These Peppermint Brownies are rich, fudgy, and layered with a cool burst of mint. The perfect chocolate-mint dessert for holidays or anytime you crave a sweet treat!

Chocolate and peppermint just belong together, don’t they? These Peppermint Brownies are a holiday favorite at our house—thick, fudgy brownies topped with a creamy homemade peppermint layer and finished with the most irresistible chocolate glaze. They’re the treat my kids beg to help with every December, and honestly, I don’t mind one bit because they disappear just as fast as we can make them.

Perfect for parties, cookie plates, or sneaking with a cup of cocoa by the Christmas tree.

Family is Everything

I’ve had some serious reflecting while making these peppermint patties brownies and I hope you’ll indulge me. Cooking and baking has always been a part of my life, but I never really realized it. My family has 5 children, and I fall right in the middle. Because all us kids were all in totally different stages of life my parents made it a big deal that every single night we had dinner together. No matter if we had to eat a little earlier or a little later we made it happen. So many memories made in that kitchen!

My mom’s KitchenAid became a symbol to me of those memories and the love felt around our dinner table. It is where my dad and I made my first batch of oatmeal raisin cookies, where mom taught me to make cookie cake and where I started playing around with recipes. Now that I’m older I’ve learned that when you want to know who you are you look to your family and the answer is provided.

I have my own white KitchenAid now as well as my own children to be in the kitchen with and I’m reminded that I come from a home that was centered on love and I hope to have the same for my children. I pulled it out to make these peppermint brownies and was flooded with all these thoughts and feelings and just needed to share!

These peppermint patty brownies are so crazy easy to make. This is my new go-to recipe for brownies because although Ina’s Outrageous brownies are amazing, these are fast and taste fantastic. They can easily be cut in half too. And the peppermint patty topping is just like the real deal, only it truly is even better. These are so fantastic!

Ingredients for Peppermint Brownies

Brownies

• Sugar: Sweetens and helps create a tender texture by trapping moisture.
• Brown Sugar: Adds moisture, chewiness, and a deeper caramel flavor.
• Canola Oil: Provides fat for richness and keeps the brownies soft and moist.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances chocolate flavor and rounds out sweetness.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients together, add structure, and give brownies a fudgy texture.
• Cocoa Powder: Main chocolate flavor; also adds structure and balances sweetness.
• Flour: Provides the framework (structure) by developing gluten when mixed with liquid.
• Baking Powder: Leavening agent that gives a little lift, preventing brownies from being too dense.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances chocolate flavor.
• Chocolate Chips: Add bursts of rich chocolate and extra texture.

Peppermint Topping

• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and creates a smooth, creamy consistency.
• Peppermint Extract: Delivers the cool, refreshing peppermint flavor.
• Corn Syrup: Adds smoothness and shine while preventing crystallization.
• Shortening: Provides stability and a creamy texture without adding strong flavor.
• Evaporated Milk: Adds richness and helps bind the topping into a spreadable consistency.

Chocolate Glaze

• Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips: Melt into a smooth glaze with deep chocolate flavor.
• Butter: Adds silkiness, shine, and richness, keeping the glaze soft enough to cut through.

How to Make Peppermint Patty Brownies

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350℉ and line a 9×13″ pan and spray with cooking spray.
2. Make the Brownies: Beat the wet ingredients together in a stand mixer. Whisk the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl. Fold the chocolate chips into the dry ingredients, then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined. Pour into the prepared pan and bake.

1. Make the Peppermint Layer: Add all the ingredients for the peppermint layer to the bowl of stand mixer and mix until well combined. Press the mixture together and place on a large piece of saran wrap. Fold the saran wrap over the top and use a rolling pin to roll out the peppermint layer until it’s about the size of your pan.

1. Make the Chocolate Glaze: Add the chocolate chips and butter to a microwave safe bowl and melt in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
2. Assemble the Brownies: Once the brownies have mostly cooled, place the peppermint layer on top. Pour the chocolate glaze over the top and let it set up. Slice and serve.

