Peppermint Brownies

I was never a fan of anything peppermint.  Peppermint gum, candy canes, etc.  However, I was at an Army party in December and the catering company was serving peppermint brownies.  While the meal itself wasn't very good (I can voice my opinion, right? Everyone is entitled to one.), the peppermint brownie was AMAZING.  I was still thinking about it days later.

I found this rather involved recipe for layered peppermint brownies on Our Best Bites, but I didn't feel like going that in-depth with it.  It took me an entire month to track down peppermint extract.  I'm serious.  No one had it (When I say "no one", I mean the commissary and Wal-Mart.  I try my best to stay out of Carr's and Fred Meyer.  They're in the business of ripping people off.)

So this is what I came up with.

Peppermint Brownies

1 10.25 oz package of brownie mix
1 egg
1/3 cup canola oil
2 T. water
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 drop of peppermint extract

Mix together and pour into a greased 8" cake pan.  This is what I do for us.  Of course, use a 9x13 pan and regular sized mix if more than 4 people are going to be sharing these brownies.

Bake for about 20 minutes.

Glaze

1 cup chocolate chips
3 T. butter
1 drop peppermint extract

To make it pretty:  3 crushed candy canes

Melt the chocolate chips and butter together in the microwave.  Stir until smooth and then stir in the extract.  Pour over the brownies while still warm and top with candy canes.

Give it a few hours to set up.  They actually taste better the next day.

If I was planning on making these again soon, I would substitute the homemade glaze with this:

It's so much better than you would think.