Tis the season for all things sweet! One of the many things I enjoy about this time of year is the endless varieties of Christmas goodies. I could make a new cookie or treat every day and still not have enough days in the month to make them all! There are also not enough days in the month to work off all those extra calories. But this is not the time for calorie counting right? It is time for indulging in some extra special treats that will get your holiday spirit going. And what is more indulgent than some fudgy chocolate covered in more chocolate with a dash of peppermint? It doesn’t get any more “Christmas” than these Fudgy Peppermint Brownie Pops. They are rich, decadent and perfect for a holiday gathering!
For the Love of Chocolate
If the word chocolate is anywhere in the title of a recipe, it almost instantly grabs my attention. I am a definite chocolate lover and will take it in just about any form. When I think of Christmas I tend to think more of white chocolate. Why? I think it’s because there is just something stunning about the white of the chocolate next to the vibrant red of peppermint. They just make each other pop. These brownie pops are so easy to make, yet they are so rich that they would be a perfect party treat. They would even make a beautiful (and edible!) centerpiece!
Fudgy Peppermint Brownie Pops
To make these brownie pops, we must first make the main component, which is the brownie. Now you could grab a box of brownie mix to save some time, but honestly, this recipe is so easy that you really should make it from scratch. The flavor can’t be matched by any box mix. Trust me, I am quite the brownie mix connoisseur. 😉 These brownies are rich and fudgy with a great depth of chocolate flavor.
Simply mix all of your brownie ingredients and pour into a greased 8×8 or 9×9 inch cake pan. Mine only baked for about 21 minutes, but a good rule of thumb is to always start with the minimum baking time and go from there. After all, you can bake longer but you can’t un-bake. The best part of these brownies is that you don’t have to worry a bit about making them “perfect” because in the end, we are going to smash them up anyway. I know, it seems a bit sacrilegious, but a small sacrifice for some fudgy brownie pops.
Patience Is Key
Once your brownies have baked, you will need to let them cool completely. You cannot skip this part. I actually made my brownies the day before so that I knew they would be cool and ready to turn into pops. After they have cooled completely, it is time to smash them to bits! Turn the brownies out into a bowl that is big enough to get your hands into. Yes, I said hands. Sure, you could use a utensil, but honestly your hands are the best tools for this job. It will be much easier too to know when they are the perfect consistency. So, get ready to get messy!
Let’s Make Fudgy Peppermint Brownie Pops!
Begin by crumbling the brownies up into crumbs. Then, it is time to do a quick test. Grab or scoop out about a tablespoonful and try to form it into a ball. If it forms easily and stays together, you are good to go on to the next step. If it crumbles or doesn’t form a solid ball, then you will need to add a bit of a binding agent. For this, you could use a couple different things. If you happen to have some chocolate frosting handy, then now is a good time to use it. I personally prefer to use Nutella because it just has a richer and more unique flavor than plain chocolate.
Start by adding about a teaspoon of frosting or Nutella at a time, mixing well after each addition. You will only want to add just enough to bring the brownie together so that you can shape it into little balls. Once you have reached the right consistency, it is time to roll. Scoop about by the tablespoon, roll into a ball and then place on a lined cookie sheet.
More Waiting
Once all of the balls are rolled, it is time to add the popsicle sticks. You can grab some on Amazon if you don’t already have some. To help make sure that they stay, I recommend that you dip the end of the stick into the same frosting you used before inserting into the brownie ball. Now comes the hard part. Waiting. Again. You will need to place them into the freezer for a little while until they have firmed enough that you can handle them without the stick falling out. They don’t need to be rock hard, but firm.
The Pops Are Born
When you are ready to coat them, it is time to grab some more chocolate. Like I mentioned before, I think the white chocolate really makes them pop, but if you prefer milk or dark chocolate you could certainly use it here. Whatever you use, the secret to getting a smooth coating that won’t break your teeth once it hardens is shortening. Just add the shortening to the bowl with the chocolate chips and place it into the microwave for about one minute. I usually used reduced power (60%). After heating, remove and stir. Place back into the microwave and continue to heat in 10 second spurts, stirring after each, until it is melted and smooth. Do not overcook! Remove from the microwave and add your peppermint extract.
Now it is time to coat those yummy brownies! Grab a brownie pop and dip it into the white chocolate, turning carefully to coat. Lift out and allow excess to drip off, then dip into or sprinkle with crushed peppermint before either placing upright in a block of Styrofoam or back on the cookie sheet. They will firm up very quickly. And that’s it! All that is left to do is enjoy! So, grab a Fudgy Peppermint Brownie Pop or two and have a wonderful holiday!
Looking for more great holiday recipes?
Fudgy Peppermint Brownie Pops
Equipment
- popsicle sticks
Ingredients
- ½ c melted butter
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- ½ c packed light brown sugar
- ½ c granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ c all purpose flour
- ½ c unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp espresso powder
- 1 bag white chocolate chips
- ¼ tsp pure peppermint extract
- 5-6 candy cane candies, crushed
- nutella (as needed)
- 2 tbsp vegetable shortening
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Combine first ten ingredients in a medium sized bowl and stir to combine well.
- Pour into a greased 8x8 or 9x9 inch cake pan and bake for 20-22 minutes or until brownies begin to pull from sides slightly and spring back when touched.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely or overnight.
- Turn brownies out of pan into a medium sized bowl and crumble to find crumbs. Add Nutella as needed until brownies can be scooped by the tablespoonful and formed into balls.
- Place the brownie balls on a lined cookie sheet. Dip one end of popsicle stick in Nutella and insert one into each ball.
- Place the pan of brownie pops into the freezer until the Nutella has set and pops can be lifted without stick falling out.
- Crush 5-6 peppermints or 2-3 candy canes and set aside.
- Place white chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl and heat for one minute. Stir and place back into microwave for 10 seconds at a time, stirring after each until just melted and smooth. Add peppermint extract.
- Dip each brownie pop into the chocolate and lift, allowing some excess to drip off. Dip again in crushed peppermint, then place back on baking sheet to harden.
