Usually I get excited when winter arrives but alas, not this year. I unfortunately have to work both Christmas Eve AND Boxing Day, so no Christmas at home for me this year. Single tear. My parents will be in town on the 27th and we’ll do a Christmas thingie but it won’t be the same. Getting old sucks.But fear not, there are still some things I love about this time of year – candy canes. Actually it’s not quite candy canes that I love but rather candy cane flavoured products. Ice cream, Hershey Kisses, cookies, hot chocolate, doughnuts, everything! So I decided to make candy cane brownies! And not only does they have candy canes in them but they are also covered in ganache. Ganache is delicious and rich but is also a super fun word to say. Say it with me – GANACHE. I just like the way it rolls off my tongue.
Candy Cane Brownies
Brownies
1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
4 eggs
1 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup flour
Add melted butter to sugar and cocoa powder and mix. Add eggs and vanilla. Add flour and salt a little at a time until just blended. Pour into a 9 x 9 pan and bake for 40 – 50 minutes at 350ยบ
Super hard eh? I really don’t understand why people make brownies out of a box. It is no more difficult to make it from a box then from scratch. And it tastes sooooooooooo much better. Now back to the recipe.
Peppermint Frosting
2 cups icing sugar
4 tbsp butter
1 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1 Tbsp milk
Drop of two of red food colouring
Mix all ingredients. If frosting seems too thick, add an additional 1 tsp milk. Once again, this is not rocket science. So easy. Spread on top of cooled brownies and put in fridge until set.
Chocolate Ganache
1 cup whipping cream
4 Tbsp butter
10 oz bittersweet chocolate
Heat cream and butter in saucepan on low heat until simmering. Remove from heat and add chocolate. Blend until smooth. Put in freezer for 35 minutes to set. Stir every 10 minutes while in the freezer so it doesn’t get too hard. Spread on top of brownies. Top with crushed candy canes.
Yum!