Easy Mint Buttercream Frosted Brownies Topped with Chocolate
Easy semi-homemade box mix frosted brownies with a thin layer of delicious chocolate. Everyone loves brownies but if you want that wow factor for your next gathering or just a special dessert for your family, layered buttercream frosted brownies will soon be a family favorite. Thick and gooey chocolate brownie, sweat and creamy buttercream frosting, and a rich thin layer of delicious bittersweet or dark chocolate top.
My mother used to make these brownies and she has passed down her recipe to me. Originally she made the brownies from scratch but as cake and brownie mixes became more available she uses a simple box mix. I love the Ghirardelli mixes but a simple discount box for a 13 x 9 pan works just as well.
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It is the mint buttercream frosting and the layer of chocolate that make this dessert so spectacular. You have the rich fudgy brownies, the creamy cool mint frosting, and the semi-sweet chocolate layer. I have also used all dark chocolate chips and the dark chocolate brownies mix. So easy for any party and a show stopper for any pot luck table.
This box mix brownies recipe is my mother’s original but as busy moms we do not have the time to make the brownies from scratch or do we have to. There are so many different varieties of box mixes you can make frosted brownies as fancy or as simple as you like.
Best Brownie Mix to use for Box Mix Brownie Recipe
- Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix with a chocolate chip in the mix is a fantastic mix to start off this recipe with. This makes a delicious brownie with the extra chocolate chips.
- My next favorite is Duncan Hines Decadent Brownie Mix, Double Fudge
- If you are at the discount store a simple Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate Brownie Mix also makes a perfect frosted brownie.
Different Frosting for Different Holidays
- For Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day use green food coloring for the frosting.
- For Easter, spring, or mother’s day, use pink food coloring for the frosting.
- When you want special brownies for a party but not sure your friends will like the min flavor, substitute vanilla extract.
- The chocolate layer can be milk chocolate, dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- My mother used semi-sweet chocolate bakers chocolate melted before chocolate chips were so convenient.
- You can also make these delicious brownies, with a homemade brownie recipe.
Tips for the Perfect Layers for Brownies with Frosting
My best tip for making layered frosted brownies it to not rush. If you are having or going to a party it is best to make the brownies the day before. You do not want to rush the cooling process.
I also use an offset spatula to make sure that the layer is thin and smooth. Having a thin layer adds to the surprise of the flavors as you bit into the brownies.
Easy Mint Buttercream Frosted Brownies Topped with Chocolate
Best Mint Frosted Brownie recipe made easy and baked to fudge a double layer of min frosting and chocolate ganache. When regular brownies are just not over the top enough. Perfect for a birthday party, family dinner, or friends party. The thin layer of melted chocolate makes the wow factor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 32 1x
Ingredients
- 1 box mix of Brownies – Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix
- 1/4 cup Water
- 1/2 cup of Oil
- 1 Egg
- (or the ingredients on your box mix)
Buttercream Frosting:
- 4 tablespoons of butter at room temperature not melted.
- 2 cups of confectioners sugar
- 2 tablespoons of milk
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (depending on how minty you want your frosting)
- 1 drop of red food coloring for red (or green food coloring for Christmas or St. Patrick’s Day)
Top Chocolate Layer:
- 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons of butter
Instructions
- Line a 13 x 9 glass baking dish with parchment paper. This allows you to easily lift the brownies out of the dish when you are ready to cut.
- Bake the brownies per the instructions on the brownie mix box.
- Remove from the oven when the time is over and cool completely. Do not cheat on this step. If they are even warm the top will melt.
- Next, make the frosting to the top.
- Mix in a stand mixer or hand mixer the butter, sugar, milk peppermint extract, and the food coloring. Add more sugar if the frosting is not stiff enough.
- Frost the top of the brownies and put them in the refrigerator for one hour to set.
- When the frosting is set make the melted chocolate for the top.
- Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until melted. Do not overheat.
- Mix in the butter to make a smooth glossy topping. Use extra butter in the chocolate is too think. (do not get any water in the chocolate as it will bind up into a mess)
- Top the frosting with the melted chocolate and with an offset spatula spread evenly over the frosting.
- Put the pan of brownies in the refrigerator again for 30 to 45 minutes to set.
- When set remove the brownies from the pan and put on a cutting board to cut into squares.
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