Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies

 

Serves 24

Ingredients: 

* 1 1/2 cups flour

* 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powde

* 1/2 teaspoon salt 

* 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

* 1 cup unsalted butter  

* 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

* 1 1/2 cups sugar

* 5 large eggs

* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

* 1 teaspoon peppermint extract

* 5 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped and melted

* Coarsely crushed peppermint candies, very fine pieces sifted out

Procedure:

Preheat oven to 300°. Grease a 9- by 13-in. baking pan; 

set aside. Sift together flour, cocoa, salt, and baking powder into a bowl. 

Microwave butter and bittersweet chocolate in a medium 

glass bowl, stirring often, until melted and smooth, about 1 1/2 minutes.

Whisk together sugar and eggs in a large bowl until blended. 

Add extracts and whisk to blend. Stir melted chocolate mixture into egg mixture. 

Gently fold in flour mixture with a plastic spatula until no streaks remain. 

Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. 

Bake brownies until a toothpick inserted 2 in. from edge comes out with 

a few crumbs sticking to it, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature, 

about 45 minutes.

Put dark chocolate in a resealable plastic bag, snip off a small corner tip, 

and drizzle half over brownies. Sprinkle with candies and drizzle with remaining chocolate. 

Let cool until chocolate sets, 25 minutes, then cut into squares.