I enjoy my garden, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy gardening. I love to sit on my screened porch, or wander in the backyard, and admire the foliage and occasional flower. I enjoy the results but not the process.
Actual digging in the dirt, where there is the very real possibility of encountering bugs not to mention rodents or snakes, is something I would rather not do. However, I am way too particular about where each plant is placed to let anyone else do the planting. My approach is to dig as little as possible, so my garden is exclusively perennials (plants that come back year after year if wild creatures don’t eat them). This even includes my herbs.
Sage, lavender, thyme, and mint are all perennial herbs. It is wonderful to step outside and snip a few sprigs of fresh herbs to use in cooking. The “just cut” flavors are more intense than the flavors in store bought herbs. My mint (peppermint and spearmint) is overly abundant. It would take over the bed (possibly the entire yard) if I let it.
Luckily, my whole family likes the flavor of mint. I use it in drinks, marinades, dressings, and as seasoning for meats and vegetables. I have sweet recipes using fresh mint in frostings and syrups. For minty baked goods, however, I use extract or mint flavored chocolate.
These Chocolate Mint Truffle Brownie Bites are based on Nestle’s desert safe Irresistible Brownies. They get turned into bites by baking them in cupcake pans. They turn into chocolate mint truffle with the addition of chopped Andes chocolate mint candy (any chocolate mint bar will work) and mini chocolate chips. They are soft and chewy, chocolaty and minty. The swirled chocolate mint topping makes them pretty to look at as well.
I told you I was super excited to learn that melted white chocolate chips can be colored with regular food coloring gel. There are so many baking possibilities for using this idea. First, I made pink chocolate chips. Now, I made green chocolate swirls on top of these brownie bites. The green looks minty to me, even though the mint flavor of the topping comes from the melted Andes candy. I am relatively certain I’ll be sharing future posts that use colored white chocolate. Its just too fun.
Chocolate Mint Truffle Brownie Bites
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ all-purpose flour
- 1 cup baking cocoa
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup butter-flavored vegetable shortening
- 2 cups granulated white sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup chopped chocolate mint bar I used Andes Crème de Menthe Thins but any chocolate mint bar would work.
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
- Chocolate topping*** ingredients:
- About 4 ounces/100 grams chocolate mint bar melted
- About ½ cup white chocolate chips
- 2 drops green food coloring I used Americolor Electric Green
- ***Desert safe adaptation: Do not use chocolate topping. Brownie bites can be sprinkled with powdered sugar for decoration but are delicious without any additional topping.
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray each cup of a cupcake pan with non-stick spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt .
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the shortening, sugar, and eggs. Beat until light in color and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
- Gradually add in the flour mixture, until combined.
- Stir in the chocolate mint bits and mini chips.
- Using a medium scoop (2 tablespoons),scoop the batter into the prepared cupcake pan.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes.( If mailing the brownies, use the shorter baking time to slightly under cook.) The toothpick test doesn’t work very well because of all of the melting chocolate chips.
- Cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, until the brownie bites are firm enough to remove from the pan
- Complete cooling on a wire rack.
- IF USING CHOCOLATE TOPPING (NOT recommended for warm weather care packages): Using the microwave, melt chocolate mint bar in a small bowl.
- Place white chocolate chips in a ziplock sandwich size bag. On medium power (white chocolate overheats easily) melt the white chocolate for about 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and mush the bag. The chips should be liquidy. If further heating is needed, use medium power for 10 second intervals, until completely melted.
- Add 2 drops of green food coloring directly into the melted white chocolate. Massage the bag to blend the food coloring into white chocolate. When the contents are an even green, cut a small corner from the bottom of the plastic bag.
- Dip the top of a brownie bite into the melted mint chocolate, letting excess drip back into the bowl. Place on waxed paper.
- Pipe a spiral of green chocolate onto the dipped brownie bite.
- Use a tooth pick to swirl the green chocolate into the brown chocolate, making random designs.
- Repeat with remaining cookies. Allow the chocolate to firm (at room temperature or for 5 minutes in the refrigerator) before storing.
- Store brownie bites at room temperature in an airtight container or zip lock bag for at least 2 weeks. If chocolate topping is used, store decorated brownie bites layered between sheets of waxed paper, in an airtight container.
Packing Tips
Frugal Hausfrau says
This recipe has it all! Looks and taste and they sound delish! Thanks so much for sharing with us on Throwback Thursday! Hope to see you next time!
Mollie
Laura P. says
I just saw these on Serious Eats–the “desert-safe” bit caught my eye. They look phenomenal! If my husband gets deployed again, I will keep these in mind for a care package. I’ve usually done molasses spice cookies, which he calls “mole-ass cookies.” They also stay good for a very long time. Here’s the recipe, if you’re interested:
Soft and Chewy Molasses Cookies
These cookies are very reminiscent of ginger snaps, except
they are soft and chewy. Make sure not to
overbake them so that they stay that way.
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
3/4 cup softened unsalted butter
1 large egg
3/4 cup unsulfured molasses
2 3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
Preheat oven to 325 degrees and lightly grease the cookie
sheets. In a large bowl cream together the brown sugar and
butter until creamy. Beat in the egg and molasses until
light and creamy. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a
medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients slowly to the butter
mixture. Drop by teaspoonsful onto the prepared sheets 2
inches apart and bake for 8-10 minutes or until set.
Cookies should not brown. Cool on the baking sheet for 3
minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Store in an airtight
container, or wrap well and freeze.
themondaybox says
Thank you so much, Laura! I will definitely give this “mole-ass” recipe a try! 🙂 A chewy ginger cookie sounds delicious! I have about 20 recipes (so far) on the Monday Box that I are “desert-safe”. They stay fresh a long time but, more specific, they contain only “desert safe” ingredients( only Crisco as a fat, only white sugar as a sweetener, no nuts/nut butters, chocolate only if baked in).Any fat other than Crisco (butter, margarine, oil) supposedly go rancid in high temps more easily and any sweetener with moisture ( brown sugar, molasses, honey, corn syrup, etc.) supposedly promote mold in high temperatures. I have spoken with Soldiers Angels Bakers who tell me that they ignore many of the desert safe ingredient rules and have no problems. So, I am not sure what to think! Did you send these cookies during the hot months or only in cold/cool weather? I am looking to those with experience for answers. 🙂 In the meantime, I hope you have lots of time to enjoy cookies AT HOME with your husband with no need for deployment care packages! Thank you both for the sacrifices you make as a military family.
Ashley says
haha that’s exactly how I feel about gardening. I love looking at the plants and reaping the benefits (of herbs, etc.) but actually doing it? Not my favorite : ) These brownie bites sound delicious – I love cute little treats like this!
themondaybox says
Thanks, Ashley! These brownie bites have that chewy fudgy addictive texture. 🙂
Reeni says
I love discovering new baking secrets! Your brownie bites are a chocoholic’s dream! I love the little swirl on top letting you know what’s to come.
themondaybox says
Thanks, Reeni. 🙂 I agree, baking is full of secrets and mysteries to be discovered! The swirl is those colored chips again. I keep thinking of new ways to add color. 🙂