Mint Brownies

There is nothing so delicious, so tempting and so addicting in the world as Mint Brownies.

I discovered the recipe in high school and played around with it until I thought it was perfect.  I also thought I was the only one who'd found the secret to making them as wonderful as they were.  So...it became my "Secret Recipe".  I was so proud of myself.

Fast forward a few years.  I was talking to a friend who mentioned that a neighbor had just made the most fantastic mint brownies she'd ever had.  Hah!  I thought.  She hasn't had my mint brownies.  Later on this friend made the brownies for me - I was shocked to find that they were just like my brownies.  I begged for the recipe - it matched my recipe exactly.  Apparently I wasn't the first to figure it out.  I'm now on the look out for a new "Secret Recipe".

*Sorry for the blurry photo - I pulled it from Taste of Home's website

Ingredients:

Brownies:

if you have a favorite brownie recipe, insert it here.  Generally I use a boxed mix because it's just faster that way.  I'm sure brownies from scratch would be better, but I have two small children who tend to be impatient.  Suffice it to say, Pillsbury saves a bit of my sanity.

Filling:

1 cube butter or margarine, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp peppermint extract (this is the secret ingredient)
a little milk
green food coloring

Chocolate Topping:

6 squares semi-sweet chocolate or 1 cup chocolate chips
6 Tbsp butter or margarine

Directions:
Bake brownies according to package directions for cake-like brownies.  Cool completely before frosting.

For filling, cream together butter and powdered sugar.  Add small amounts of milk until you reach a buttercream consistency.  Add food coloring and mint to desired taste.  You may only want to use 1 tsp of peppermint - the longer the brownies sit the stronger the mint will be.  Spread on top of brownies.

For topping, melt chocolate with the butter.  I usually do this in my microwave, adjusting the power level to half at about 45 second increments.  Don't stir in between - I just pull it out of the microwave and swirl it around to help melt the chocolate and keep the butter from exploding in the microwave.  Once the chocolate appears very soft, stir until smooth - this takes a minute or two.  Let it cool slightly, then pour over the frosting.  Spread it until the filling is covered.  Refrigerate until set.

There it is: the not-so secret recipe.  Oh, and I can promise that if you ever take this to a party - you'll be the coolest person there  ;)