These festive Grinch Brownies are thick and fudgy, with a green mint ganache, mint Oreos, and red hot candies. Perfect for Christmas!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Brownies
Little known fact about me: I’m weak when it comes to brownies (and rice krispie treats). If they’re thick and fudgy, I can’t resist them.
Today’s Grinch brownies recipe has a delicious fudgy base and it’s topped with a minty white chocolate Oreo mixture, all decked out in Grinch style—green ganache with little red “hearts.”
Here’s why Grinch brownies are a favorite for the holidays:
- You can start with your go-to brownie recipe. I used my favorite bakery style brownies recipe, but you can also use this perfect dark chocolate brownie recipe or these buttermilk brownies as the base.
- They’re perfect for anyone who wants a fun holiday treat but doesn’t have the patience for all those little details. Plus, they’re an easy Christmas recipe that the kids can help make AND eat like my Holiday Scotcheroos and Grinch Fudge!
- The combination of mint and chocolate is a classic, and it’s especially perfect for Christmas treats!
Grinch Brownie Ingredients
If you want to make these fudgy grinch brownies, be sure to scroll all the way down to the recipe card for full ingredient amounts!
- Unsalted butter – Almost all baking recipes call for unsalted butter because it gives you more control over the taste of the finished product.
- Semi-sweet chocolate morsels – You’ll melt these with the butter to form the base of your Grinch brownies. Using both melted chocolate and cocoa powder gives them a rich flavor!
- Vanilla extract – Use pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – You can use Dutch processed cocoa powder for more depth, or natural cocoa powder for that classic brownie flavor.
- White chocolate chips – White chocolate has a neutral creamy flavor on its own, which makes it perfect for combining with peppermint extract.
- Heavy whipping cream – Don’t try to substitute half-and-half or milk! The recipe won’t work without heavy whipping cream.
- Mint Oreo cookies – If you can’t find mint Oreos, regular Oreos will work.
- Peppermint extract – Be sure to buy peppermint extract, not oil.
- Green food coloring – I like to use gel food coloring because it adds bold color without adding a lot of liquid.
- Cinnamon red hot candies – The perfect finishing touch! If you’re not a fan, substitute red jimmies or M&Ms. Buy an extra jar so you can make my chewy red hot cookies too!
Aimee’s Pro Tip
Save time and use a box of brownie mix. If you’re not up for making a batch of homemade brownies, this works great too!
How to Make Grinch Brownies
Make the Brownie batter:
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips and sugar until the chocolate is completely melted.
- Add the eggs one at a time, stirring completely after each addition, then stir in the vanilla.
- Add the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Using big strokes, stir in the dry ingredients just until mixed.
- Pour the batter into the baking pan and bake for about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely before adding the topping.
Make the Topping:
- In a heat safe bowl or double boiler over simmering water, add the white chocolate and heavy cream. Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
- Remove from heat and stir in the peppermint extract and green food coloring.
- Pour the ganache over the cooled brownies.
- Top immediately with the chopped Oreos and red hot candies.
- Allow the topping to set for about one hour before cutting and serving.
Tips and Tricks
- If you want to make these Grinch brownies even easier, you can start with your favorite boxed brownie mix. Make it as directed on the package, then follow the instructions in the recipe card below for the topping.
- For this recipe, you’ll leave the brownies in the pan until they cool completely. After this, you can either leave them in the pan while adding the topping or lift them out with the parchment paper and place them on a serving platter before frosting.
- When you stick a toothpick or butterknife into the center of the brownies, there should be only a few moist crumbs attached.
- Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- You can freeze grinch brownies in an airtight freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw on counter overnight.
More Christmas Recipes
I love creating delicious minty desserts. My mint oreo fudge is a family favorite that always gets devoured quickly! And let’s not forget this delicious mint brownie recipe!
- Make this creamy dreamy Peanut Butter Fudge that all your holiday party guests will love!
- Want some festive treats? Grinch Cookies and Grinch Donuts will definitely work!
- This Divinity Candy and Christmas Crack is great to gift to your friends and family!
- Make these Sugar Cookies, they are perfect no-spread cut out cookies for Christmas cookie decorating!
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Grinch Brownies Recipe
Thick and fudgy Chocolate Brownies. Grinch brownies with a green mint ganache, mint Oreos, and red hot candies! Perfect for Christmas.
Ingredients
For the brownies
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
For the topping
- 2 cups white chocolate chips 11 ounce package
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 20 mint oreo cookies
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 drop green food coloring
- 2 Tablespoons cinnamon red hot candies
Instructions
For the brownies
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium sized saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Remove from heat and add in chocolate chips and sugar.
- Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add in eggs, one at a time, stirring completely after each addition. Stir in vanilla.
- Add the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Using big strokes, stir in JUST until mixed and no longer see dry ingredients. DO NOT BEAT OR OVER STIR.
- Pour batter into dish and bake for about 35 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely before adding topping.
For the topping
- After the brownies have cooled, prepare the mint ganache topping.
- In a heat safe bowl or double boiler over simmering water, add white chocolate and heavy cream. Stir until chocolate has fully melted.
- Remove from heat and stir in peppermint extract and green food coloring.
- Pour ganache over brownies and top immediately with chopped Oreos and red hot candies.
- Allow to set, for about one hour. Cut and enjoy.
Notes
- Use a good quality white chocolate for the ganache. I like to use Ghirardelli. It not only melts well, but tastes delicious too.
- Make sure to choose peppermint extract, NOT mint extract. The mint will taste more like a spearmint flavor tube of toothpaste. Just sayin.
- Also, when adding food coloring to melted chocolate, I prefer to use a gel food coloring, like Americolor. The color is vibrant, and you only need a small drop. Plus, it doesn’t cause the white chocolate to seize up!
- The best way to cut brownies is with a plastic knife. For whatever reason it keeps the brownies from sticking to the knife while slicing. You’ve got to try it!
- Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- See blog post for more recipe tips and tricks!
Nutrition
Serving: 1brownie, Calories: 450kcal, Carbohydrates: 55g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 90mg, Sodium: 105mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 43g
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!
Does it go in a 9×13 or 9″ square pan?
9-inch square 🙂
These look amazing! Definitely adding this to my holiday baking line up! Delish!
These look awesome!!!, I am going to make them with these jumbo hearts!!!
https://sugarmelicious.com/products/jumbo-red-hearts-valentines-day-edible-confetti-quins-sprinkle-mix?_pos=1&_sid=18f65fc21&_ss=r