Dorothy KernIf you love chocolate and peppermint, these from-scratch Peppermint Kiss Brownie Bites are for you!
I finished book 7 of the Harry Potter series the other day. And now I just want to cry, because it’s over. Over the past 8 weeks, I feel like I’ve lived seven years with this boy and his friends…and now it’s over.
Authors shouldn’t write series if they’re going to end them. There should be a rule that they must keep writing them. Or that, every 5 years after the end of the last book they write a short novella letting us back into the characters lives.
I seriously feel lost. Like, where do I go from here? How do I read a regular book now?
The answer? I don’t. I started book 1 again yesterday.
I’m addicted to Harry Potter.
Kind of like I’m addicted to peppermint. And brownies.
I can never, ever get enough peppermint. I’ve already posted two peppermint recipes this year and I’m sure more will spontaneously pop into my head.
Also? I can’t get enough gingerbread. Or brownies. Or Hershey’s Kisses. #addicted #christmasbakingrocks
Today I combined two of my favorites: Brownies + Candy Cane Hershey’s Kisses. These are like Blossom Cookies…but they’re brownies.
So. Much. Better.
These bites are a from-scratch brownie, based on my favorite recipe, but I altered it a bit to make it dairy-free. The brownie recipe uses unsweetened cocoa powder instead of baking chocolate, and vegetable oil instead of butter. The result is a fudgy inside and a flaky outside, much like a box mix, but better. They are a little more frail then your average brownie, because they are so tender on the inside.
And they’re goooooood.
{Now, I know there are all ranges of dairy intolerance out there. These were made especially for a class party, because one of my daughter’s friends can’t have dairy. She’s okay with chocolate. And, of course, the Kiss isn’t dairy-free, but again, chocolate candy doesn’t bother her. Adapt these with a candy you can eat!}
When they come out of the oven, you simply top them with an unwrapped Candy Cane Kiss. You need to do this immediately, before the brownies cool. That makes the Kiss stick.
Note that the flavored Hershey’s Kisses are not as firm as regular chocolate ones. They tend to collapse in blossom cookies if you’re not careful. This is especially true with the Candy Cane Kisses – even if you don’t touch the pans, they still might fall. But that’s okay…they’re still amazing.
Try these with Mint Truffle Kisses. Or Cherry Cordial. Or, in the Spring, Coconut. Or, I’ve heard rumblings that Target has Gingerbread Kisses. #mustgoshopping
These are super simple to make – only one bowl for easy clean up. No melting. Just stir, portion, and bake. Easy is the word this time of year, right?
And they’re just pretty. I love that candy cane stripe!
It sort of reminds me of the Gryffindor stripe, but without yellow. Which just makes me sad again… 😉
#harrypotteraddict #TeamGryffindor
Enjoy!
Peppermint Kiss Brownie Bites
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup flour
- 48 Candy Cane Kisses unwrapped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray mini muffin pans with cooking spray.
- Stir together oil and sugar. Stir in vanilla, cocoa, and eggs. Slowly stir in salt and flour.
- Scoop 1 tablespoon of batter into each muffin cavity. Bake 8-10 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs stuck to it.
- Immediately upon removing from oven, top with a Candy Cane Hershey’s Kiss (or your favorite Kiss flavor). Do not move your trays until the Kisses have completely hardened. The flavored Kisses are less stable than the regular chocolate ones, so there is a chance some of them will fall slightly, but if you touch the trays they will certainly all fall!
- Use the tip of a knife to help you removed cooled bites from pans.
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
White Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Blossoms
Coconut Kiss Brownie Pies (try with any flavor Kiss!)
Sweets from friends:
Peppermint Brownie Bars by Love from the Oven
Peppermint Cheesecake Rice Pudding by Something Swanky
Meringue Hugged Kisses by Pint Sized Baker
All text and images © DOROTHY KERN for Crazy for Crust. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be accurate.
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy.
Published on: December 3, 2013
There is another website that had a similar recipe on it but they gave awful advice that would result in uncooked brownie mix and general unsalvageable treat.
They moderate their comments which I expect results in purging of the truth. Their “delicious” recipe is a lie.
I wish I read this one first. What a mistake!!!!
Thanks for this great recipe, it was just what I was looking for and it couldn’t be easier!!
I’m so glad you liked them!
Has anyone tried making these in a standard size muffin tin?
I’ve made a similar recipe in regular muffin tins. They work, it just takes longer for them to bake! https://www.crazyforcrust.com/2014/03/mint-chip-brownie-cupcakes/
Made these for a Christmas party and everyone raved about them!!!!  I was skeptical about no dairy so I used half butter/half oil 🙂
I included these in my brownie round up and “borrowed” your photo….I hope that’s ok!! 🙂
Marti
Thanks Marti!
I made the peppermint brownie bites last night and they are delicious! They had to bake a few minutes longer in my oven, and the candy cane kisses do take a very long time to harden after you put them in the brownies, but it’s a super easy recipe and so good. I think the brownies would be excellent by themselves (I may or may not have sampled some of the batter lol)!
They were good by themselves, I had a few I left without Kisses for my daughter’s friend. I totally need an oven thermometer. I should have asked Santa for one!
Can I use the brownie mix from sams
I love this recipe! It sounds super easy, I hope I can find those kisses over here hehe. HP fan too!
Dorothy, you’re on a roll with cute and festive holiday sweets!! I need to get my hands on a package of those Hershey’s kisses; they look so fun to play with. And chocolate + peppermint? Best wintertime combo ever! (Also coffee + milk + peppermint extract. It’s been my favorite way to doctor up my morning coffee this week!)
sooooooooooooooooooo yummy!
I totally relate to you about books and feeling lost when a great series is over. the worst.
I know! I’m still in depression. 🙂
Those peppermint kisses add pizzazz to the brownie bites as well as a minty flavor boost! They look so festive and pretty!
I love books that are series, so that I can keep the characters in my life longer! Have you read the Diana Gabaldon series, “Outlander”? Its adult, not kid/young adult, but I was totally addicted. They are my favorite books of all time (and I thought Harry and The Hunger Games were pretty spectacular). I laughed when I read your comment about ignoring Jordan while you were immersed in reading. Each time a new book to the Outlander series was published my kids would groan that it meant a week of frozen food meals! 🙂
I read the first one but never continued, why I don’t know. Now that I have my Kindle I need to read them again, so I don’t get carpal tunnel holding them, lol!!