Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies

I’m flying in at the last minute with this month’s Food n’ Flix recipe!  This month really got away from me!

This month’s movie was The Princess and the Frog, hosted by Heather at All Roads Lead to the Kitchen.

The movie is set in New Orleans – so one naturally thinks Cajun food, but here I am with brownies.

Well, I took quite a journey to get to this point.

First, I wanted to take another stab at chocolate frogs.  I made some for a Harry Potter event a couple years ago and they were cute but could’ve been better.  The chocolate frogs I wanted to make this time would’ve required a chocolate mold and since I’m doing the last-minute thing, ordering wasn’t an option…and there are no frog molds available in town (sad face).

(ps - do you like my Fly Guy pumpkin? We entered him in the school pumpkin contest (we lost) and he reminded me of the firefly, Ray in the movie - and see the gold stars for Evangeline??)

Then I was going to make a Halloween snack mix and dips some chocolate pretzels to go with it.  But I forgot to buy pretzels at the store…sigh.

Then I remembered a new brownie recipe I wanted to try, so I decided that the inspiration would be in the decorations – with some little frogs in a swap, of course!

But can we talk about these brownies now?

Oh my gosh, you guys!  I NEVER thought I would meet a homemade brownie that was as fudgy as the ones from the box!  I’d nearly given up trying because I was always so disappointed in the results…until now.  These ones are amazing!  They texture is just like the boxed brownies I grew up with, but the flavor is so much more!  Homemade brownies for the win!!

Bayou Brownies (Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies)

Adapted from Cooking for my Soul

8 ounces dark chocolate chips

1 stick butter

1 ¼ cups granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon peppermint extract

½ teaspoon salt

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

½ cup + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour

½ cup mint chocolate chips

½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Green candy melts

Sprinkles

Gold stars

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray an 8x8-inch square pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment.

In a double boiler or microwave melt the dark chocolate chips and butter.  Whisk until smooth, then whisk the sugar in until combined.

Add the eggs and whisk until the eggs are completely incorporated.  Stir in the vanilla, peppermint extract, and salt.  Mix in the cocoa and flour until completely combined.  Gently fold in the mint chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 38-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out clean.

Turn off the oven.  Sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips and candy melts over the brownies and return to the warm oven for 1 minute or until the chocolate is melted.  Spread the chocolate over the brownies, then add sprinkles!