How to Make Peppermint Bark Brownies

I’m back! Did you miss me? Say yes and I’ll shower you with treats. I’ve been on an approximately month-long Sparklife hiatus, strictly because of college-related work. There were term papers to finish, final exams to study for, and grade making/breaking group projects to deal with. I spent two weeks getting my act together, followed by two weeks of taking my exams. But I’m here to let you know that I’m back with the full-force of a hurricane, or a blizzard, or whatever other really strong meterological phenomena you can think of. Today I present you with my recipe for peppermint bark brownies. I make them every year and they are consistently spirited and delicious. They’re wonderful to give and get, though I’m prone to hoarding them and sharing with no one.

Peppermint Bark Brownies

Ingredients
½ cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
½ cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
8 oz.  white chocolate chips
1 tsp. canola oil
25 peppermint candies, or 10 candy canes

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Set a pot of water on the stove and allow it to come to a simmer.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, and vanilla. Beat in eggs.
3. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture, stirring until well blended.
4. Grease the pan and spread batter evenly.
5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the brownies begin to pull away from the edges of the pan.
6. While the brownies are baking, add the peppermint candies to a sturdy plastic bag and hit them repeatedly with a rolling pin or heavy spoon.
7. Remove brownies from the oven and allow them to cool.
8. While the brownies are cooling, place a heat-safe bowl over the just-barely-simmering pot of water.
9. Place the white chocolate and 1 tsp. of canola oil in the bowl over the pot of water. Stir frequently and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching.

10. When the chocolate is fully melted, remove it from the double boiler and spread it evenly over the cooled brownies. Immediately spread the crushed peppermint candies over the white chocolate and press in to make sure they stick.

11. Allow to cool before cutting. To make a clean cut, heat up the knife by dipping it in hot water (wipe before cutting).

We're making these tonight! Anyone else?

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