the best dark chocolate peppermint brownies recipe! extra fudgy dark chocolate brownies topped with homemade peppermint frosting & an easy chocolate glaze. the ultimate easy recipe for a festive holiday dessert!

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pin this dark chocolate peppermint brownies recipe for later!!!

omg, guys, we made it. the final recipe of pwwb’s treat week is here!!! (& can i tell you a secret? it’s my favorite one…???)

thank you so much for dropping in over the past week. it’s been so freaking fun to create these holiday sweets for you, & i hope you have so much fun sharing them with your loved ones this year. in case you missed a recipe, you can find them all here!

my FAVE family recipe: dark chocolate peppermint brownies

pin this dark chocolate peppermint brownies recipe for later!!!

if there’s one thing a reilly family gathering is not complete without, it’s dark chocolate peppermint brownies.

for as long as i can remember, my aunts on my dad’s side of the family have been making these brownies with mint frosting: intensely fudgy homemade brownies, slathered with a thick layer of mint frosting, & topped with a silky chocolate glaze.

& they are my FAVEEEEE.

in fact, i’m pretty sure they’re everyone in my family’s fave. those little bites of chocolatey peppermint heaven are always the first to disappear at our family gatherings.

so when i started planning my recipes for treat week way back in september, i knew that the reilly family dark chocolate peppermint brownies were going absolutely going to be one of the recipes i played around with & shared with you.

the BEST dark chocolate peppermint brownies from scratch 

pin this dark chocolate peppermint brownies recipe for later!!!

my cousin karley sent me a picture of the original recipe my aunts use & i almost died…it looked exactly how you’d imagine a recipe card that’s been well-loved for decades to look like: worn, crumpled around the edges, & covered in chocolatey stains.

the original recipe came from a church/community-type cookbook from a hospital in waupun, wisconsin (my dad’s hometown), submitted by mrs. frank dejager. after testing it multiple times, i’ve streamlined the recipe a bit to freshen it up a bit. mrs. dejager used some ingredients that i don’t personally have in my kitchen all the time, & i wanted to make sure these dark chocolate peppermint brownies were as simple as possible to make.

i’m pretty darn pleased with my version of this classic recipe. if i’m feeling particularly bold, i’d go as far as to say that my version is even better than the original.

pin this dark chocolate peppermint brownies recipe for later!!!

reasons why these are the best homemade dark chocolate peppermint brownies:

• fudgy brownies. if there’s one part of this recipe i wanted to preserve, it was the fudginess of the brownies. the original recipe called ingredients like shortening & unsweetened chocolate, which is 100% fine…i just do not always have these ingredients in my kitchen. these dark chocolate peppermint brownies are made with butter & plenty of bittersweet chocolate, giving them the perfect deep & rich chocolatey flavor without compromising any of the fudginess. fudgy brownies = ✔️
• a THICK layer of homemade peppermint frosting. if there’s one thing i could change about my family’s peppermint brownies, it’s the frosting:brownie ratio. when i sink my teeth into a dark chocolate peppermint brownie, i want a LOT of frosting with the perfect amount of peppermint flavor. i ended up nearly doubling the peppermint frosting for this recipe, creating layer of homemade peppermint frosting that’s almost just as thick as the brownies themselves. it’s not too sweet & it has the perfect amount of peppermint. peppermint frosting = ✔️✔️
• an easy dark chocolate glaze that will stay set at room temperature. i’m kind of a psycho & believe dark chocolate peppermint brownies should be glazed with a layer of chocolate that has a firmer texture than the peppermint frosting so when you sink your teeth into it, you can feel all three layers of the brownie. i used my go-to chocolate glaze, which stays set at room temperature, making it easier to cut & serve the brownies (while maintaining all 3 of those gorgeous layers), & satisfying even the craziest texture nut. ultra chocolatey glaze = ✔️✔️✔️

how to cut brownies with mint frosting 

pin this dark chocolate peppermint brownies recipe for later!!!

before you scroll on to the dark chocolate peppermint brownie recipe, i wanted to drop in a quick note about cutting these dark chocolate peppermint mint brownies.

if there’s one thing i’ve always struggled with when it come to dark chocolate peppermint brownies, it’s figuring out how the eff you cut them into the perfectly portioned pieces without jacking up the layers & ending up with a shmeary mess. ?the struggle is real.

i’m beyond happy to report that i’ve finally figured it out, though! & the secret? slicing the brownies cold with a bench scraper.

there’s no pretty way to talk about this, but the brownies have to be cold to preserve the pretty layers when you cut them. if the frosting is too warm, it’ll squish out around the edges & you won’t get pretty, clean lines. cold brownies are a must. pop them in the freezer, or set them out on the porch about 15-20 minutes before you plan to cut them.

when you slice the brownies, use a bench scraper! you can use the edge of the bench scraper to lightly trace lines where you want to slice. i slice the pan into 1 ½ to 2-inch pieces (8 columns, 6 rows), which yields about 48 brownies per batch. use the sharp edge of a bench scraper, pressing it evenly through the dark chocolate peppermint brownies all at once. because you’re slicing through a large section of the chocolate layer all at once, you can get a nice clean line & the topping is far, far less likely to crack as you slice through.

