Peppermint Chocolate Brownies

Total Time: 2 hrs 45 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 15 mins

Ingredients

• 4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
• 1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 5 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups creme de menthe baking chips (from two 10-ounce bags)

Recipe

• 1 heat oven to 350*.
• 2 grease bottom and sides of 13x9 inch pan with shortening or cooking spray (do not use dark pan).
• 3 in 3-quart saucepan, heat baking chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring frequently until melted and smooth. cool 5 minutes.
• 4 meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup of the sugar and 1 of the eggs with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. set aside.
• 5 into chocolate mixture, stir remaining 2 cups sugar, remaining 4 eggs and the peppermint extract.
• 6 stir in flour and salt until well-mixed.
• 7 spread half of chocolate batter in pan.
• 8 drop cream cheese filling by teaspoonfuls over batter.
• 9 carefully spoon and spread remaining batter over filling.
• 10 bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• 11 sprinkle evenly with baking chips.
• 12 cool completely about 1 hour-30 minutes.
• 13 for brownies, cut into 8 rows by 6 rows.
• 14 store in refrigerator.