Peppermint Bark Brownies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes

For the Peppermint Bark Topping:

• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the unsalted butter and semisweet chocolate chips in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth.
3. Add the granulated sugar to the melted chocolate mixture and mix well.
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
6. Fold in the crushed peppermint candies.
7. Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
9. While the brownies are baking, prepare the peppermint bark topping. Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring in 30-second intervals. Stir in the peppermint extract.
10. Once the brownies are done baking, let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, spread the melted white chocolate over the brownies and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies.
11. Allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting into squares.
12. Store the Peppermint Bark Brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Note: While using unsalted butter may seem counterintuitive, it allows for better control of the overall saltiness in the recipe. If you only have salted butter, you can reduce or omit the additional salt in the recipe. Additionally, you can use a boxed brownie mix as a time-saving alternative, following the package instructions and adding crushed peppermint candies to the batter before baking.