Winterfresh Fudge Bars
Brownies:
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mini chocolate morsels
Mint Filling:
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons creme de menthe
2 drops green food coloring
Frosting:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 teaspoon mint extract
1 tablespoon milk, plus more to thin
8 candy canes, crushed, for garnish
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Brownies: Melt the chocolate and butter together over low heat, stirring
frequently. Remove from heat to cool slightly.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine chocolate-butter mixture with sugar,
vanilla, and eggs on medium speed for 1 minute, scraping down the sides of
the bowl frequently. Mix in flour and salt and beat for 30 seconds. Scrape
bowl and beat for 1 minute. Stir in chocolate chips. Mint Filling: Beat the
cream cheese until smooth with electric mixer. Scrape sides of bowl and
beat in sugar, eggs, and creme de menthe until smooth and fully blended.
Add 2 drops food coloring to heighten filling color.
Spread half of brownie mixture in a greased 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan. Pour
mint filling on top of brownie batter and spread to edge. Carefully spread
the other half of the brownie mixture on top of the mint filling. Bake for
40 to 45 minutes until sides pull away from pan and a toothpick inserted in
the center comes out clean. Cool in pan.
Frosting: Beat butter until smooth with electric mixer. Add sugar and melted
chocolate to butter and beat. Slowly add mint extract and enough milk, 1
tablespoon at a time, to make desired consistency. Spread frosting on top
of cooled chocolate mint brownies. Sprinkle the crushed candy canes on top
of frosting. Cut the bars into 8 rows by 6 rows and serve.
Courtesy of Emeril