If you celebrate Christmas, chances are the saddest day of the year for you came shortly after the holiday. That’s right – the day it came time to deconstruct your home of Christmas decorations and dismantle the tree. With that goes precious ornaments, fuzzy stockings, and candy canes. Lots of them. So, what to do with all of those tasty peppermint treats? Well, I think the above picture probably already clued you in!
These decadent and devilishly good candy cane brownies were a well deserved treat, since a girl needs to unwind after the sometimes stressful holiday season, after all! Using my simple recipe for Best Cocoa Brownies, these babies came together in no time, and the peppermint added a pleasantly fresh kick to this dreamy, delicious chocolate confection.
If you have some leftover candy canes, try these for yourself and you’ll be glad you did. Then, let’s all pretend to go back to eating our vegetables like good little resolution-keepers!
Peppermint Candy Cane Brownies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1-1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 6 peppermint candy canes, crushed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9-inch square pan.
- Melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Gently stir in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for 28-30 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with crushed candy canes. Cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting.
- Enjoy!
Man! Too bad I threw my candy canes away. What a great idea though. I like the thought of holding onto Christmas for just a little bit longer.
Beautiful little goodies!
These looks scrumptious! Love the way you recycle your candy canes :)
Love them!!! Thats the only reason I buy candy canes…..BAKING!
I sure do love going all out with the Christmas decorations, but putting them away is always such a chore (not to mention, somewhat depressing)! However, these little treats could easily make “demolition day” a little brighter! :)
Sigh…I could eat peppermint year-round! I just ate the last of my mint truffle kisses today after work. Sigh…
This is perfect. Making these tomorrow. Thank you!
Yum! I love peppermint and chocolate together. And I have tons of leftover candy canes!
We always take everything down after New Year, but it does seem a bit sad anyway.
I love peppermint with chocolate, and these are just perfect!
Yum. That’s all I have to say!
oohhhh my gosh and I totally have leftover candy canes too! Might need to whip up a mini batch of these to snack on next time I get a sweet craving! =)
LOVE your blog!
I’m so glad to see another peppermint dessert even though the holidays are over! It’s one of my favorite flavors!
Christmas is definitely not over here! I love having leftover candycanes on top of ice cream. However, these look like a pretty good way to use them up too!
I love candy canes — it adds so much flavor, color and festivity to a recipe. This looks so drool-worthy, Georgia :)
I love combining peppermint and chocolate, when the Christmas holidays approach, candy cane is constantly on my mind! Your brownies look spectacular!
What butter should I use salted or unsalted?
Either works!
Does the candy cane go funny after a day on the brownie? I once did the Christmas tree brownie with a cane as the trunk and it all went slimy and soft overnight :(
Hi Selena! That hasn’t been my experience with these brownies, but I think it depends on how you store the brownie. I would refrigerate in a re-sealable bag or covered container.
Ten years later after I discovered this recipe, I double batch it when making Christmas cookies for everyone. Thank you for such a delicious recipe!
Would adding a tsp peppermint extract enhance or detract from the flavor?