" Joe's" Peppermint Cookies N Cream Brownies

Tired of eating Candy-Cane Joe-Joe cookies straight out of the box? Try them in this recipe! (note: this year I've also seen peppermint Oreos, so you could use those if you don't have a Trader Joes near you). These delicious, fudge-y brownies are made with the popular candy-cane chocolate wafer cookie available at Trader Joe's during the holidays. Make these early in the day as they slice best when cooled completely.

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Serves: 32

Ingredients

• 1  cup butter
• 6  ounces  unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 3  cups sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 2  teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1⁄8-1⁄4 teaspoon  peppermint extract
• 4  large eggs, room temperature
• 1 2⁄3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄3 cup  unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3  cups  roughly chopped  peppermint oreos (approx 18)
• 1  candy cane (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, and grease lightly.
3. In a medium-large saucepan over low heat, melt together butter and chocolate, stirring occasionally.
4. Stir in sugar, salt and vanilla & peppermint extracts; remove from heat.
5. Whisk in eggs one at a time, waiting until each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
6. Stir in flour and cocoa powder until mixture is uniform. Stir in crushed cookies.
7. Spread batter into prepared pan.
8. If desired, crush 3-4 additional cookies finely and scatter on top of batter. You can also crush 1 candy-cane and sprinkle it on top; it will melt slightly but still be pretty and festive.
9. Bake for about 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, but not coated with batter.
10. Cool brownies in pan on wire rack for 20 minutes, then lift brownies in the foil out of the pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely (at least one more hour) before slicing.