You know that really bad Kris Kringle game, the one where everyone brings a random unisex gift, it goes under the tree, and when you play you choose a gift or have the option of stealing someone else’s?
Well, with a particular group of our friends, that seems to happen at the Christmas party every year. Some people take it super seriously and buy lovely, thoughtful gifts. And some people take it really seriously, and buy awful, awful gifts, purely for the laughs.
This year I decided to fall into the middle camp, and bake my gift. Peppermint candy cane brownies, yo! Who wouldn’t love that?
As I aim with all my brownies, they’re thick and super super fudgy, chewy and rich. Studded with peppermint candy canes, they have that awesome cooling mintiness. Almost like you’re eating chocolate and brushing your teeth at the same time. But in a really, really good way. And they look very cute, with all the festive candy cane on top!
I, of course, kept a stash of these for myself (I’m not silly enough to give them all away!) and have been enjoying them straight from the fridge (because it makes them even chewier and fudgier) every night after dinner while we’re watching Christmas movies!
- 350g unsalted butter, cubed (12½ oz, approx. 1⅓ cups)
- 400g dark chocolate (14 oz, approx. 2 cups)
- 300g eggs (11 oz, approx. 6 extra large eggs)
- 300g caster (superfine) sugar (11 oz, approx. 1⅓ cups)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 100g plain flour (3½ oz, ⅔ cup)
- 6 candy canes, chopped
- Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F) and line an 9 x 13 inch pan with baking paper.
- Melt the butter and chocolate together in a bowl set over a pot of simmering water until smooth and combined. Set aside to cool.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla. Do not whisk. You don’t want to aerate the batter.
- Mix the chocolate into the egg mixture. Add the flour and stir until just incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Scatter most of the chopped candy cane over the brownies (I reserved some to sprinkle on after baking).
- Bake for about 25 - 30 minutes, until a skewer comes out with some wet crumbs. For the ultimate fudgy brownie, I would err on the side of under baking.
- Chill completely before cutting. Makes 28 small brownies.
- Happy baking!