& voila: the perfect homemade dark chocolate peppermint brownies, with picture perfect layers.

pin this dark chocolate peppermint brownies recipe for later!!!

(that bite shot? it’s prob the best perk of the job…)

if you love this salted bittersweet chocolate cookies recipe, here are a few other recipes you have to try!

• for the chocolate lover: minneapolis blackout cookies {bittersweet dark chocolate cookies with caramelized white chocolate}
• super easy! tahini buckeyes
• this one too! stuffed chocolate dipped pretzels
• almond butter shortbread cookies (2 ways!)
• dark chocolate chunk oatmeal cookies
• dessert cheese board
• all pwwb christmas recipes

be sure to follow along with me on instagram, facebook, & pinterest for more easy, modern recipes & fun!

thank you so much for reading & supporting plays well with butter. this post includes affiliate links for products i truly love & use on the reg in my own home. all opinions are always my own! should you make a purchase using one of these links, pwwb with earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps me continue to bring you great original content.  ???

the reilly family’s dark chocolate peppermint brownies

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• Author: jess larson | plays well with butter
• Prep Time: 25 mintues
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 2 hours (includes inactive time)
• Yield: 48 bite-sized brownies 1x
• Category: brownies, desserts
• Method: bake

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Description

dark chocolate mint brownies recipe. extra fudgy dark chocolate brownies topped with homemade mint frosting & an easy chocolate glaze. the ultimate easy recipe for a festive holiday dessert!

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Ingredients

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for the fudgy brownies:

• nonstick cooking spray
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 16 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips (see Recipe Notes)

for the peppermint frosting:

• 4 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ¼ cup milk or heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon mint extract

for the chocolate glaze:

• 2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13×9 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
2. Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt, and set aside.
3. Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla and sugar for 1-2 minutes, until the mixture is pale yellow in color and smooth. Set aside. Add the butter and chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each interval, until the chocolate is smooth and melted. Working quickly, add about ¼ of the chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and stir to combine well. Add the remaining chocolate mixture, stirring to combine. Fold in the dry ingredients, just until combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
4. Bake the brownies for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Be careful not to overbake – the edges should be firm, but the center may look a little soft – it’ll continue to bake as the brownies cool! Cool for 20 minutes, then transfer to the freezer to cool completely.
5. Make the peppermint frosting: Meanwhile, as the brownies cool, make the peppermint frosting. Combine the powdered sugar, butter, milk and mint extract in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. If you do not have a stand mixer, you can also use a hand mixer. Mix until the frosting is smooth, light and creamy. Frost the brownies and return to the freezer to help the frosting set up.
6. Melt the chocolate glaze: Meanwhile, as the frosting sets up, melt the chocolate. Add the chocolate and the coconut oil to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments, mixing the chocolate well between increments, until the chocolate is totally melted and smooth. Pour the chocolate glaze over the brownies and return to the freezer to set.
7. Cut the brownies once the chocolate has set (see Recipe Notes for tips) and serve! Enjoy!

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Notes

• Bittersweet chocolate is such an important element in these dark chocolate peppermint brownies. It’s where all the chocolatey flavor comes from! Buy the best chocolate you can find. My favorite is Ghiradelli.
• Cutting the brownies into clean, perfectly portioned pieces can be tricky, but if you follow these 2 tips, you’ll have the easiest time!
  • the brownies have to be cold to preserve the pretty layers when you cut them. if the frosting is too warm, it’ll squish out around the edges & you won’t get pretty, clean lines. cold brownies are a must. pop them in the freezer, or set them out on the porch about 15-20 minutes before you plan to cut them.
  • use a bench scraper to slice the brownies! you can use the edge of the bench scraper to lightly trace lines where you want to slice. i slice the pan into 1 ½ to 2-inch pieces (8 columns, 6 rows), which yields about 48 brownies per batch. use the sharp edge of a bench scraper, pressing it evenly through the dark chocolate peppermint brownies all at once. because you’re slicing through a large section of the chocolate layer all at once, you can get a nice clean line & the topping is far, far less likely to crack as you slice through.

don’t forget to pin these dark chocolate peppermint brownies for later!!!