1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup (6oz) semisweet chocolate chips
9 -12 York Peppermint Patties
4 peppermint candy canes, crushed
14 pieces Andes crème de menthe candy thins, chopped
Melt the butter. Allow to fully cool before making the brownie batter.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch x 9-inch square metal baking pan* with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Gently mix in the eggs just until fully incorporated.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients and stir until combined.
Spread about 1/3 of the batter into the pan, making sure the bottom of the pan is completely covered. Add the York patties in an even layer. Spread the remaining batter to the top of the York patties.
Add the crushed Andes candy in an even layer on top of the brownie batter. Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. Brownies will be done when the top is puffy and the edges are set. Toothpick test should have moist crumbs attached.
Immediately sprinkle the crushed candy cane pieces on top of the brownies, gently pushing onto the top of the brownies.
Allow the brownies to cool for at least 30 minutes in the pan before cutting.
You can, in lieu of the Andes mints, try these brownies with a peppermint buttercream frosting!
*If using a glass pan, decrease oven temperature to 325°F and increase baking time 2-3 minutes.
39
Target, like I should have expected, is a chaotic mess.
After Mom had left, the condo was too quiet and the ghosts of Michael’s and my past were creeping in. So, I decided to head out to find something small to gift both Charlie and Sydney.
I manage to squeeze past the masses into the non-fiction book section. I had already shopped the men’s section and picked out some winter essentials for Charlie, playing it safe and not guessing sizes. A nice scarf with matching gloves and winter hat. I’ll grab some festive chocolates, or something, to go with them. Now I wanted to pick out a baking book for Sydney, since she had recently been divulging her attempts at experimenting in new offerings at the bookstore.
It was also safe buying a cookbook without appearing cheap as we didn’t really have a diverse cookbook selection at the shop. They just, for some reason, never sold well.
“This would be the last place I’d expect to find you.” My eyes freeze reading the back of Paul Hollywood’s new release, the familiar voice stopping me cold. I look to my left to find Alex standing there, holding a James Patterson book. Of course it’s a fucking Patterson in his hands. “Don’t you own a bookstore?”
“If you had bothered paying attention when in there, you’d realize this isn’t really something we carry.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be over in Dublin doing teaching things?” He drops the Patterson book on the shelf, covering a different book title.
Alex, annoyingly, looks good. I mean, honestly. Who dresses up in a three-piece suit to go to, what appears to be, last minute Christmas shopping at Target.
“Well people famously travel to spend the holidays with their family. What is it you actually want Alex?”
Alex shuffles his hand basket from his left to right hand. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot, actually. It’s funny we ran into each other here, don’t you think? Like it’s a sign from the universe that, now you’re back, maybe we give this thing another go.”
I chuckle, putting the Paul Hollywood book in my basket. “Been thinking about me that much huh? Funny because I don’t recall my phone blowing up with any texts or calls or anything.”
Alex rolls his eyes. “Why are you always like this?”
“A voice of logic and common sense?”
