Description
Rich, fudgy, and easy-to-make brownie bars featuring a classic peppermint and chocolate flavor combination. Ready in about 30 minutes with just five main ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (175g) dark chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark)
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup (60g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (50g) candy canes or peppermint bark, crushed
- ½ cup (90g) white chocolate chips (optional)
- pinch sea salt flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides, and grease lightly.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and butter. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until mostly melted. Stir until smooth and glossy, then set aside to cool slightly.
- In a medium bowl, whisk sugar and eggs together until well combined. Add the melted chocolate-butter mixture and vanilla extract, whisking vigorously until the batter is thin and shiny.
- Add the flour to the wet mixture and fold gently with a spatula until no dry streaks remain. Do not overmix.
- Stir in half of the crushed candy cane pieces and all the white chocolate chips. Reserve some candy canes for the top.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle remaining candy canes and a pinch of sea salt on top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes. The edges should be set, but the center should still jiggle slightly. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with moist crumbs.
- Let brownies cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before lifting them out using the parchment handles and cutting into squares.
Notes
Do not overbake; the brownies continue to cook in the pan. Room temperature eggs emulsify better. Quality chocolate matters for flavor. Crush candy canes into pea-sized chunks, not powder. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 45
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 24
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 2
Keywords: chocolate peppermint brownies, easy holiday dessert, 5 ingredient recipe, fudgy brownies, peppermint bark dessert, quick baking