Why You’ll Love This Brownie Recipe

• Festive flavor combo – rich chocolate and cool peppermint are a holiday classic.
• Three irresistible layers – fudgy brownies, creamy peppermint topping, and a smooth chocolate glaze.
• Crowd-pleaser – perfect for parties, cookie exchanges, and holiday gift trays.
• Make-ahead friendly – the flavors get even better after chilling overnight.
• Kid-approved – little hands love helping spread the peppermint layer and drizzle the glaze. Make those memories!
• Beautiful presentation – the layers look impressive without a lot of extra work.
• Customizable – sprinkle crushed candy canes on top for extra crunch and color.

How Do You Know When Brownies Are Done?

The easiest way to check brownies for doneness is to stick a toothpick in the center right around the time your recipe says it should be done.

A few moist crumbs on the toothpick means you will have moist and chewy brownies. If it comes out clean, it’s done to a cake-like brownie.

If there are any traces of uncooked batter, let it continue baking for another few minutes and repeat the process until the toothpick comes out clean.

FAQs

There’s just something magical about the mix of rich chocolate and cool mint, isn’t there? These Peppermint Brownies are the kind of dessert that feels special without being complicated, which is exactly how I like it.

Whether you’re baking them up for the holidays, a party, or just a cozy night at home, they’ll disappear fast. So grab a glass of cold milk, cut yourself a big square, and enjoy every fudgy, minty bite—you deserve it!

More Holiday Desserts:

• Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies
• Christmas Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
• Peppermint Double Chocolate Cookies
• Gingerbread Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Chocolate Covered Coconut Balls

If you love a classic, sweet dessert, this easy pecan pie is sure to become a favorite. Buttery, nutty, and perfectly rich, it’s simple to make and perfect for this holiday season.

If you’ve ever wished steak night could be easier but still just as delicious, this Crockpot Garlic Butter Steak Bites recipe is your dream come true. Juicy, tender bites of steak slowly cook in a rich garlic butter sauce that fills your kitchen with the best smell ever!

It’s one of those set-it-and-forget-it meals that feels a little fancy but takes almost no effort. We love serving these buttery steak bites over mashed potatoes, rice, or even noodles to soak up every bit of that garlicky goodness.

Why You’ll Love These Crockpot Garlic Butter Steak Bites

Texture: The low and slow method of cooking in the crockpot makes this beef melt-in-your-mouth tender.

Flavor: The garlic and butter pack each bite with rich, bold flavor.

Easy: Only 5 minutes of prep and the crockpot does all the work!

Family friendly: Even picky eaters will devour this juicy beef recipe.

Perfect for any night: Cozy enough for Sunday dinner but simple enough for busy weeknights.

What Ingredients You Will Need

Here’s what each ingredient brings to the recipe:

• Steak: Tender, juicy bites that soak up all the buttery garlic flavor as they slow cook.
• Salt and Pepper: Simple seasonings that enhance the beef’s natural flavor.
• Garlic: Adds bold, savory flavor that mellows into buttery sweetness as it cooks.
• Onion: Brings mild sweetness and depth to the sauce.
• Beef Broth: Keeps the steak moist and creates a flavorful base for the garlic butter sauce.
• Butter: Adds richness and a silky texture; finishing with butter makes the sauce glossy and irresistible.

How to Make Steak Bites

1. Set it and Forget it: Place all the ingredients with 2 tablespoons of garlic butter in the crockpot for 5-8 hours. Stir one time.
2. Broil: Remove the meat from the crockpot to an oven-safe pan with the remaining garlic butter and place it under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp it up a bit.
3. Mix: Add the meat back to the crockpot and serve.

What to Serve with Garlic Steak Bites

I’m a meat and potatoes kinda gal, so I love serving these garlic butter beef tips with creamy mashed potatoes, crispy baked potatoes or buttery roasted potatoes. If you aren’t a potato fan, this is also great over rice or pasta.

