Chewy Grasshopper Brownies 🍀 (Chocolate Mint Leprechaun Bars)

Delicious chewy chocolate brownies
topped with a creamy vanilla mint  frosting.

Brownie Ingredients:

non-stick cooking spray, shortening or butter  

aluminum foil

4 squares unsweetened baking chocolate

¾ cup unsalted butter

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

Frosting Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup (4 ounces) cream cheese, softened

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract

green food color

Garnish:

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

2 tablespoons candy pearl sprinkles (optional)

Method:

Preheat oven to 350*. Line a 9x13 baking pan with foil. Coat foil with cooking spray, shortening or butter. Place butter and chocolate in microwave proof mixing bowl. Heat for 1 minute  and 30 seconds, or longer, until butter and chocolate are melted and can be easily mixed together. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir until mixed. Add flour, stirring until blended with the other ingredients. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. (Do not over bake.) Remove from oven and cool in pan. Lift from pan with foil and continue cooling on a rack. Finish cooling on a rack.

Use an electric mixer to cream together the butter and cream cheese. Add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating after each edition until all is well blended. Beat in the extracts and a few drops of food coloring to flavor and tint the frosting.

Once the brownies are completely cooled, spread the frosting evenly over the the top. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the frosting. If desired, sprinkle candied pearls on top of the frosting. Refrigerate for one hour or longer and then use the foil to lift the brownies from the pan. 

Cut into bars or squares. Makes 25 to 30 servings. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Notes: These deluxe brownies are festive and have a wonderful combination of flavors. They are pretty to serve at Christmas & on Saint Patrick's  Day.