Chocolate Peppermint Bars

Chocopeppermint_1My mother in-law loves peppermint with chocolate so every Xmas I feel compelled to make something she’ll love.  We had the family Xmas this past weekend because we travel and don’t want to miss out on the annual family event so this is what we have done for the past few years.  It is nice.

These were easy to make but the consistency when raw is strange.

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not dutch-process)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 stick unsalted butter
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup coarsely crushed peppermint hard candies

Preheat the oven to 375. 

Line a 13 by 9 inch baking pan with a sheet of foil to hang about 2 inches over the pan.  It is like making brownies.

Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a bowl. 

Beat together butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer for about 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.

Beat in egg until combined.

Slowly beat in the flour mixture.  I then put in the chocolate chips and peppermint pieces in the mixture on low and beat.  Made is much easier than by hand.

Now spread the dough evenly in the pan.  It is really thick and not easy to spread.  I literally spread it around with my hands pushing and pulling. 

Bake for about 20 minutes or until it begins to pull away from the foil.  Let cool and cut into bars.

Chewy and crunchy at the same time.  A real Xmas treat!