9/6/08

Mint Chocolate Crunch Brownies

Over here on Cape Cod it is raining, dark and oh so humid today. The remants of Hurricane Hanna are crossing over our island; so this is not a day to be outside. The humidity is 100% and the dew point is 74., with a temperature of 77 degrees. (now I know what it feels like to be in the rainforest). Ugh. So crank up the A/C, turn on the oven and let's bake something yummy to cure this boredom. Days like this I crave a good brownie and I wanted a good, hearty frosting on top. So I made a buttercream frosting, then added in crushed Mint Oreo's (the whole cookies). Yes, it was good. Sinfully good


Chocolate Mint Crunch Brownies

1/4 cup flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate (top-quality), broken in 10 pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup sour cream
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate (top quality), coarsely chopped (about 1/2 cup)

minty frosting:
1 ½ cups sifted confectioners sugar
3-6 TB room temp unsalted
2-4 TB heavy cream
¾ ts peppermint extract
A drop or two of green coloring (optional)
About 20 +/- Oreo cookies with filling, coarsely chopped (plain or mint flavored Oreo’s)

To make the brownies:
Heat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly butter and flour a 9x9x2-inch square cake pan.
Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt together onto a sheet of waxed paper. In top of a double boiler melt chocolate and butter over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from heat.
In an electric mixer mix eggs, sugar and vanilla on high until slightly thickened, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add melted chocolate mixture and mix on medium for 30 seconds. Add flour mixture and mix on low 10 seconds, then on medium 10 seconds. Add sour cream and mix on medium 5 seconds.
Scrape around sides and bottom of bowl with a rubber spatula to combine thoroughly. Use spatula to fold in chopped chocolate. Pour batter into cake pan and spread evenly. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.

To make the mint frosting: Beat until smooth 1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 3-6 TB soft butter, 2 TB heavy cream, and 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract. Add a drop or two of green coloring, if desired. Spread filling evenly over the cookie layer, cover, and chill until firm, about one hour. (you can add more of less of the butter & cream as you wish—I like a thicker frosting so I use more butter, less cream). Add in the coarsely chopped Oreo’s and mix well. Then spread over brownies. If desired you can then add a layer of chocolate glaze: Melt 1 ounce of semisweet chocolate and 1 Tablespoon butter. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Drizzle over brownies. Best to chill the brownies to set before cutting.

18 comments:

  1. Now these are my kind of brownies. Totally making these! Great flavor combos.

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  2. Hope the weather shapes up soon for you!!

    Oh my, those brownies look INSANELY delicious.

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  3. I don't usually like brownies with frosting, but these look so yummy!

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  4. I've been to the rainforest! Sounds like you're living in it now. I too am cranking up the AC and baking, but nothing that is half as delicious as these cookies look. Amazing!

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  5. Ooh, cookies and mint cream brownies! Sounds so delicious! (Yikes, it's been SO long since I've eaten a brownie)

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  6. Mint and chocolate brownies! Sounds great!

    In response to your question regarding the mousse...you could use a few TBS sugar in plac eof the splenda.

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  7. OH YUMMO!!! I love the minty oreo frosting on top!! PERFECT

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  8. Your weather sounds dreadful :( We're having hot, sunny days... just slight humidity. Definitely not rain-forest weather in SoCal! Despite your weather, I still miss being in MA. I'll have to come out for a fall visit!

    My hubby would absolutely love these brownies being the mint choc. lover that he is!

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  9. glad you kicked it up a notch! Yum!

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  10. You have definitely been making rockin' desserts lately. I'm going to start calling you the Queen of the Chocolaty Underworld, because anything you bake with it is awesome. You have like a chocolate Midas touch :)

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  11. Now that is a combination I could easily devour. Mind sending me a few? ;)

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  12. Good God, these look AMAZING!!!! I usually just stink a layer of peppermint patties in boxed brownies for that combo. This looks far superior :)

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  13. Have I been under a rock? There are mint Oreo's! OMG if it wasn't late I'd go to the store...geez what have I been missing!

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  14. what a terrific use for oreos, particularly the mint kind, which are clearly the best. :) that frosting is ridiculous--i'd be tempted just to lick it straight off. :)

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  15. I can't decide which to be more jealous about-cape cod, rainy fallish weather or those brownies. Hmmm. Ok, it's definitely the brownies. A from scratch brownies, frosted with chunks of oreo??? Dawn, I don't think I can rest until I've tried your last three treats. This one would be a grand slam with the whole fam. If I can get to the store this is exactly what I'm bringing to the neighborhood BBQ tonight.

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  16. These look great and you are too! I’ve sent you an award to attest to that fact - you can grab it on my site http://lisasmagicsprinkles.blogspot.com/.

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  17. These look delicious! I need to make some dairy-free mint cookies just to have them.

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  18. wow! I'm going to use that frosting on a cake for my step-dad's bday this week! Who doesn't love oreo's?

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