Grasshopper Brownies
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
We have one last recipe to share with you before all of the festivities are over, so if you’re in need of a St. Patty’s-themed dessert for today, you’re in luck! Last year, we made a grasshopper pie and it was seriously phenomenal. As in, months later we were still thinking about it. Last week, we were craving brownies like nobody’s business, so we decided to put a grasshopper spin on one of our favorite brownie recipes. Both recipes are based on the grasshopper cocktail, which is a mint-flavored drink consisting of creme de menthe, creme de cacao and heavy cream. It’s rich, but we would so much rather eat our sweet, minty calories than drink them, so brownies it is!
We used our chewy brownies as the base for these; we've found that they’re great for layered brownie desserts since they’re not too thick, and not overwhelmingly sweet. They were reliable for the buckeye brownies, and they turned out fabulous for these grasshopper brownies, as well. We topped the brownies with a creme de menthe buttercream, and then finished them off with a creme de cacao chocolate ganache. All the flavors of the popular cocktail, wrapped up in decadent brownies.
All of the green color and mint flavor come from the creme de menthe; both are noticeable, but subtle. If you prefer a amped-up mint flavor or a deeper green color, you can augment the creme de menthe with mint extract and green food coloring.
If you want a festive dessert to enjoy tonight (or even this afternoon), you still have plenty of time to whip these up. If you’re out celebrating, enjoy and be careful!
Two years ago: Irish Beer and Cheese Bread
Three years ago: Corned Beef Hash and From-scratch Shamrock Shake
Five years ago: Irish Soda Bread
Seven years ago: Sugar Cookies
Grasshopper Brownies
Yield: 24 brownies Chocolate brownies topped with a creme de menthe filling and a creme de cacao ganache, fashioned after the popular grasshopper cocktail.For the Brownies:
- ⅓ cup (28.67 g) Dutch-processed cocoa
- 1½ teaspoons (1.5 teaspoons) instant espresso, optional
- ½ cup (125 ml) plus 2 Tablespoons boiling water
- 2 ounces (56.7 g) unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup (109 ml) + 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2½ cups (500 g) sugar
- 1¾ cups (218.75 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon (0.75 teaspoon) salt
- 6 ounces (170.1 g) bittersweet chocolate, cut into ½-inch pieces
For the Creme de Menthe Filling:
- ½ cup (113.5 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 ounces (85.05 g) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons green creme de menthe
- 2½ cups (300 g) powdered sugar
- Pinch of salt
For the Creme de Cacao Ganache:
- 14 ounces (396.89 g) dark chocolate, finely chopped
- ½ cup (119 ml) heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon creme de cacao
- Make the Brownies: Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving about a one-inch overhang on all sides. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Whisk cocoa, espresso powder, and boiling water together in large bowl until smooth. Add unsweetened chocolate and whisk until chocolate is melted. Whisk in melted butter and oil. (Mixture may look curdled.) Add eggs, yolks, and vanilla and continue to whisk until smooth and homogeneous. Whisk in sugar until fully incorporated. Add flour and salt and mix with rubber spatula until combined. Fold in bittersweet chocolate pieces.
- Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake until toothpick inserted halfway between edge and center comes out with just a few plush crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the Creme de Menthe Filling: Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the creme de menthe and pinch of salt, blending until totally combined. Keeping the mixer on low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar. Once it has all been incorporated, increase the speed to medium and beat until smooth and fluffy. Spread the mixture over the cooled brownies into an even layer. Transfer to refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Make the Creme de Cacao Ganache: Place the chocolate, heavy cream and butter in a medium bowl set above a small saucepan of barely simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and stir in the creme de cacao. Set aside to cool to room temperature (the mixture will thicken as it cools), then use an offset spatula to spread in an even layer over the creme de menthe filling. Return to the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- Using foil overhang, carefully lift brownies from pan. Cut into squares and serve. Brownies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Notes
Nutritional values are based on one serving
- Yield: 24 brownies
- Prep: 30 minutes
- Cook: 30 minutes
- Total: 1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients
For the Brownies:
- ⅓ cup ( 28.67 g ) Dutch-processed cocoa
- 1½ teaspoons ( 1.5 teaspoons ) instant espresso, optional
- ½ cup ( 125 ml ) plus 2 Tablespoons boiling water
- 2 ounces ( 56.7 g ) unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup ( 109 ml ) + 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2½ cups ( 500 g ) sugar
- 1¾ cups ( 218.75 g ) all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon ( 0.75 teaspoon ) salt
- 6 ounces ( 170.1 g ) bittersweet chocolate, cut into ½-inch pieces
For the Creme de Menthe Filling:
- ½ cup ( 113.5 g ) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 ounces ( 85.05 g ) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons green creme de menthe
- 2½ cups ( 300 g ) powdered sugar
- Pinch of salt
For the Creme de Cacao Ganache:
- 14 ounces ( 396.89 g ) dark chocolate, finely chopped
- ½ cup ( 119 ml ) heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon creme de cacao
Method
- Make the Brownies: Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving about a one-inch overhang on all sides. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Whisk cocoa, espresso powder, and boiling water together in large bowl until smooth. Add unsweetened chocolate and whisk until chocolate is melted. Whisk in melted butter and oil. (Mixture may look curdled.) Add eggs, yolks, and vanilla and continue to whisk until smooth and homogeneous. Whisk in sugar until fully incorporated. Add flour and salt and mix with rubber spatula until combined. Fold in bittersweet chocolate pieces.
- Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake until toothpick inserted halfway between edge and center comes out with just a few plush crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the Creme de Menthe Filling: Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the creme de menthe and pinch of salt, blending until totally combined. Keeping the mixer on low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar. Once it has all been incorporated, increase the speed to medium and beat until smooth and fluffy. Spread the mixture over the cooled brownies into an even layer. Transfer to refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Make the Creme de Cacao Ganache: Place the chocolate, heavy cream and butter in a medium bowl set above a small saucepan of barely simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and stir in the creme de cacao. Set aside to cool to room temperature (the mixture will thicken as it cools), then use an offset spatula to spread in an even layer over the creme de menthe filling. Return to the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- Using foil overhang, carefully lift brownies from pan. Cut into squares and serve. Brownies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
