Peppermint Brownies

Everyone loves a classic, gooey, chocolate brownie. Served hot out of the oven with a scoop of rich, vanilla ice cream, or wrapped up in neat squares for an on-the-go treat, brownies are a timeless treat for all ages. And so versatile, too! There are hundreds of delicious ways to dress up the classic brownie to add a little extra excitement. Here, I share how to make one of my top favorites: peppermint brownies! Whether at the peak of holiday season or in the post-holiday hangover of the months that follow, peppermint brownies never fail to please. 

Adding that top layer of melty, crunchy peppermint bits is without a doubt a brilliant way to make dessert more festive for a holiday dinner party! But personally, I prefer making this treat to brighten up the dreariness of long winter weeks once the holidays are past. This recipe is perfect for using up lingering Christmas candy canes, or taking advantage of post-holiday candy sales. Besides, nothing welcomes positivity into a new year quite like peppermint!

Even harnessed in the largely artificial form of a candy stick, peppermint is a powerful plant. It has strong cleansing properties, perfect for banishing anything stale or malingering from the previous year. And goodness knows, bundled inside all winter, we could all use that extra minty freshness! Hopefully it’s enough to carry us through until it’s time for spring cleaning.

As it sweeps out negativity, peppermint also promotes bringing in change. If, like me, you already find all of your new year’s resolutions are falling prey to last year’s bad habits after only a few weeks, baking with peppermint could bring some of that positive change and intention back to your life. 

Lastly, though perhaps most excitingly, peppermint is an excellent agent for drawing abundance and good wishes. And, who doesn’t want that? Especially in such a delicious, chocolatey dessert form! So I encourage you, as you work through the steps on this recipe, to take some time and set your positive intentions, hopes, and wishes for health and abundance into your baking — whatever that looks like for you!

Visualize yourself breaking bad habits and negative thoughts as you smash up your candy canes into peppermint bits. Picture your wishes coming true, and the abundance you seek to attract, as you sprinkle those bits over the brownie batter. And as you savor the mint-chocolate flavors in each bite, feel the manifestation of those desired changes sweep over you: out with the old, and in with the new.