Puffy Peppermint Brownies

Aloha Friends!

It's almost Christmas, are you ready?   Since I had to ship all my presents, they all went out last weekend, so there was nothing to do this weekend other than embrace sheer laziness.   A Christmas party, some wine and holiday movies rounded it out.    I'm officially *done* with my baking in as much that I've taken and given cookies everywhere they are supposed to go.    

But I still have baking supplies.   Including peppermint  mini marshmallows.    So, did I stop?  No.  I baked again.   

A friend was asking me for fitness motivation last week...and I struggled.  I've been putting eggnog in my coffee and eating cookies for breakfast.  Except for today, when I had pie instead.     The gym is still a thing, but more like 1-2 days a week instead of 4.   Maybe I can get motivated to sign up for the New Year's Eve run here in Ka'anapali.  It's the last run in the US for 2014 and the 1st run for 2015 (it starts at 11:50pm - very sneaky).     But in the meantime?   It's time for brownies.    

What You Need

1 box brownie mix of your choice, along with the ingredients to make them (Trader Joe's truffle brownie baking mix all the way!)

1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

1/4 cup Andes Peppermint Crunch baking chips

1/2 cup chocolate chips

2 cups of peppermint mini marshmallows

What You Do

Line an 8x8 or 9x9 inch baking pan with foil coated with cooking spray.   Preheat the oven per your brownie mix instructions.     

Prepare the brownies according to package directions and including the peppermint extract.    Bake following package instructions, but remove them from the oven 5 minutes earlier.

Sprinkle the top of the brownies with peppermint baking chips, then the marshmallows and top with the chocolate chips.    Bake for an additional 5 minutes so that the marshmallows get all puffy.

Remove from oven.    If you want them hot and gooey, allow 5-10 minutes to cool and then cut and serve.   To serve as regular brownies, allow to cool, then pull from pan with foil and cut into squares.

If you want to return them to their hot and gooey status later on, just pop them into the microwave for 15-20 seconds before you eat.

Meanwhile In Maui

Santa arrived on Friday via canoe!