Peppermint Brownies (easy recipe!)

I did this last year for a party and managed to take a picture before they were eaten. It takes about an extra 5 minutes to take regular brownies and make them just a little fancier.

You can buy pre-made brownie bites or make your own. I posted a recipe for "Better than a Box" brownies earlier this year.Use that recipe but bake them in mini muffin tins. Bake in a 350ºF oven for about 14-18 minutes. Basically, anytime you change from a larger size to a smaller size (e.g. muffin to mini muffin, cake to cupcake), raise the oven temperature 25 degrees.

Ok, onto the steps to make these cute brownies. Here you go:

1) Find a nice platter and remind your husband not to put it in the dishwasher if it's not supposed to go in it. Let's just say now I have a nice round glass platter without stripes.

2) Arrange brownies on a baking tray or on top of some foil or waxed paper. You don't want the nice platter with streaks of chocolate (or maybe you do!).

3) Melt about 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips in the microwave. I like the Ghirardelli ones. Heat on high for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until melted.

4) While chips are being melted, take a candy cane (or about 4 small or 6 round candies) out of it's wrapper and place in a plastic bag . Put that on a cutting board. Using the flat side of a meat tenderizer or a heavy pot/pan, crush the candies into little pieces (the meat tenderizer is great for making chicken or pork cutlets very flat and even).

5) Take melted chocolate and place in a ziploc bag. Try using a rubber spatula to get every last drop. Cut the tip of one of the bottom corners of the bag. Pipe out chocolate in lines in one direction and then in another direction.

6) Sprinkle candy over melted chocolate. Don't wait too long. If the chocolate hardens, the candy won't stick.

7) Arrange on pretty platter from step #1. Remind husband about the dish.

This should be enough for about 24 brownie bites depending upon how much chocolate/candy you use for each one. Better to have some extra chocolate and candy canes...just in case!