This easy Peppermint Brownies recipe takes my homemade brownie and tops it with fluffy peppermint buttercream frosting and chocolate glaze! They are delicious, festive, and everyone’s favorite Christmas brownies!
Looking for more dessert recipes? Try my Oreo Balls, Peanut Butter Bars, Homemade Caramels, or Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars!
Why I love these Christmas Brownies:
- Fancy – These Christmas Brownies look impressive and festive.
- Easy – Quick to make and only a few steps! I love making these and not having to bake multiple batches of cookies!
- Adaptable – Feel free to change it to your liking! Throw in some mini marshmallows, crushed nuts on the top, or substitute white chocolate for drizzling!
How to make Peppermint Brownies:
Prepare Chocolate Brownies: Melt butter and chocolate in microwave. Beat eggs in another bowl then add sugar and vanilla. Pour in chocolate mixture, flour, and baking powder. Bake for 23-27 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Make Peppermint Frosting: Combine powdered sugar, butter, peppermint extract, milk, and food coloring until light and fluffy. Spread over cooled brownies.
Melt Chocolate Chips: Place chocolate chips in a bowl in microwave and melt. Drizzle on top of frosted brownies.
Sprinkle Candy Canes: Crush candy canes and sprinkle on top of these Christmas brownies. Enjoy!
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:
To Make Ahead: The peppermint frosting can be made up to 2 days ahead of time and stored in the fridge in an airtight container. Allow it to come to room temperature before spreading.
To Freeze: These easy peppermint brownies can be frozen frosted or unfrosted. Store in freezer safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Allow it to come to room temperature before serving.
Possible Recipe Variations:
- Mix-Ins: Feel free to throw in some mini marshmallows or crushed nuts! Crushed nuts can also be sprinkled on the top.
- White Chocolate: Substitute white chocolate for the drizzling if you’d like!
- Christmas Tree Brownies: Slice brownies into triangles to create a “tree” shape. Place part of a candy cane at the bottom to create the tree trunk.
More Christmas Treat Recipes:
- Gingerbread Man Cookies
- Christmas Cornflake Wreaths
- Christmas Crack
- Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake
- Reindeer Cookies
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Recipe
Peppermint Brownies (Christmas Brownies)
Ingredients
For the Brownies:
- 4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate , (4 squares)
- 1 cup butter , (2 sticks)
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
For the Peppermint Frosting:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 Tablespoons butter , softened
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 Tablespoon milk
- drop of red food coloring (optional, to make it pink)
For the Chocolate Glaze:
- 1 cup chopped high quality semi-sweet chocolate or ghittard or Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4-5 candy canes , crushed
Instructions
For the Brownies:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roughly chop the chocolate baking squares and place them in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Cut the butter into tablespoon pieces and place in the bowl with the chopped baking chocolate.
- Melt the chocolate and butter in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Set aside.
- In another bowl, beat eggs for about 3 minutes until frothy. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat.
- Add the melted chocolate and butter that you set aside.
- Combine flour and baking powder and gently stir into the brownie batter just until combined (don’t over-stir!) Pour batter into a well-greased 9×13 pan.
- Bake for about 23-27 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
For the Frosting:
- Combine all frosting ingredients and beat until light and fluffy.
- Add a little bit more milk to thin the frosting if needed. Gently spread the frosting over the cooled brownies.
For the Chocolate Glaze:
- Place the candy canes in a resealable bag and use a rolling pin to crush them into small pieces.
- Place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and cook in 30 second intervals, stirring after each time, until smooth.
- Drizzle the chocolate over the brownies and sprinkle the crushed candy canes on top!
Notes
- Mix-Ins: Feel free to throw in some mini marshmallows or crushed nuts! Crushed nuts can also be sprinkled on the top.
- White Chocolate: Substitute white chocolate for the drizzling if you’d like!
- Christmas Tree Brownies: Slice brownies into triangles to create a “tree” shape. Place part of a candy cane at the bottom to create the tree trunk.
Nutrition
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Recipe originally adapted from Our Best Bites and shared November 2013. Updated December 2019 and 2022.
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We enjoyed these over the holidays and plan to make them yearly! Thanks!
Can these be frozen ?
They should freeze well! Let them cool completely and store them in a freezer ziplock bag.
Thanks for the recipe! I love love love brownies.
Thanks Brenda, it’s one of our favorites!
Mmmm! These look totally delicious! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Who doesn’t like a good brownie now and again?!
This Christmas brownie will definitely score me big time “brownie” points with hubby. He’s a big time brownie eater, just bake up a batch for him and he’ll do just about anything for me. 🙂
I like to buy the already crushed peppermint pieces in a bag for my baking. For some reason a regular candy cane never lasts long in our household…..maybe I need to hide them. 😉
Thanks Dalila! My husband is a big brownie eater as well! 🙂