chocolate peppermint brownies

Countdown to Christmas: Day 3

I love chocolate.  In fact, I’ve often been called a chocoholic.  When I cut refined foods out of my life I was so upset that I would have to give up my favorite chocolatey foods.  After a while I found organic dark chocolate, and couldn’t have been more happy.  Dark chocolate (70% cocoa or more) is very rich, so you never really want to eat much of it at a time.  It’s a nice way to get your chocolate fix without going crazy with all the additives.

I still missed things like chocolate cake & especially Betty Crocker brownies, but I dealt with it.  Until one day when I decided to just create my own brownie recipe!  They’re by no means “diet food”, but they are healthier than a lot of the others out there.  Plus, they taste amazing.  

This Christmas season I decided to whip up a holiday version.  They make a perfect after dinner treat, or you can box them up as a hostess gift.  Either way, I’m sure you’ll fall in love with them too.

ingredients:

• 1 cup of butter (2 sticks)
• 200g dark chocolate (that’s 7oz for those in the US)
• 1 tsp peppermint extract (I use Simply Organic and it’s amazing)
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup whole grain all purpose & pastry flour (again, I use Nunweiler’s)
• 1 1/2 cups organic turbinado cane sugar (try Cocoa Camino)
• 4 large organic eggs
• optional: 8 no sugar added peppermint candies (the red & white striped circle kind)

First up, put on some holiday music.  Christmas baking always goes smoother with a little music.  I recommend “Music From the O.C. Volume 3: Chrismukkah".  It’s short & sweet and will time perfectly with your baking. 

In a small pot over medium-low heat put your butter & dark chocolate.  Stir the 2 around with a wooden spoon until both are completely melted together.  At this point remove from the heat and add in 1 tsp peppermint extract.  Stir until totally mixed and allow chocolate to cool down until it’s just a bit warm.

At this point you’ll be wanting to preheat your oven to 350F.

In a large mixing bowl add in your cocoa powder, pastry flour, turbinado sugar & eggs.  Mix everything to combine.  It will probably be a bit stiff, but that’s okay.  Next add in the melted chocolate mixture.  Stir everything again until it’s totally mixed in.  It will take a bit of work before it comes together, but it will eventually.

Pour the brownie mixture into a greased 8x8 inch pan.  Alternately you can use individual loaf pans (as in the photo), but they can be very tricky and don’t always turn out right.  If you’ve chosen to use the peppermint candies, put them in a food processor or blender and grind them until they’re in tiny chunks.  Sprinkle this over the brownie batter.

Bake for 35 if using loaf pans or 45 minutes in an 8x8 pan.  Take out of the oven & test by inserting a toothpick in the centre.  If the toothpick comes out clean the brownies are done.

Enjoy!