I couldn't believe Christmas is only 2 weeks away, and I haven't even started baking a single cookies yet. Must be the old man winter that makes me feel really moody and lethargic. I have been craving for other kinds of comfort food, such as hot soup, noodle and dark chocolate instead of cookies.
Having said that there are some recipes that are so good that beckon to be made immediately. I am talking about the Peppermint Cookie and Cream Brownies on Nicole's Blog- Baking Bites, which is inspired by Trader Joe's Peppermint Jo Jo. If you are lucky to see this stuff in your local Trader Joe, grab one. Or better, 2 or 3 or 4 or forget it- make it a dozen. You can use some to make this fantastic brownies .
I couldn't stop munching the cookies ever since I bought a pack of Trader Joe's Peppermint Jo Jo last week. Just when I almost finished half of the cookies on the first day, I saw Nicole's brownie recipe on her blog. Without a second of hesitation, I got up from my seat and made the brownie.
The brownie was just as Nicole described :"Fudgy. Rich. Intense. Chocolaty. Pepperminty. Amazing." Perfect dessert to be shared with others. I packed some for the staff from my apartment building and some for OCT's colleagues.
Of course I saved a few pieces for myself too, it's perfect with my favorite Japanese Green tea!
I think I better start going through the Christmas Cookies I have bookmarked to. Stay tune for cookies recipes ahead!
Peppermint Cookie and Cream Brownies
as seen on Baking Bites
1 cup butter
6 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Dutched Processed Cocoa)
3 cups roughly chopped peppermint oreo-type cookies (approx 18)
Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, and grease lightly.
In a medium-large saucepan over low heat, melt together butter and chocolate, stirring occasionally. Whisk in sugar, salt and vanilla, then turn off heat. Whisk in eggs one at a time, waiting until each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in flour and cocoa powder until mixture is uniform. Stir in peppermint oreo cookies and pour batter into prepared pan. Crush 3-4 additional cookies finely and sprinkle on top of batter, if desired.
Bake for about 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, but not coated with batter.
Cool brownies in pan for about 20 minutes, then lift brownies in the foil out of the pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Makes 36 brownies (or 48 bite-sized brownies).
Oh man, I'm so hopelessly addicted to those cookies... The brownies look amazing, but I don't think I could ever make them without the danger of eating the entire pan in one sitting!
ReplyDeleteHoly crap, those look amazing. I need to stop reading blog entries about cookies because it's not helping my healthy eating!
ReplyDeleteI had these peppermint oreo-thingys at trader joe's and I've had this hankering for chocolate and peppermin ever since. Your brownies sound great and easy to do.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of adding bits of Oreo cookies to a brownie is mean, just mean!
ReplyDeleteOh, Mandy, how on earth am I gonna survive without this?!?!?!? :)
Mandy, those are truly inspired! I'm baking my mom's giveaways now, and I'm beyond tired. I wish you could just mail me some, haha :)
ReplyDeleteI bought a box after seeing them on Nic's blog too, fully intending to make the brownies. Right. Like they lasted long enough to make it into a pan. Not hardly. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh my, this is a real inspiration.This is sounds delicious and simple to do
ReplyDeleteOh YUM! These look fantastic.
ReplyDeleteWow, your bakes all look delicious! You make me confused as to what to bake! lol. Your photography skills is getting better and better..!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, I would have commented sooner, but I fainted when I saw that photo. Gorgeous! I'm drooling...
ReplyDeleteMandy, I love these Oreo brownies and how you photographed them - simply gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally swamped but am taking a break to visit you - I have a Christmas Dinner Party for 30 this Saturday and have been cooking since Tuesday!
Have a beautiful Christmas with OCT xo
This brownies of yours is to die for! So sinful looking that I'm afraid to eat it!
ReplyDeleteI am so frustrated not to have a TJs over here!! Next time I go visit Lisa, I'd better stock up because the brownies look amazing!!
ReplyDeleteHannah,
ReplyDeleteLOL~ I know what you mean. Those cookies are really addictive!
nan,
hahaha, I feel the same reading other food blogs!
holybasil,
it is indeed a simple and tasty recipe.
Patricia,
I know, it's such a sinful dessert!
manggy,
poor you, I would love to feed you if you come to St Louis. :D
alanna,
LOL~ I get what you mean. The peppermint joe joe is irresistable!
sylvia,
yes,this is a very simple recipe, but the result is really awarding. :)
peabody,
thanks!
aimei,
thanks!
dana,
You are so funny!
Carol,
thanks for visiting! Hope the dinner party is a blast!
little corner of mine,
luckily I get to give most away!Can't imagine the extra pounds I will gain from eating all myself!
Helene,
you must get this the next time you get to TJ! It's really great.
I feel exactly like you! There isn't a single cookie in this house yet, becauee yours truly is craving soups and chocolate! These brownies looks develishly good..
ReplyDeleteRonell
Wow - these sound wonderful! Now if only there was a Trader Joe's nearby...
ReplyDeleteyou make your food look very good! care to give out some tips?:)
ReplyDeleteI too made peppermint and vanilla butter cookies fro X'mas, and just baked brownies yesterday!
Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh. I made these last night and since they are for gifts, I didn't to risk cutting them until they were solid. (It was sooo hard to walk away from that pan last night.) Anyway - woke up this morning, cut a tiny square for a taste test and pretty much died on the spot.
ReplyDeleteThese are brilliant. So dark and gooey in the center, crunchy on the outside. I could go on and on. Suffice it to say, these are my new go-to brownies. I have finally found one as good - if not better than - Ghirardelli's Double Chocolate Brownie Mix! THANK YOU!!!
Interesting...I wouldn't think to combine Oreos with a mint brownie, but considering how good mint oreos are I'm sure these are great!
ReplyDeleteOh my, these look fantastic! I think I have some peppermint Joe Joe's left over, and I'll have to use them for this.
ReplyDelete