No time to bake from scratch? No worries. A boxed Brownie mix hack creates amazing Fully Loaded Chocolate Peppermint Oreo Brownies with chocolate ganache topping. You’ll love all the fun additions in these brownies. Gluten-free or with gluten.
If you are like me your Christmas preparation is an unending list, spanning the gross obvious tasks to the subtle ones; those details that are the signature of what is your personalized holiday traditions. I’m whittling away at the end of that list. All the big gifts have been purchased (I think), and are stashed in my designated wrapping room with a Gandalfian ‘You Shall Not Pass’ sign on the door.
Key things like the new pajamas which are opened on Christmas Eve are here. My husband has begun planning meals which he always prepares. We have a wreathe on the door and our stockings are hung. I had a panicked chat session with Amazon.com about a gift delivery gone rogue, and worked out a solution. It definitely feels like pulling it all across the finish line at the last minute this year to me.
Then it struck me, we need to bake for Santa. What should be a fun happening to look forward to feels a bit like ‘one more thing’ I’ll confess. BUT it doesn’t have to.
I’m here to tell you friends there is no shame in doctoring a good baking mix to get to a fabulous end result with less effort and thinking. These Fully Loaded Chocolate Peppermint ‘Oreo’ Brownies (with chocolate ganache and candy top I’ll add) are something that would cause Santa to reroute to your house first.
Using a brownie mix you love (2 boxes technically), I’ve doctored the mix to add white chocolate baking chips, chocolate sandwich cookies and topped them with a chocolate ganache, peppermint M & M’s and crushed candy canes (or starlight mints if out of candy cane season). Never let it be said that last minute challenges aren’t done BIG in my kitchen!
The box mixes are prepared as instructed with the white chocolate chips added. It is then divided to add half to the pan, covered with chocolate sandwich cookies and the other half of the mix. After baking and cooling, a simple chocolate ganache is prepared to frost the top and the candy is added.
The brownies are luxe and festive. A 9-inch by 13-inch pan feeds a crowd due to their richness. Mine are gluten-free (ingredient brands I used are included in the recipe) though they can be made with gluten mixes and Oreos as well!
Recipe
Fully Loaded Chocolate Peppermint ‘Oreo’ Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 boxes Brownie Mix (I used Pillsbury Gluten-Free Brownie Mix) AND any ingredients required to prepare the mix as listed on the box (e.g. eggs, oil, etc.)
- 1 cup White Chocolate Baking Chips
- 24 Chocolate Cream Center Sandwich Cookies (I used Glutino gluten-free Chocolate Vanilla Crème Sandwich Cookies)
- 6 ounces Bittersweet Cacao baking chocolate , chopped
- ½ cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
- ¾ cup M&M White Peppermint candies
- 6 6- inch Candy Canes; unwrapped , placed in a heavy gallon plastic bag and broken into small pieces (refer to photos) by pounding with a meat tenderizer or hammer
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to the temperature specified on the brownie mix. Spray a 9-inch by 13-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Prepare the brownie mixes are directed on the package (for doubling the mix). Stir in the white chocolate chips. Spread ½ the mix to cover the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
- Place the sandwich cookies on top of the brownie mix (4 cookies across and 6 rows). Spread the remaining mix over the brownies. Note: it will be difficult to fully cover all the cookies. Try to cover the cookies at least with a bit of the batter although they will be covered with the chocolate ganache too.
- Bake for the time specified on the package or 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted is clean when removed. Allow to fully cool.
- To make the ganache: Combine the chocolate and heavy whipping cream in a heatproof metal bowl over a boiling pot of water (don’t allow the bottom of the bowl to touch the surface of the water). Stirring often allow the chocolate to fully melt; remove from heat. Stir in the butter, whisking or stirring until it has melted and the mixture is fully combined. Allow the ganache to slightly cook and then pour onto the top of the cooled brownies and spread to fully cover.
- Sprinkle the top with the M&M’s and the crushed candy canes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the top is fully set.
Our Family World says
Now that’s something Santa would be very proud of! I love peppermint mixes with my chocolates, this just takes the cake!
Sarah Bailey says
Oh yum these sound absolutely amazing – what a delicious blend of flavours for Christmas.
Sarah Bailey says
I love chocolate and peppermint together. This looks absolutely delicious.
Hali @daytodayMOMents says
Wow..this sounds so good. I love brownies and peppermint. And it also looks so pretty!
Sarah says
Oh my these look amazing! I want to make this but I doubt mine would look as good. I’m sure they taste amazing.
Kristi says
You always have such great ideas. Love the fun red and white colors of this and I bet they taste amazing.
valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
I love Oreo brownies! The peppermint is a nice way to give a pop of color and flavor for the holiday.
Theresa says
These look so good, I’m almost drooling over here. I think ganahe makes everything taste amazing!
Kelly says
Brownies with M&Ms in them are pretty much my all time favorite treat, I must try these!