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Peppermint Candy Cane Brownies

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These Peppermint Candy Cane Brownies are the quintessential winter dessert! Cool chunks of crushed peppermint candies are swirled throughout a rich and indulgent chocolate brownie base to create this sweet and gooey holiday treat.

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Whether you love it or hate it, you can’t deny that peppermint and chocolate are a classic winter flavor combination. Especially around the holidays, I just love the refreshing coolness that a touch of peppermint brings to chocolate treats like hot cocoa, cookies, cakes, and of course these peppermint candy cane brownies. These bars are packed with the perfect amount of chocolate chips and candy cane pieces—striking a harmonious balance between minty sweetness and a rich creaminess.

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Even if you omit the peppermint candy cane pieces, these are the best homemade brownies! They’re dense, chewy, moist, and oh-so chocolatey. A blend of butter, brown sugar, and melted chocolate chips create a smooth and luscious base that is delicious when paired with all sorts of add-ins and garnishes. Whether you keep these bars simple or jazz them up with some colorful garnishes, there’s not a person alive who would be disappointed when gifted a plate of these peppermint candy cane brownies.

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We Love These Peppermint Brownies Because They’re…

  • A festive spin on a classic dessert
  • Rich, fudgy, and chewy, with just a touch of refreshing peppermint flavor
  • Great to store and savor over the course of a few days or slice and share with a crowd
  • An easy, one-bowl dessert

Ingredients:

 Peppermint-Candy-Cane-Brownies-Ingredients
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
  • ½ cup salted butter
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup crushed peppermint candy canes or mints, divided

How to Make Easy Christmas Peppermint Candy Cane Brownies

  • In a glass bowl, melt together the butter and half of the chocolate. 
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  • Add the brown sugar, peppermint extract, and eggs and mix until well combined.
  • Gently fold in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix just until no pockets of dry ingredients remain.
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  • Stir in the remaining chocolate and half of the crushed peppermint candies. Transfer the brownie batter to a prepared baking pan.
  • Bake the brownies until a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan comes out clean.
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  • Garnish the finished brownies with the remaining peppermint pieces. Cut, serve, and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

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How do you keep brownies soft and chewy?

Do your best not to overmix the batter! I recommend folding the dry ingredients into the wet by hand. This way, you can ensure your brownie batter doesn’t develop too much gluten and that these peppermint bars stay fudgy and tender. Pair this up with my Oreo Dip to make your dessert board complete.

Can you make peppermint brownies from a mix?

Sure! They won’t be quite as dense and fudgy as my homemade recipe, but you can turn any boxed brownie mix into peppermint brownies. Simply prepare the mixture as normal, but fold in some chocolate chips and crushed candy canes before you pop the brownies into the oven. 

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How to Store Leftover Candy Cane Brownies

Any leftover peppermint candy cane brownies can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for 3 days or in the fridge for up to 6 days. I recommend reheating these mint brownies in the microwave for about 20 seconds before enjoying them.

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Recipe Variations

If you’re looking for an easy Christmas dessert, this peppermint brownie recipe is perfect as it’s written. However, if you’re feeling a little extra festive and have some time to spare, try jazzing up these peppermint brownies with some fun add-ins or garnishes. Below are a few ideas to get you started.

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Festive Add-ins

  • Candied nuts
  • Oreo cookie pieces
  • Red and green M&Ms
  • White chocolate chips
  • Marshmallows
  • Pretzels

Beautiful Garnishes

  • Fresh mint
  • Dark chocolate ganache
  • Christmas or winter-themed sprinkles
  • Vanilla Ice cream
  • Freshly whipped cream
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Expert Tips and Tricks

  • There are two ways you can crush your candy canes. My favorite is to place the peppermint candies into a blender or food processor and pulse them a few times. Or you can get some anger out with a meat tenderizer or rolling pin.
  • Are you a chocoholic? Try making these brownies with dark chocolate chips. On the flip side, lighten the chocolate flavor a bit by using milk chocolate chips.
  • Prefer spearmint over peppermint? You can easily swap out the candy canes for green spearmint candy discs.
  • I like melting my chocolate and butter together in the microwave, but you could also use a double boiler.
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More Recipes:

Yield: 18

Peppermint Candy Cane Brownies

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These Peppermint Candy Cane Brownies are the quintessential winter dessert! Cool chunks of crushed peppermint candies are swirled throughout a rich and indulgent chocolate brownie base to create this sweet and gooey holiday treat.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
  • ½ cup salted butter
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup crushed peppermint candy canes or mints, divided
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Candy Canes—Or peppermint disks, crushed.
  • Chocolate Chips—Semi sweet add richness and not too much extra sugar.
  • All-Purpose Flour—Or a 1:1 gluten free flour blend.
  • Brown Sugar—Dark or light.
  • Butter—Keeps your brownies moist and gooey.
  • Eggs—Add richness and moisture to these chewy bars.
  • Baking Powder—The leavening agent of choice.
  • Salt—Just a pinch will help to enhance the deep chocolate and peppermint flavors.
  • Peppermint Extract—Just a splash will add a ton of festive flavor.

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
  3. In a microwave safe bowl, combine half of the chocolate with the butter and microwave on 30 second intervals until everything is completely melted.
  4. Stir the brown sugar and peppermint extract into the chocolate mixture.
  5. Add the eggs and mix well. In a bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  6. Slowly fold the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture, mixing well until blended.
  7. Stir in the remaining chocolate chips and half the crushed peppermint bits and then pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  8. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
  9. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the remaining crushed peppermint bits over the top for garnish.
  10. Let the peppermint brownies cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting.

Notes

  • You can store these brownies in an airtight container in the fridge or on the counter for up to 6 days.
  • For a richer chocolate flavor, you can use dark chocolate chips instead.’
  • I find it easiest to crush candy canes or peppermint discs in a blender. You just need to pulse it for about 5 seconds.

Nutrition Information

Yield

18

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 264Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 36mgSodium 115mgCarbohydrates 43gFiber 1gSugar 24gProtein 3g

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