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Deep-dark,
mint-scented brownies are spread
with a rich mint frosting, then
drizzled with chocolate ganache. If
you're a fan of the mint-chocolate
combo, these brownies are definitely
playing your song!
Brownies
- 3/4 cup
butter
- 1 1/2 cups
sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon
salt
- 3/4 cup
Dutch process cocoa
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup
unbleached all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon
baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon
peppermint oil
Icing
- 3 cups
confectioners' sugar
- 6
tablespoons melted butter
- 3
tablespoons milk
- 1/8 teaspoon
peppermint oil, or to taste
Chocolate drizzle
- 2/3 cups
chocolate chips or chopped
bittersweet chocolate
- 1/4 cup
heavy or whipping cream
Directions
1)
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Lightly grease a 9" x 13"
pan. Or, for easiest
removal, grease the pan,
line with parchment, and
grease the parchment.
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2)
Stir together the melted
butter, sugar, and salt.
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3)
Mix in the cocoa powder,
beating gently till smooth.
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4)
Add the eggs, again beating
gently till smooth.
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5)
Mix in the flour and baking
powder, stirring to combine.
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6)
Stir in the peppermint oil.
The recommended amount will
produce fairly strong mint
flavor; adjust to taste.
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7)
Spoon the batter into the
prepared pan, smoothing it
into the corners.
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8)
Bake the brownies for 20
minutes, until a cake tester
inserted into the center
comes out clean. Remove them
from the oven, and cool
completely.
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9)
To make the glaze, stir
together the sugar, melted
butter, peppermint oil, and
milk. Again, add peppermint
oil to taste; the amount
indicated produces fairly
strong mint flavor.
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10)
Spread the glaze atop the
brownies. It won't be thick;
that's OK.
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11)
Make the chocolate drizzle
by combining the chocolate
and cream in a
microwave-safe bowl, and
heating till the cream is
very hot and starting to
form bubbles. Remove from
the microwave, and stir till
the chocolate is melted and
the mixture is smooth.
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12)
Dollop the drizzle atop the
iced brownies. Allow to set
for several hours, if
possible, before cutting.
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Chocolate Mousse
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
- 1 tablespoon cold water
- 2 tablespoons boiling water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup Cocoa or SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
- 1 cup (1/2 pt.)cold whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Instructions:
1. Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in small bowl;
let stand 1 minute to soften. Add boiling water; stir
until gelatin is completely dissolved and mixture is
clear. Cool slightly.
2. Stir together sugar and cocoa in medium bowl; add
whipping cream and vanilla. Beat on medium speed of
electric mixer, scraping bottom of bowl occasionally,
until mixture is stiff. Pour in gelatin mixture; beat
until well blended. Spoon into serving dishes.
3. Refrigerate about 30 minutes before serving. Garnish
as desired. Cover; refrigerate leftover desserts. Four
1/2 cup servings.
DOUBLE RECIPE: Use 1 envelope gelatin; double remaining
ingredients. Follow directions above, using large bowl
instead of medium bowl.
Old Fashioned Chocolate Fudge Recipe
1 1/2 c Milk
4 oz Unsweetened chocolate (sqs)
4 c Sugar
3 tb Light corn syrup
1/4 ts Salt
3 tb Butter or margarine
1 1/2 ts Vanilla
Combine milk and chocolate in medium-size heavy saucepan;
cook over low heat until chocolate is melted. Add sugar,
corn syrup and salt and cook, stirring constantly, to
boiling.
Cook, without stirring to 234F on a candy thermometer. (A
teaspoonful of syrup will form a soft ball when dropped into
cold water.) Remove from heat at once. Add vanilla and
butter or margarine, but do not stir in.
Cool mixture in pan to 110F, or until lukewarm; beat with
wooden spoon until mixture thickens and begins to lose its
gloss. (This will take about 15 minutes.)
Spread in a buttered 8x8x2" pan. Let stand until set and
cool; cut into squares. Makes about 2 pounds.
Chocolate Dream
Cups
Ingredients:
- 1 cup DARK Chocolate Chips or Semi-Sweet
Chocolate Chips
- 1 teaspoon shortening (do not use butter,
margarine, spread or oil)
- CHOCOLATE FILLING or RASPBERRY FILLING
(recipe follows)
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Instructions:
1. Line 6 muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with
paper bake cups.
2. Place chocolate chips and shortening in small
microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 1 minute;
stir. If necessary, microwave at MEDIUM an additional 15
seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, until chips
are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred.
3. Coat inside pleated surfaces and bottoms of bake cups
thickly and evenly using a soft-bristled pastry brush.
Refrigerate coated cups 10 minutes or until set; recoat any
thin spots with melted chocolate. (If necessary, chocolate
can be reheated on MEDIUM for a few seconds.) Refrigerate
cups until very firm, 2 hours or overnight. Carefully peel
paper from each cup. Cover; refrigerate until ready to use.
4. Prepare either CHOCOLATE or RASPBERRY FILLING. Spoon or
pipe into cups; refrigerate until set. Garnish as desired. 6
dessert cups.
CHOCOLATE FILLING
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
1 tablespoon cold water
2 tablespoons boiling water
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup Cocoa
1 cup (8 oz.) cold whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in small bowl; let stand
1 minute to soften. Add boiling water; stir until gelatin is
completely dissolved and mixture is clear. Cool slightly.
2. Stir together sugar and cocoa in another small bowl; add
whipping cream and vanilla. Beat on medium speed, scraping
bottom of bowl occasionally until stiff. Pour in gelatin
mixture; beat until well blended.
RASPBERRY FILLING
1 package(10 oz.) frozen red raspberries, thawed
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
1 tablespoon cold water
2 tablespoons boiling water
1 cup (8 oz.) cold whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 4 drops red food color
1. Drain raspberries; press berries through sieve to remove
seeds. Discard seeds.
2. Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in small bowl; let stand
1 minute to soften. Add boiling water; stir until gelatin is
completely dissolved and mixture is clear. Cool slightly.
3. Beat whipping cream, sugar and vanilla in another small
bowl until soft peaks form; pour in gelatin mixture and beat
until stiff. Carefully fold in raspberry puree and food
color; refrigerate 20 minutes.
Cookies 'n Cream Fudge
Recipe
2 1/2 c Sugar
1/2 c Margarine or butter
2/3 c (5 oz) Evaporated milk
2 c (7 oz) jar Marshmallow cream
8 oz Almond bark or vanilla flavored candy coating cut into
pieces
1 ts Vanilla
12 Oreo cookies, broken into Bite-size pieces
Line 8-inch-square pan with foil so that foil extends over
sides of pan; butter foil. In large heavy duty saucepan,
combine sugar, margarine, and milk. Bring to a boil over
medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue boiling 3 minutes
over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add
marshmallow creme, candy coating and vanilla; blend until
smooth. Pour half of mixture into foil-lined pan. Sprinkle
cookie pieces over entire surface. Top with remaining
mixture. Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate 1 to 2 hours
or until set. Remove fudge from pan by lifting foil; remove
foil from fudge. Using large knife, cut into squares. Store
in refrigerator. Makes 36 squares (about 1-1/2 pounds).
Foolproof Dark Chocolate Fudge Recipe
3 C semisweet chocolate chips
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
dash salt
1 C chopped walnuts
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
In heavy saucepan over low heat, melt chips with sweetened
condensed milk and salt. Remove from heat; stir in walnuts and
vanilla. Spread evenly into aluminum foil lined 8 or 9 inch
square pan. Chill 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge onto cutting
board; peel off foil and cut into squares. Store loosely covered
at room temperature.
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