Since it is Valentine’s Day (ahhhhhh) I thought I would share something sweet with you today. (Actually I consider Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day to be Hallmark holidays. Father’s Day too, but that doesn’t affect me! I have always felt that if my husband and children choose to only tell me how wonderful I am one day a year through the means of a $2.95 card, I might as well pack my bags. I mean really, what about the other 364 days in the year? Once a year being told that you are loved by the people at Hallmark is just not enough for me personally! Whew – got that out of my system. And yes, I know that makes me kind of a spoil sport, but I am willing to accept the title if it gets my point across. In other words, show those you love how much they mean to you each and every day of the year.) Now where was I? Oh yes, something sweet to share with you.
I have been making these brownies for over 10 years. They are rich and decadent and everything about them screams I LOVE YOU! I mean truly, who could even begin to imagine they were not loved with a big old bite of one of these brownies in their mouth. So if you want to help your loved ones feel cherished every day of the year, (and not just on special occasions), make them something good to eat. It doesn’t even have to be one of these brownies, although that’s not a bad idea! It can be as fancy as a special pasta that they like, or as simple as a beautifully ripe pear. As long as whatever you set before them is delivered with love, your family and friends are always going to know how important they are to you. Happy Valentine’s Day my friends.
Brownie:
- 1/2 c. butter, room temperature
- 1 c. sugar
- 1 c. flour
- 4 eggs, room temperature
- 1 ½ c. chocolate ice cream syrup (Hershey’s is perfect)
Filling:
- ½ c. butter, room temperature
- 2 c. powdered sugar (or more as needed to reach desired consistency)
- 2 T. green crème de menthe*
Glaze:
- 6 T. butter
- 6 oz. (1 c. chocolate chips)
**Brownie: Cream butter and sugar; add flour, eggs, and chocolate ice cream syrup. Beat until completely blended. Pour batter into a lightly buttered 9×13-inch pan and bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Let cool completely. Filling: Cream butter together with powdered sugar and *crème de menthe. Spread filling on cooled brownie. Let frosting set up for at least 15 minutes. Glaze: Melt butter in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and add chocolate chips. Let sit for about a minute; stir until chips are completely melted. Gently smooth glaze over mint filling layer. Glaze will flow very easily and when cool will have a glossy appearance. Carefully cover the pan with plastic wrap (don’t let the wrap touch the glaze); refrigerate for at least an hour. Cut into bars and store in the refrigerator. Can be served cold or at room temperature.
*If you only own white crème de menthe, add 3 drops green food coloring. If you don’t happen to own either green or white crème de menthe, or don’t happen to want to use liqueur in your brownies or purchase a whole bottle of liqueur for just one recipe (I do this all the time and it drives Mr. C. crazy), add 3 drops green food coloring and ½ teaspoon peppermint extract. (I use Trader Joe’s Organic Peppermint Extract.) And by-the-way, if you happen to have a great recipe for a dessert that uses Banana Liqueur, please send it my way. Mr. C. would be ever so pleased.
**If you don’t have a lot of time to prepare the “brownie” part of this recipe, you can cheat like I do sometimes and use a brownie mix. I love the Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix that Costco carries.