Alright, folks, let’s talk about something sweet today – candy cane desserts! I’ve always loved the festive look and minty flavor of candy canes, so this year, I decided to go all out and try making some desserts using them. Here’s how my little baking adventure went.
First, I gathered all my ingredients. I needed candy canes, of course, lots of them. I also grabbed some chocolate – both dark and white – because what’s better than mint and chocolate, right? Then there was the usual baking stuff: flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and some peppermint extract to really amp up that minty flavor.
I started by crushing the candy canes. Now, let me tell you, this was more fun than I expected. I put them in a big Ziploc bag and just went at it with a rolling pin. It was a great stress reliever! I made sure to crush some into a fine powder and left others a bit chunkier for texture.
Making the Brownies
- First up, brownies. I melted some dark chocolate and butter together in a bowl over simmering water. It smelled amazing already.
- In another bowl, I whisked together eggs, sugar, and a splash of peppermint extract.
- Then, I combined the melted chocolate mixture with the egg mixture.
- Next, I folded in the flour and a pinch of salt.
- Finally, I stirred in some of those crushed candy canes, making sure not to overmix.
- I poured the batter into a greased baking pan and sprinkled some more crushed candy canes on top.
- Into the oven it went, and I waited impatiently for that delicious chocolatey smell to fill my kitchen.
The White Chocolate Bark
While the brownies were baking, I moved on to the white chocolate peppermint bark. This one was super easy.
- I simply melted the white chocolate in the same way I did the dark chocolate.
- Once it was smooth, I stirred in a bit of peppermint extract.
- Then, I poured it onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- I sprinkled the remaining crushed candy canes all over the melted chocolate.
- I let it cool in the fridge for a while, and once it was solid, I broke it into pieces. Easy peasy!
The brownies came out of the oven, and after letting them cool a bit, I cut them into squares. The combination of rich, fudgy brownie with that minty crunch was just heavenly. And the white chocolate bark? Let’s just say it didn’t last long. It was the perfect mix of creamy white chocolate and refreshing peppermint.
So, that was my candy cane dessert experiment. It was a bit messy, a whole lot of fun, and the results were absolutely delicious. If you’re looking for a fun and festive baking project, I highly recommend giving these a try. You won’t be disappointed!
