Peppermint Herringbone Brownies

Winter is the time of year I get incredibly frustrated with blogging and usually disappear for awhile.  It's ten degrees outside.  There's no light.  All of my pictures come out dark and grainy.  And it's really annoying to work hard on something and have the pictures not do them justice.

Apparently I need to start my Christmas baking in August or something and take all my pictures then. Although personally I'd prefer to take the easy way out and move somewhere habitable.

Forgive me for the terrible picture, but just know that these herringbone brownies are gorgeous in real life.  Gor. Geous.

Also delicious.  

Peppermint Herringbone Brownies

-1 9x13 pan brownies, baked and cooled.  I use Betty Crocker fudge brownies (red box) and they are magically chewy.

Peppermint Frosting

Recipe adapted from BYU Magazine

-5 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened

-dash salt

-1 Tbsp light corn syrup

-2 1/3 cups powdered sugar

-1/2 tsp peppermint extract  (This is important.  Don't use mint.  It will taste like toothpaste.)

-red and white food coloring  (White is optional but I think it's much prettier if you use white food coloring.  You can find these in the cake decorating section of Hobby Lobby for a little over $1 each.  I prefer Americolor brand.)

 -Up to 3 Tbsp milk, TOTAL, if needed

Beat butter, salt, corn syrup, and powdered sugar with a mixer until smooth and fluffy. Add peppermint extract.  Divide frosting evenly between two bowls and tint one bowl red (or pink!) and the other white.   Add a little bit of milk to each bowl to thin out the frosting if needed.  You don't want it too thin or it will run together when you pipe it.  If your butter was very soft you may not need any.

 

Put frosting into two separate piping bags, and cut off the ends (Or you can use XL round cake tips).  Pipe frosting across brownies in alternating colors. 

Pull a knife through the wet frosting to create a Herringbone pattern, about every 1.5 inches or so.

Move brownies to the refrigerator and allow frosting to set completely for several hours or overnight before cutting.  I like to use a huge kitchen knife and wipe down the blade in between cuts to get nice clean cuts. 

Enjoy!

PS- If your red frosting is grainy, don't worry.  It will settle into a nice deep red after letting the brownies sit overnight.