Then I like to balance the meal out with some vegetable side dish like roasted veggies or a lighter spinach and strawberry salad.

And of course, you can’t have a cozy comfort food meal without some homemade potato rolls or a loaf of crust artisan bread!

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for 4-5 days.

This tender beef also freezes extremely well. Let it cool completely and then place it in a ziploc bag. Squeeze as much air out as you can and then place it in the freezer. It will keep for up to 3 months.

Let frozen steak bites thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat leftovers in a skillet on the stove top with a little beef broth until heated through.

There’s something so comforting about a dinner that feels fancy but takes almost no effort. These Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites check all the boxes — tender, juicy, flavorful, and family-approved! Whether you’re serving them over mashed potatoes, rice, or with roasted veggies, they make weeknight dinner feel special without the stress.

More Easy Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes:

• Asian Sticky Slow Cooker Ribs
• Slow Cooker Chicken Stew
• Slow Cooker Kalua Pork
• Easy Crock Pot Chicken and Rice
• Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken
• Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast
• All our CROCKPOT and SLOW COOKER recipes here!

Watch How These Easy Steak Bites are Made…

Looking for a recipe for only a few people, this is the perfect recipe to make! This crock pot turkey breast is simple and delicious! ❤️WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE We love easy recipes and this one is definitely that.. super simple! It’s perfect for just a few people and great for Thanksgiving. It takes…

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! My day started with a beautiful foggy drive, yoga, and then a giant brunch for my boys and some of their friends. This easy bacon, cheesy scrambled eggs, and a mountain of fluffy waffles added up to full bellies and happy smiles as they split off to either head for synagogue or to the gym. (Yes, teenage boys can apparently eat stacks of waffles and then immediately go workout. That is soooo not my world.)

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Roasting sausage with peppers and onions isn’t complicated. It’s not trendy. But, this Super Easy Sausage and Peppers is 100% absolutely that dish.

You know the feeling. You’ve got maybe 10 minutes before everyone starts asking for dinner, and you need something fast, hearty, and actually satisfying. That’s exactly when I reach for this Southwest Chicken Soup. 10 minutes, friends. And yes, I’ve timed it.

Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes are proof that a little extra preparation goes a long, long way. The secret? It takes less than a minute with a chef’s knife. Your guests will rave about these crispy edges, loaded with fresh parmesan cheese and Italian parsley.

This Confetti Rice has been declared the best rice we’ve ever made. Yes. I said that. I served it with Crispy Italian Oven Chicken and the whole meal was a win.

Have you tried a mayonnaise cake? I know, it sounds suspicious at first. As it turns out, Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake is actually an old-fashioned recipe that was likely in your grandmother’s recipe box. And, fortunately, it has stood the test of time quite well. This is one fantastic cake.

Isn’t fall baking season just the best? Rich and full of warm spices, topped with the irresistible, buttery crunch of pecan streusel, this Pumpkin Crunch Dump Cake just might be the easiest, most tantalizing dessert to come out of your oven this year.

Mascarpone Ice Cream is velvety and rich like gelato, but has that cheesecake-like tang that makes each bite feel absolutely indulgent. This is not one of those cottage cheese rip offs that you have to convince yourself tastes good. There’s no going back from this kind of dreamy decadence.

What I’m CRAVING: This Mac and Cheese with Salami looks sooo good! My mouth is watering and I’m craving that cheesy goodness today. My guys love salami anytime I include it in a meal, so I already know they’ll love this combination.

My FAVORITE THING this week is the fact it’s NOVEMBER! <happy sigh> I love the holidays so much. If you aren’t already familiar with my 4 day prep for a stress free Thanksgiving, check out my favorite 7 quart and 3 quart slow cookers, they’re both on sale. (And no, we’re not cooking anything in them, just saving oven space on Thanksgiving day!)

What I’m LISTENING to: Haters, just look away, it’s November at last, and the Christmas music is playing today as I do some holiday baking. I have no complaints with life today as Bing is crooning in my ears. 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 NIV

Wishing you a beautiful week filled with little things that make you smile!

