{Christmas Cheer Link Party} Christmas Recipes!

Welcome to the next round of the Christmas Cheer Link Party!!

We've decked the halls with boughs of holly, hung the stockings with care, and DIY'd our little hearts out...but now comes the part you know we all look forward to during the holidays...the FOOD!!!

These, my friends, are peppermint bark brownies...and they are DELICIOUS!!!  Take all the deliciousness of peppermint bark and add a soft, chewy, fudge brownie into the mix.  I am literally drooling as I type!

Take a homemade brownie, add a layer of chocolate on top, then white peppermint chocolate and top it off with crushed candy canes.  It's the perfect blend of chocolate and peppermint.  Super delectable but not too rich!  

Peppermint Bark Brownies

{Recipe found here::great step by step}

Brownie Layer:

2 sticks unsalted butter
8 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped {I used semi-sweet}
3 1/2 cups white sugar
5 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
a pinch of salt--maybe 1/8 to 1/4 tsp.
1 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract


Melt butter and chocolate in a double-boiler or on 50% power in the microwave--being careful not to burn the chocolate. Using an electric mixer, beat sugar and eggs until light and thick {about 10 minutes}. Add the melted chocolate and butter. Fold in flour. Bake at 325 for about 25 minutes in a well-greased 9"by13" baking dish.  {Note...for me, the brownies took more like an hour to bake!  Not sure why...maybe the altitude?}.

For the Peppermint Bark Topping:

11 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
11-12 oz. white chocolate chips

1 drop of peppermint oil/extract
5-6 candy canes

Sprinkle the semi-sweet chips over the hot baked brownies {immediately after they've come out of the oven}.  Let them sit for a few minutes and spread the melted chips to the edges and corners of the pan. Let the semi-sweet layer harden a bit before proceeding to the white chocolate layer.

When the semi-sweet chocolate is set, melt the white chocolate chips in a double boiler {or carefully in the microwave} and add the peppermint oil. Drizzle the white chocolate over the top. Use an offset spatula to spread white chocolate to the edges and corners.

Crush the candy canes and sprinkle them over the top of the white chocolate.

Either refrigerate or freeze the brownies until the chocolate is hardened. Use the foil handles to pull the brownies from the pan. Peel away the foil and the waxed paper. Place the brownies on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to score the surface of the chocolate and then go back and cut through to the bottom. {I used my big chef's knife.} Depending on the size, you could get anywhere from 20 to 30+ brownies. Serve. Keep cool when storing--I recommend in the fridge, and in an airtight container.

 I cut the edges off to give it a more even look.  Look at that fudgey goodness!

Similar to their sister {aka the real deal: peppermint bark} these make great gifts for the holidays.  Or keep them to yourself...either way, they won't last long!

Now it's your turn!!!  Link up your Christmas recipe below...and grab a button too!

<a href="http://http://www.schuelove.com/2011/12/christmas-cheer-link-party-christmas.html/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee462/creativeindex/michaela-noelle/holiday200x200.jpg" border="0" alt="Holiday"></a>

Can't wait to see what you've all whipped up!

xo natasha

P.S. Find me over at Mustard Ceiling today talking about my favorite Christmas Tradition!