I am very much in the minority but I am not a fan of chocolate peppermint. I know – I can hear the outrage from here. When I do feel like something sweet chocolate orange is my go to. It is the most heavenly chocolate flavour in the galaxy.
Recently it was my friend Amanda’s birthday and to say we are in opposing camps is an understatement. We have just about zero in common: she loves cricket – I say, just shoot me. She loves camping holidays – I say, 5 stars all the way for me baby. She tries to convince me to go walking with her – I say, shall we just have coffee instead? And she loves her choc mint (see previous paragraph for my opinion). So when he birthday was looming Miss9 and I hot the supermarket and bought her all the palm oil-free chocolate mint goodies we could find. And because too much is not enough I decided to bake Amanda something with these flavours.
Pawing through my cupboard I found some mint chocolate chips that I brought home from America earlier this year. I instantly knew that baking home-made chocolate mint brownies would be the perfect gift.
And the mint chocolate stash was gratefully received by Amanda. She was inundated with mint chocs from her friends, so if you can’t find your fav peppermint choc bar in the supermarket, that’s why 😉
GATHER:
150 grams chocolate, chopped (you can use dark or milk)
115 grams unsalted butter
1/3 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
3/4 cup plain flour
¼ teaspoon peppermint essence
1/3 cup mint choc chips
LET’S GET TO IT:
Preheat oven to 170C.
In a large saucepan melt the chopped chocolate and butter over a low heat, stirring, until just melted and combined.
Remove from heat and set aside for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, grease and line a 20cm x 20cm square cake tin, allowing baking paper to overhang on two sides for easy removal.
Into the melted chocolate stir in peppermint essence and beat in eggs.
Tip in sugar, flour, vanilla, and choc chips and stir until glossy and combined.
Pour into the tin and bake for around 30 minutes or until they are starting to firm up around the edges.
Remove from oven and allow to cool in tin before cutting into squares.
the hungry mum 
I’m not outraged about the confession. I just see it as more for me 👍
My first choice would be chocolate-orange as well, but would still want to try these. 🙂
Hi Hungry Mum I’m firmly in the no choc/mint camp as you but this does look good!
I have never dared to share the fact I too don’t much care for peppermint chocolate either. So go you being brave and speaking your truth. Lol! Great looking brownie!
Hell no to cricket, meh to camping, I totally relate!! But as much as I love orange and choc, I like mint and choc too. These brownies sound awesome.
I completely agree, I don’t see the point in ruining chocolate with peppermint!
I am with you all the way! I saw the pic and then the title and was immediately like “uggg. peppermint” lol! I just leave it out of things, though! I’ll take my peppermint in a piece of gum or in a “mint” not in my chocolate!
But it all goes to show what a very good friend you are!! (and blogger!)