Mary

The post The Little Things Newsletter #494 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food! appeared first on Barefeet in the Kitchen.

This baked mac and cheese recipe is one of the best comfort dishes of all time! Elbow macaroni is smothered in a homemade cheese sauce, topped with a buttery bread crumb mixture, and baked until hot and bubbly.

These easy egg recipes are great for breakfast, lunch, or even breakfast-for-dinner! From cozy casseroles for a crowd to grab-and-go egg bites, I’ve got you covered! Eggs are the perfect way to get your mornings off to the right start, they make a hearty lunch, and they even make an easy dinner when you’re short…

My peanut butter blossoms are everyone’s classic holiday cookie in bar form! Our kids love that they’re both fun and easy to make! These chewy peanut butter cookie bars are studded with Hershey kisses which make everyone so happy.

My favorite part is that they are easier than cookies; no rolling needed, just slice into bars and serve! Bonus, this recipe includes a how-to video!

Our son was begging for us to make “those Hershey kiss cookies” but I had been running around all day and though it may sound silly, the thought of rolling out every single cookie sounded exhausting; so I made them all in a pan and they turned out adorably delicious!!

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie Bars

• Peanut Butter: that classic nutty flavor and creamy richness we all love.
• Unsalted Butter: keeps the bars soft and melt-in-your-mouth.
• Sugar and Brown Sugar: sweetness plus a little caramel depth for chewiness.
• Vanilla: ties all the flavors together.
• Egg and Egg Yolk: hold everything together while adding tenderness.
• Flour: gives the bars structure so they bake up just right.
• Baking Soda and Baking Powder: the lift that keeps them light instead of dense.
• Cornstarch: the secret to that soft, chewy bite.
• Salt: just enough to balance the sweetness.
• Hershey’s Kisses: the signature chocolate topper that makes them taste (and look!) like the classic blossom cookies we all grew up with.

How to Make Peanut Butter Blossom Bars

1. Prep: Preheat the oven and grease a 9×13 baking dish then line with parchment paper and grease it again.
2. Wet Ingredients: Beat together all the wet ingredients in a stand mixer.
3. Dry Ingredients: Mix together all the dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
4. Combine: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
5. Bake: Press the dough into the prepared baking dish, sprinkle with sugar and bake for 20-22 minutes.
6. Kisses: Unwrap the Hershey’s Kisses and as soon as the bars are done baking, pull them out and top with the kisses.
7. Cool: Let the peanut butter bars cool completely and then cut into bars so that a Hershey Kiss is in the center of each bar.

Storage Tips

Leftover peanut butter chocolate dessert bars should be stored in an airtight container. They can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator depending on how you like to eat them. They will keep for 4-5 days.

These also freeze extremely well. Let them cool completely so that the Hershey’s Kisses are solid again. Layer in a ziploc bag or freezer safe container separating layers with parchment paper. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

FAQ

These Peanut Butter Blossom Bars are everything you love about the classic cookie—soft, chewy peanut butter layers topped with melty Hershey’s Kisses—all baked into an easy bar dessert! Perfect for family gatherings, holiday trays, or just because you love peanut butter and chocolate.

Watch How These Peanut Butter Blossom Bars are Made…

More Bar Dessert Recipes…

• Easy Caramel Brownies
• Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
• Classic Lemon Bars
• Scotcheroos
• Gooiest Rice Krispie Treats

These absolutely delicious Stuffed Biscoff (Cookie Butter) Cookies are easy to make and are certain to impress. Filled and swirled with gooey Biscoff spread! These might be considered a Crumbl Copycat recipe, I’ve done a few things differently that make them even better!

Why You’ll Love These Stuffed Biscoff Cookies

• Super Pretty Presentation! While these cookies are absolutely delicious, they are stunning to look at! If you’re bringing these to a party or a cookie exchange you’re guaranteed oohs and ahhs from everyone!

Continue reading Gooey Stuffed Biscoff Cookies at Cookies and Cups.