More of Our Favorite Christmas Treats
- How to Make Peppermint Brownies
- Peppermint Brownies Recipe
These Peppermint Brownies are a delicious treat that are so easy to make but look and taste absolutely decadent. They’re soft and chewy with the most flavorful peppermint in every bite. They look and taste like homemade brownies but this brownie recipe takes some help from the store. No guilt here! You can compare this to the Ghirardelli peppermint bark you can purchase. These are simple to make and are gone within minutes of serving!
There is something about the combination of chocolate and peppermint this time of year. It just tastes like Christmas. Using a high-quality chocolate will create an amazing white chocolate ganache that is topped with candy cane pieces. This is the perfect holiday treat to share at your next party!
Ingredients for Peppermint Brownies
Make this peppermint bark as easy as you would like! Each ingredient is layered on top of each other creating a refreshing and chocolatey treat. Bake the brownie mix in the oven, make the white chocolate mixture, then top with crushed candy canes. Simple to make in three easy steps!
- Brownie mixes – Make your brownie mix from scratch or use a quick and easy box mix. Either way will give you the same great results!
- Cream cheese – Soften your cream cheese to room temperature before creaming it together with an electric mixer. This will help eliminate any lumps in the cream cheese frosting when blending it together in a large bowl.
- Butter – Unsalted butter works great! This will hold the shape of the frosting. Make sure not to melt butter in the microwave or frosting will be runny.
- Almond and vanilla extract – Mix together with the cream mixture for added flavor. This combination is a sweet and savory flavoring.
- White chocolate chips or bark – Melted white chocolate can be prepared in a microwave-safe bowl or on the stove top.
- Powdered sugar – This helps with thickness and holds the shape of the frosting.
- Candy canes – Crushed candy canes or peppermint candies work great for a crunchy topping.
Tips for making Homemade Peppermint Brownies
These peppermint brownies can be the best of the best with just a few extra tips! Get out your Christmas decorations and start making these brownies. So simple to make and ready for your next holiday party!
- Peppermint flavoring – For an extra added amount of peppermint flavor, add in a teaspoon peppermint extract to the brownie mix.
- Stir together – Using a rubber spatula when mixing together the white chocolate filling will help from sticking, rather than a wooden spoon.
- Prepared baking pan – This brownie mix will make a full sized sheet cake pan. Use a 11×17 inch sized prepared baking dish.
- Cutting the brownies – Use a sharp knife when cutting the brownie bark apart. After each cut, clean the knife with a paper towel to keep crisp lines and smooth cuts.
- Crushed peppermint candies – Speed up the process of crushing peppermint candies by placing the unwrapped pieces in a food processor or blender. Pulse a few times until they are in smaller pieces.
- Cocoa powder – Dust some bittersweet cocoa powder on top for an elegant look.
- Festive treats – Serve these cut up brownie bites on squared parchment paper at your next holiday party. They are bite-sized and easy to walk around with while enjoying and mingling.
Peppermint Bark vs. Peppermint Brownies
Peppermint bark on its own is one of my favorite holiday treats. Pair it with gooey, fudgy brownies, and you have the best of both worlds, crunchy peppermint layered on top of rich chocolate. Yum!
I have had brownies that are similar to these peppermint bark ones that have a layer of actual hard white chocolate. These brownies are bit different, the “bark” is a soft white chocolate frosting sprinkled with crunchy peppermint pieces.
How to Make These Easy Brownies with a Box Mix
The best part about these brownies is that they are super easy to make. Want to know a secret? You actually use a brownie mix to make these, but I have another secret to share with you that makes them taste like they are from scratch. No one will ever be able to tell that you took short cuts, and that’s fine! We’ll keep it our little secret. Ready to hear it?
Purchase your favorite brownie batter mix. Make it as directed on the box when it comes to large eggs and oil. Instead of water, however, use a combination of half water and half sour cream. I know it sounds odd, but I promise, it makes all the difference! I also like to let my brownies chill before adding on the frosting layer.
Need an example? If you need ½ cup water for the brownie mix, use ¼ cup water and ¼ cup sour cream. Whatever amount of water the brownie box calls for, use half that amount and then add the sour cream.
“YUM! My whole family loved these brownies!”
-Angela
Frequently Asked Questions
Believe it or not salt enhances the sweetness in your brownies. It brings out the sweet quality in these types of desserts. Sprinkle it in the batter or add flaky sea salt to the top of the brownies after removing them from the oven.
Depending on your tastes and preferences you can make fudgy, cakey or chewy brownies. Check your favorite brownie box mix for instructions on how to make your favorite.
Don’t over mix or under mix the batter. Don’t reduce the sugar in the recipe. All things in moderation, right? Make sure to check the oven temperature and use the instructed pan size.
Read More: 25+ Christmas Dessert Ideas
How to Store Peppermint Brownies
These peppermint bark brownies are perfect for making ahead and storing in an airtight container for four to five days long. It is best if you do not layer them if they are frosted and have the candy cane sprinkled on top. They will stick together even when using parchment paper in-between layers.
More of Our Favorite Christmas Treats
Since it’s likely that you’ll be making these peppermint bark brownies around the holiday season, I thought you might like some ideas for other sweet treats that are perfect for Christmas!
How to Make Peppermint Brownies
Peppermint Brownies
Ingredients
For the Brownie Layer:
- 2 brownie mixes (I like to use Ghirardelli double chocolate)
For the White Chocolate Frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup butter softened
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup white chocolate chips or bark
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- candy canes
Instructions
For the Brownie Layer:
- Prepare boxed brownie mixes according to package instructions (see recipe notes). Bake in a greased 9×13 baking dish for 45-50 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.
For the White Chocolate Frosting:
- Beat together the cream cheese and butter. Add the vanilla and almond extract.
- Melt the white chocolate using the double broiler or in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds at a time on 5o% power. Be sure to stir every 30 seconds. Slowly blend it into cream cheese mixture.
- Then, add the powdered sugar and mix until thoroughly blended.
- Spread over the cooled brownies.
- Unwrap some candy canes and place them in a plastic bag. Use a kitchen mallet or rolling pin to crush the candy cane into small pieces.
- Sprinkle the candy cane pieces over the frosting.
What are the measurements for a “standard size baking sheet “?
11 x 17 baking sheet/cookie sheet size. Thanks for asking!
YUM! My whole family loved these brownies!
What a great secret! The combination is fantastic
such a great idea to combine these two classic desserts! they’re soooo delicious
These look so festive and pretty – I want to jump right through the screen!
I made these at Christmas and loved them. I was wondering why not a glass cake pan? I was wanting to take them camping, but wanted a smaller batch. Would one box of mix work if I baked in a 9×13?
Thanks!
Hi Lynn– You can definitely use a glass pan if you wanted to! Just keep checking for done-ness. You should be fine just using one box if you did a 9×13. Hope this helps!
A classic flavor combination made better! These are not going to last in my house!
Do you pour this all in just 1 cookie sheet? seems like it would be too much, so just curious. thanks!
Yes, all in one big (standard size) cookie sheet! Not a cake pan.
These sound yummy. I love your trick with the brownie mix, I’m going to have to try that one 🙂
Looks yummy, but what size cookie sheet?
Just the standard size, the metal kind with the rim around the edges.