Mint Oreo Brownies

In an ideal world, I try to bake something on Sunday nights, luckily all the moons aligned today! Here is my latest creation:

Mint Oreo Brownies

BROWNIE:
1 cup butter
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 cup all purpose flour
20 Mint Oreos chopped

**You can also use a boxed brownie mix instead, but you might as well live a little – haha **

FROSTING:
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
3 Tablespoons heavy cream or milk
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
3-4 drops green food coloring

CHOCOLATE GANACHE:
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (chips or bars are great!)
6 Tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 375. Line and grease a 9 x 13 baking pan.

For brownie layer: Melt butter and chocolate over very low heat, just until melted. Remove from heat and add sugar. Stir until combined. Add eggs and stir until combined. Add vanilla. Stir in flour, avoid over mixing so your brownies are soft (you don’t want to develop gluten in a brownie). Add the chopped Oreos and stir just until combined. Spread batter in prepared pan and bake for 20-25, until edges are just set and toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs. Let cool completely.

For frosting layer: Cream together butter, powdered sugar, and peppermint extract. Gradually add milk, beating until mixture gets to spreading consistency. Add green food coloring. Spread on cooled brownies and let set for 10 minutes while you make ganache.

For ganache layer: Melt butter and chocolate chips over low heat, stirring frequently. Can also put chocolate and butter in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 45 seconds, adding more time as necessary to melt. Cool 5 minutes before spreading on brownies.

Store at room temperature.