Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosted Brownies

By srumbel

Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosted Brownies – Delicious decadent chocolate brownies frosted with peppermint cream cheese icing and finished off with mint bits. Perfect Christmas treat.
from caramelmoments.com

Ingredients

• Frosting:
• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 3/4 cups baking cocoa ( I use Hershey's special dark)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups confectioner's sugar
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/3 cup Andes peppermint crunch baking chips

Preparation

Step 1

Brownies:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 8" x 8" pan, line it with parchment, and grease the parchment (makes it easier to remove the brownies from the pan).
In a medium-sized saucepan set over low heat, melt the butter. Add in the sugar, stirring to combine. Heat the mixture just just until it's hot throughout. It should become a bit shiny. Remove from the heat and stir in the cocoa, salt, baking powder and vanilla extract. Whisk in the eggs, stirring until smooth.
Add in the flour stirring until smooth. Pour batter into the pan, spreading it to the edges.
Bake the brownies for about 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The brownies should feel set on the edges, and just barely set in the center.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan before frosting.

Icing
Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar. Beat on low speed until smooth. Mix in peppermint extract until well combined. Cut brownies into 16 equal pieces. Sprinkle with Andes baking chips. Refrigerate leftovers.