Mint Chocolate Brownies Dessert Recipe

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Valentine's Day: Why don't they just call it chocolate day?

The celebration for lovers ranks in the top four (after Halloween, Easter and Christmas/winter holidays) for candy sales.

You probably wouldn't be surprised to read that most of the Valentine's Day candy dollars go to chocolate, according to the National Confectioners' Association.

With all the possibilities for chocolate lovers to splurge -- from fine-boxed chocolate to hot cocoa at your favorite cafe -- making a chocolate treat at home might seem superfluous.

But as exciting as it is to open a package of luxury chocolates, it's just as pleasurable to bake a treat.

Finding your favorite chocolate for cooking is part of the enjoyment. You've got more varieties than ever in supermarkets and specialty stores.

Start by bringing home a few different brands of bittersweet chocolate bars. You and your Two's Company partner can sample each.

Take a small bite. Let the chocolate melt on your tongue. Notice whether the chocolate is smooth or gritty, and whether you're tasting chocolate or off flavors. Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler and spoon over ice cream (no one said this work is easy!). Does the chocolate stand up to other ingredients?

When you're satisfied that you have a favorite, use it in the following recipe for chocolate mint brownies. For better texture, make the dessert 24 hours before your Valentine's Day celebration and store in the refrigerator. Bring the brownies to room temperature to serve.

Cover leftover brownies with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate up to a week or freeze up to a month.

 

Mint Chocolate Brownies Dessert Recipe

Makes 12 brownies

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 26 minutes

 

1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch chunks

1 (3.5-ounce) bar bittersweet chocolate broken into bite-size chunks

1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 teaspoon mint extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup flour

1 (3.5-ounce) bar mint-flavored dark chocolate

 

Place butter and dark chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently until chocolate melts. Remove from heat. Add brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat well. Beat in eggs and mint extract. Beat in salt and flour.

Spoon brownie batter into well-greased 8-inch square baking pan. Break mint-chocolate bar into small pieces and sprinkle over batter, pressing down. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 23 to 26 minutes or tops of brownies are firm. Remove from oven and cool completely.

Each serving has: 225 calories; 13 grams total fat; 2 grams protein; 25 grams carbohydrates; 56 milligrams cholesterol and 59 milligrams sodium.

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Mint Chocolate Brownies Dessert Recipe - Bev Bennett Recipes

(c) 2010 Bev Bennett Recipes