CHEAT DAY!: Pink Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Brownies

Pink Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Brownies

I have officially designated Friday as my CHEAT DAY!  We can't be healthy and perfect all the time now, can we?  Whoever came up with the saying, "everything in moderation," was an absolute genius!

I always use one day a week to get my cravings out of the way.  Otherwise I'll skirt around the craving with five other not-so-great substitutions, that add calories and fat to my diet and never satisfy the craving.  Then I go out and eat what I was craving anyway!   Had I just eaten what I was craving in the first place, I would have eliminated all those stupid substitutions and gotten myself back on track a lot faster.  That's what my Fridays are for!

This last week, I needed CHOCOLATE!  I had a box of Ghiradelli Brownie Mix in my cupboard for about a month, and I figured it was high time I used it.  Then everything started to come together!

I started going through my freezer and cupboards, wondering how else I could make this decadent and delicious, and eliminate as many unhealthy foods from the house as possible.  I had some pink chocolate candies and some left-over peppermint Joe-Joe's (like mint Oreos), and they all ended up going in the mix.  I cooked them in my spring form cheesecake pan to create an elegant and unique shape.  Add a can of whip cream and a flash of fresh mint on top, and you've got a picture perfect dessert!

If you make these at home, remember to coat the cookies and candies in flour first!  It will keep the goodies from sinking to the bottom of the batter as it cooks.  I didn't do that this time, and if you look closely at the photo, you can see all the pink chocolate at the bottom of my brownie!  Oops.

Pink Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Brownies

Prep Time: 15 minutes / Cook Time: 45 minutes / Servings: 8

Pink Chocolate Peppermint
Cookie Brownies

Ingredients:

• 1 box Ghiradelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 cup pink Wilton's Candy Melts (available at craft stores), crushed
• 1 cup peppermint chocolate cookies (such as peppermint Joe-Joe's or Mint Oreos), crushed (about 12 cookies)
• 1/2 cup flour
• cooking spray
• whipped cream (for garnish)
• fresh mint sprigs (for garnish)

Steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a spring form cake pan with cooking spray.
2. Place the flour in a large mixing bowl.  Add the crushed candies and cookies and stir until all ingredients are coated. Remove the candies and cookies from the flour with a slotted spoon and set aside.
3. Mix the brownie batter according to package instructions.  Stir in the candies and cookies.  Transfer the batter to the spring form cake pan.  Tap it on the counter to remove any air bubbles.
4. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
5. Allow brownies to cool for about 10 minutes before serving.  Top with whipped cream and fresh mint.

Pink Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Brownies