Frozen Weekend and Mint Chocolate Brownies

This weekend we got a three day weekend off of school due to freezing rain. You read that right. No snow, freezing rain and sleet. My husband and I are only on our second winter here and I already miss my warm coastal town. This is a picture of my grass. Never seen anything quite like it. Everything has a thick layer of ice on it. Trying to take the dog out to do his business is quite hilarious to watch, he doesn't know what to do with himself.

Power started flickering last night while we were watching baking shows. Dangerous--I know. So, I started craving cupcakes with buttercream. Luckily I remembered I had a box of chocolate cake mix. I have a gas oven, but it has an electric starter and temperature control which is useless if the power goes out. I jumped into action thinking I wasn't going to have much time before I lost the chance for good. Now comes the scrounge through the pantry trying to find my key ingredients. What do you know, I used the last of my powdered sugar for Christmas dinner. All I could think was, "for shame, my mother would be so dissapointed." After my pity party I scoured pinterest for frosting ideas that didn't require powdered sugar. Then I had an epiphany, why can't I just make powdered sugar!? Turns out, it couldn't be easier. I will post that DIY later.

As I was looking for how to make powdered sugar, I came across this brownie recipe and my mouth immediately started watering. Brad always approves brownies too. So, I started baking and here is what I did:

Mint Chocolate Iced Brownies

Ingredients:

Brownie Batter-

-1/2 cup melted butter

-1/2 cup oil

-2 cups granulated sugar

-4 eggs

-2 tsp vanilla extract

-1/4 tsp mint extract

-2/3 cup cocoa powder

-1 cup all purpose flour

-1/2 tsp salt

-1/2 tsp baking powder

Mint Frosting-

-1/2 cup softened butter

-1 3/4 cups powdered sugar

-1 to 2 Tbs milk

-1/4 to 1/2 tsp mint extract

-a few drops of green food coloring

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Whisk together butter, oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and mint extract until well combined.

3. Slowly add in cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder until all combined.

4. Either add your brownie batter to a buttered and floured pan or use a silicone baking pan like what I did. If using a silicone baking pan be sure to put it on a cookie sheet to keep it rigid--TRUST ME.

5. Place brownie batter into preheated oven for 20-25 minutes (depending on the size of your pan).

6. Brownie is ready when a toothpick comes out with only a few crumbs.

7. Let brownie cool. This is the hardest part, my husband stole a few pieces because he couldn't wait.

8. Start making your frosting. Whisk softened butter until it's light and fluffy.

9. Add in 1 Tbs of milk and your mint extract.

10. Slowly add in powdered sugar until you get stiff peaks. If it's too thick add more milk. If it's too thin add more powdered sugar.

11. Once brownie is cooled add frosting. I was also impatient and wanted it to melt into all of the crevices of the brownie. So, it doesn't look so pretty. But oh man is it SOOOOO yummy!!! I also didn't ice the whole thing because Brad isn't crazy about mint and chocolate flavors so I went easier on the mint flavorings and left some of the brownie unfrosted.

12. Slice and enjoy. Trust me, it'll be hard not to eat the whole tray. But it's exactly what we need when everything is frozen outside. Now I can still get my chocolate fix even if the power goes out.

What's your favorite thing to do when the power is out? How do you keep warm when everything is frozen outside?