Mint Brownies

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Mint Brownies are a homemade dessert that everyone loves. They are based on my homemade brownie recipe, but with a delicious two-layer topping that will blow your ever-loving minds. Say hello to chocolate brownies with a minty fresh filling and chocolate on top!

Why You’ll Love This Mint Chocolate Brownies Recipe

Everybody’s favorite dessert is here just in time for St. Patrick’s Day (or any day of the year if you ask me). Mint brownies are probably some of the most beloved potluck/dessert/buffet/party treats. They always are the first to go and everyone loves them! They take a hot second to make because every layer is homemade, but if you have a little time to make something decadent and special, these are oh so worth it! Just be sure to cut them small because they are very rich!

Whether you’re making these for the holidays or just because you love ’em, this recipe will bring you everything you love about fudgy brownies and more! The middle green layer is the minty, creamy layer that is essentially a thick mint frosting. On top of that is the chocolate topper that is simply melted chocolate chips and vegetable shortening spread over the top.

Ingredients Needed for Mint Brownies

Don’t be too intimidated by this long ingredients list! I’ve broken it up into three sections that correspond to the three layers on these mint brownies. Let’s take it section by section. Here’s what you need:

For the Brownies

• Salted Butter + Canola Oil – butter for flavor and oil for extra moisture.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate – I used a bar and chopped it up. You can also use chocolate chips!
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – I used unsweetened cocoa powder. I prefer Hershey’s but any is fine.
• Granulated Sugar – to sweeten.
• Eggs – for structure and texture.
• Vanilla Extract – for flavor.
• Baking Powder – this is our leavening agent.
• Salt – to balance out all of the flavors.
• All-Purpose Flour – this fills out the rest of our brownie.

For the Mint Filling (mint frosting layer)

• Salted Butter – softened! I like to use salted butter because the salt helps balance out flavors.
• Powdered Sugar – to sweeten.
• Milk – to loosen up this frosting-like filling.
• Peppermint Extract – this is where our minty flavoring comes from! I like to use peppermint flavoring instead of mint (tastes a little too much like toothpaste).
• Green Food Coloring – this is an optional step but the brownies look better with some green.

For the Chocolate Topping

• Chocolate Chips – more chocolate!
• Vegetable Shortening – this is to help the chocolate top layer not crack when you cut into it. You can use butter, but I find the shortening to give a much better finished product.

Love mint? Try these other recipes: Chocolate Mint Brownie Bites, Layered Peppermint Bars, and Chocolate Mint Cookies.

Tips and Tricks for Making the Best Mint Brownies

To make the best Mint Brownies possible, I’ve put together a couple of tips and tricks for you!

• Parchment Paper. Line your pan with parchment paper with some sticking up on the sides. This is so you can pull out the mint brownies (without messing them up) to cut them.
• Don’t Overmix. When making the brownie batter, please be careful to not overmix. This creates more gluten making them fluffy and not dense and rich.
• Refrigerate. Be patient (I know it’s hard) when refrigerating each layer. The refrigeration is to make sure each section doesn’t melt into each other when layering.
• Shortening. The last layer is melted chocolate chips and shortening (just a little bit) to make sure the chocolate doesn’t crack when you cut them into bars. I’ve tried it with butter and it doesn’t work nearly as well as the shortening. Just make sure you cut these into bars after the 30-minute window of refrigeration to prevent as much cracking as possible.

How to Make Mint Brownies

I start this recipe off in a pot on the stove and then finish the brownies off the heat. After they are baked and cooled, I top with the last two layers, with some refrigeration time in between. Full recipe details are in the recipe card below!

1. Make the Brownie Layer

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray a 9×13 pan lightly with nonstick cooking spray, line with parchment paper, and spray again with more nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large pot over medium-low heat, melt butter, oil, chocolate, and cocoa together until fully melted and smooth. Remove from heat.

Pour in sugar and vanilla extract. Add in eggs, one at a time, stirring vigorously before the next addition. After all four eggs have been mixed in, the batter should be thick and smooth without that granular look to it. Add in the remaining dry ingredients (baking soda, salt, flour) and stir gently until just combined. Do not over-mix.

2. Bake

Pour batter into prepared pan. Smooth the top and bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. Allow to cool to room temperature.

3. Make the Peppermint Layer

Combine all ingredients (butter, powdered sugar, peppermint extract, milk and green food coloring) into a large bowl and using an electric hand mixer, stir until thick and smooth. Add milk as needed to get a thick mixture. Spread over cooled brownies as evenly as possible and refrigerate 30-60 minutes.

4. Make the Chocolate Layer

Place chocolate chips and shortening into a small bowl and microwave until melted, stirring every 20 seconds. Pour over the mint layer and spread until smooth. Refrigerate 30-60 minutes.

5. Cut Brownies + Serve

Remove bars from the glass pan using the edges of the parchment to pull out completely. Using a very sharp knife, cut off the crispy edges and cut into 50-60 small squares. Serve.

Storing Directions

These Mint Brownies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, though I doubt they will last that long!

To Freeze: You can freeze brownies by storing in a freezer safe container or ziploc bag. Brownies will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge.

More Delicious Brownie Recipes to Try!

• 3-Minute Brownie in a Mug
• Zucchini Brownies
• Brownie Bites
• Oreo Brownies
• Pumpkin Brownies
• Cheesecake Brownies
• Hot Fudge Brownie

That’s basically it! A straightforward mint brownie recipe that doesn’t take a rocket scientist, but just a little patience! Printable recipe card below. Have a great day, friends!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.