These fudgy Candy Cane Brownies takes my favorite chocolatey, gooey-in-the-center, crinkly-on-top brownie recipe and infuses them with peppermint flavor and candy crunch from real candy canes!
When it comes to festive Holiday treats, my go-to flavor combo is always chocolate and peppermint. And since you all already KNOW how much I love brownies (truly, my Viral Condensed Milk Brownies put me on the map!), I knew I needed to make this flavor combo come to life in brownie form.
Enter these brownies stuffed and topped with crushed candy cane bits. Because as a busy mom and joyful baker, I love a one-ingredient upgrade that completely changes the flavor profile of a simple dessert.
Peppermint Crunch Brownies Ingredient Highlights
You can use big or mini candy canes but make sure to crush them into small bits. The crunch is a really nice and welcomed addition, but if the bits are too big, they can be teeth-breakers!
I love to use dark cocoa powder in here, and if you want them even more chocolatey you can also fold in some chocolate chips!
Candy Cane Brownies Tips and Tricks
How to Make Brownies with Crushed Candy Cane
Crush the candy cane finely. I use a pestle and mortar, but you can also add them to a storage bag and use a rolling pin.
I like to leave a few larger pieces for decoration on top, but smaller pieces will distribute the peppermint flavor better. The candy canes you fold into the dough will melt in the oven and infuse the brownies with peppermint.
For on top, I like to wait until the brownies are out of the oven to top them with some raw candy cane to keep that crunch and vibrant coloration.
Cream the butter, oil, and sugar together in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer on high before mixing in the egg and vanilla extract. The, mix in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Use a spatula to scrape the bowl, ensuring everything is well-combined.
Fold in most of the crushed candy cane (conserving some for after they bake) and transfer to a lined pan. Bake, and as soon as you remove them from the oven, while they’re still warm, add the rest of the candy cane on top.
Wait until they cool and firm up to slice them.
How I Keep My Brownies Fresh
Store your chocolate peppermint brownies with candy cane in an airtight container or cover them up to keep them fresh. At room temperature, they will stay delicious for 3-4 days.
You can also freeze them for up to 4 months in an airtight container. If you are freezing them, it’s best to wrap each individual brownie with saran wrap, place them in a freezer-safe bag, and then allow them to thaw at room temperature.
Fudgy Candy Cane Brownies
SAVE RECIPE TO COLLECTION PIN PRINT RATEEquipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (½ cup usually = 1 stick)
- 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons oil (coconut, canola, vegetable, or grapeseed)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I use dark)
- 3 ounces candy cane (3 oz = 6 large or 15 mini candy canes)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray or line a 9 x 9-inch square pan with parchment paper.
- Use a mortar and pestle to crush the candy canes. You want some ground into a fine dust and some small bite-sized pieces. If you don't have a mortar and pestles, put the candy canes in a storage bag and use a rolling pin to crush them.3 ounces candy cane
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, oil, and sugar with a hand mixer on high until the mixture is smooth.½ cup unsalted butter, softened, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
- Add eggs and vanilla extract and mix again until combined.2 large eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Next, add your flour, cocoa powder, and salt and mix again until well-combined, making sure your batter is smooth and free of clumps. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, making sure everything is integrated.½ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Conserve a handful of candy cane pieces and fold the rest into your batter. Transfer the batter to your prepared pan.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes. Right after taking the brownies out of the oven, while they're still warm, sprinkle the remaining candy cane bits on top. Allow the brownies to cool before slicing. Enjoy!
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