Unbeatable Recipes: the Candy Cane Brownie

These brownies are unbeatable! Literally, you don't need a beater to make these dense two bite brownies, only a whisk! These goodies are a great treat for a Christmas party, or even just and after school snack for the kids! So sink your teeth into this recipe and read on!

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) butter
- 2oz (57 g) unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp (2 mL) vanilla
- 1/3 cup (75 mL) all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup (60 mL) cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt

Icing:
- 1 cup (250 mL) icing sugar
- 2 tbsp (30 mL) butter, softened
- 2 tsp (10 mL) milk
- 4-12 mini candy canes
- 1 tsp peppermint extract

Line a mini-muffin pan with small paper liners. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Place a small saucepan on the stove on low heat with 2" of water in it.

In a small heat proof bowl (big enough to sit on top of the pot) place over the saucepan of hot (not boiling) water. Melt the butter and chocolate, occasionally stirring, until smooth. Once ready, remove from heat and set aside to cool.

In large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar till creamy, then whisk in the chocolate mixture and vanilla. After transferring all the chocolate into the bowl with eggs, use a spatula to get all the left overs from the bowl.
NOTE: Make sure the chocolate mixture has cooled down because you don't want it to be so warm it cooks your eggs!

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, and salt ; add to chocolate mixture and whisk to blend.

Spoon by 1 tbsp into prepared muffin cups, and depending on the size of your scoop, you should fill your whole tray up perfectly, I had one that was half filled but that's ok. Insert in oven at temperature 350°F (180°C) and let cook for about 12 minutes. The number of minutes will be different for ovens so keep an eye on them. When the brownies look ready, do the oven tester with a tooth pick. If it comes out wet its not ready. If it comes out with moist crumbs its ready!

While waiting for the brownies why not do a little cleaning up? Once cleaning is finished, lets start on our icing! Make your kids day and let them lick the spatula!

Combine the icing sugar, butter, milk, and peppermint extract in a small bowl and blend well till soft and fluffy. Use a pipe or a butter knife to spread the icing over the brownies, leaving a little brown along the edges.
NOTE: Make sure the brownies are cooled down before you put the icing on because the icing dose contain butter and it will melt, mine melted a little bit because I forgot.

Peel the plastic of the mini candy canes and coarsely crush them. You can use a cutting board, or a bowl. I tried the cutting board and they just flew off in every direction, so I put them in a bowl with tall rims and use the back of a lemon juicer to crush it! Sprinkle the sprinkles on, and a bit of candy cane over them all.

Now go serve them and look at the peoples faces when they take a bite into this unbeatable candy cane brownie!!!!! Trust me, in a matter of time, they will be begging for more!