Mint Chocolate Brownies:

I love chocolate and mint together! And if you look through my blog index, you'll notice we like brownies around here, too!!!  

This recipe was actually supposed to be completely different, but I didn't have some of the ingredients that it called for, so I looked through the cabinets, made a few changes and came up with this! And I have to say that it turned out pretty good! I took it to a potluck dinner at our church, and only came home with four brownies! Someone told me they tasted like an Andes Mint! I don't know, but they were good! Perfect for the holidays too!

Merry Christmas!

 

 

Brownies:

2 cups sugar

2/3 cup cocoa powder

1 cup canola oil

4 eggs

1 & 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. xanthan gum

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla

 

Frosting:

3/4 cup butter, room temperature

3 - 4 tblsp. milk

3 cups powder sugar

1/2 tsp. mint extract

Green Food Coloring

 

Glaze:

2 & 1/4 cups chocolate chips

2 tblsp. butter

 

In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, cocoa and oil. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in flour, xanthan gum, salt, baking powder and vanilla with a spatula until thoroughly combined. Spread evenly into a greased baking sheet with sides. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely.

In a medium bowl, beat together milk and butter until combined. Add powder sugar and mix until well combined. Add more milk if needed, 1 tsp. at a time, until you reach desired consistency. Add the extract and food coloring, one drop of coloring at a time, until you reach the color you want. I think I used about 5 drops. Place in a Ziploc bag.* Cut the tip one side on the bottom, and pipe onto the brownies. Spread evenly with an offset spatula. Freeze until firm.

Heat chocolate and butter in a microwave safe dish. Heat for 30 seconds; stir. Heat an additional 10 seconds at a time, stirring thoroughly after each time, until completely melted. Pour over the frosting on the brownies and spread evenly. Cut into serving size pieces and serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge or just leave out at room temperature. Enjoy!

 

Note:

-I put the frosting in a bag and pipe it over the top, because sometimes when you just plop the frosting on and try to spread it around, it tears up the brownies a little bit and I don't like brownie crumbs in the frosting!

-I guess you could use any food coloring you want or none at all, but green says "mint" to me, so that's what I chose.