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Candy Cane Brownies

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GINGER SNAPPED TO DEATH, the 8th book in the Cookies & Chance Mystery series by Catherine Bruns captures the spirit and the flavors of the Christmas season. That is except for two carjacking Santas and Sally Donovan’s gingerbread men and her brand new cake server left at the scene of the town’s Casanova-want-a-be’s murder. Sally, owner of Sally’s Samples cookie bakery, is bursting at the seams with her own bun in the oven and Baby Donovan is not wanting to make an appearance. Besides worrying about the delay in delivery, Sally has her hands full with Christmas festivities and her sister’s wedding. But as usual, a creepy fortune cookie her own bakery made, forewarns her of imminent disaster and it doesn’t take long for mayhem to strike. Ms. Bruns takes the reader on a fast-paced caper with several laugh out loud moments (the parental units are the perfect pair to lighten the mood) along with heartwarming scenes that epitomize the holiday theme.

One of the many strengths in the Cookies & Chance series are the characters. The close knit Italian family that surrounds Sally through thick and thin makes me want to revisit them as each book is released and catch up on everything going on. Ms. Bruns does an admirable job of allowing each and every character to grow, to change, and to surprise the reader with every single story. The author also effectively builds suspense in both the murder mystery plot as well in Sally’s personal life. There were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing and plenty of twists to keep me turning pages until the very last page. An edge-of-your-seat reveal added to the holiday cheer and makes me eager to find out what’s in store for Sally and the gang with the next installment!

Sally’s Samples serves up delectable cookies along with their famed fortune cookies. As usual, Ms. Bruns includes a couple yummy recipes at the back of the book that are perfect for holiday baking. I was honored to be asked to include one of my own recipes for the book. I decided on Candy Cane Brownies. Chocolate and peppermint are a favorite flavor combination of mine (Thin Mints!) and the added crunch of crushed candy canes to adorn the tops of the frosted brownies adds a festive touch. Easy to make, this batch will serve a large group which makes it perfect to prepare for any holiday gathering while saving a few pieces for Santa.

 

Candy Cane Brownies combine the yummy flavors of chocolate and peppermint while the added crunch of crushed candy canes sprinkled on top of the frosted brownies adds a festive touch. Recipe shared with permission granted by Catherine Bruns, author of GINGER SNAPPED TO DEATH.

 

Amazon Synopsis

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Unless you’re Sally Muccio.

The full-time baker and sometime sleuth is ready to burst into song. She and her husband are expecting a bundle of joy, her sister’s wedding is just around the corner, and it’s Christmas, her favorite time of year. But when Sal’s the victim of a carjacking by Santa himself and a forgotten item links her to a murder, she doesn’t feel like ho-ho-hoing anymore.

Damian Ruger was a drug user, womanizer and first-class jerk. And unfortunately for Sal, she once had a connection to him in high school. The dough really hits the fan when her bakery’s gingerbread cookies are found next to his dead body, and Sal’s cake server is used as a murder weapon. Someone is trying to frame the expectant mother, but why? Sal has no choice but to try to clear her name…before she and the baby are singing Christmas carols in prison!

 

 

 

A special thanks to Catherine Bruns for providing one winner with a print copy of GINGER SNAPPED TO DEATH. Contest ends Sunday, November 17, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

Candy Cane Brownies combine the yummy flavors of chocolate and peppermint while the added crunch of crushed candy canes sprinkled on top of the frosted brownies adds a festive touch. Recipe shared with permission granted by Catherine Bruns, author of GINGER SNAPPED TO DEATH.

Print
Candy Cane Brownies
Ingredients
Brownies
  • 1-1/2 cups butter, room temperature
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder (either natural or dutch cocoa will work here)
  • 5 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Frosting
  • 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
  • 4 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 5 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
Garnish
  • Coarsely broken candy canes
Instructions
Brownies

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).

  2. Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed, until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. 

  3. Beat in the cocoa powder until thoroughly incorporated and no lumps remain.

  4. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then add salt and peppermint extract. Mix well.

  5. Gradually add in the flour and stir until completed incorporated.

  6. Line a jelly roll pan (15-1/2"x10-1/2"x1") with parchment paper. Spritz the parchment paper with non-stick cooking spray, then spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.

  7. Bake for about 30 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. Rest pan on a wire rack until completely cool before proceeding with frosting.

Frosting

  1. Cream the butter then slowly add the confectioners' sugar and beat until incorporated completely.

  2. Add the peppermint extract. 

  3. Mix in 4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream. Add additional cream, up to 1 tablespoon, until spreadable consistency is reached. Whip for an additional 3 minutes, until frosting is light and fluffy.

  4. Frost the brownies then cut into 2-inch squares. Garnish each square with bits of broken candy canes right before serving.

Candy Cane Brownies combine the yummy flavors of chocolate and peppermint while the added crunch of crushed candy canes sprinkled on top of the frosted brownies adds a festive touch. Recipe shared with permission granted by Catherine Bruns, author of GINGER SNAPPED TO DEATH.

 

 

 

 

 

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Candy Cane Brownies combine the yummy flavors of chocolate and peppermint while the added crunch of crushed candy canes sprinkled on top of the frosted brownies adds a festive touch. Recipe shared with permission granted by Catherine Bruns, author of GINGER SNAPPED TO DEATH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you receive my blog post via email you will need to visit my website to view the video.

 

I was provided an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

Candy Cane Brownies combine the yummy flavors of chocolate and peppermint while the added crunch of crushed candy canes sprinkled on top of the frosted brownies adds a festive touch. Recipe shared with permission granted by Catherine Bruns, author of GINGER SNAPPED TO DEATH.

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67 thoughts on “Candy Cane Brownies”

  1. Oh yes! We always left out cookies for Santa, plus a couple carrots for the reindeer! I never questioned that, figured they were kind of like a horse. ☺? Thanks for the chance to win!

  2. We left iced sugar cookies out for Santa when I was younger. Congrats on the book release! Can’t wait to read it!

  3. No I do not leave cookies for Santa. I would love to read Catherine’s Gingersnapped to Death! Thanks for the chance!

  8. What could be better than combining the standard holiday candy and delicious brownies! Candy Cane Brownies sound heavenly.

    When we had little one around, we always left cookies, goodies and milk out for Santa as well as carrots for the reindeer.

    Can’t wait for the opportunity to read “GINGERSNAPPED TO DEATH”.

  9. I always left cookies out when my boys were little….and there was always a nibble out if a cookie

  10. When my children were younger we would always leave cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. My daughter once told me if Santa didn’t get cookies, he didn’t leave packages. I had to laugh to myself when she told me that. Thanks for the recipe for the festive brownies. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com

  11. I have left cookies and milk out fir Santa many, many times! And carrots for his reindeer!! My son’s always were wide eyed the next morning to see item’s from the plate. Such sweet memorie’s!

  14. We do every year and now we include a towel because 2 years ago he got sloppy with the milk and ransacked the kitchen looking for a something to clean up with.

  16. When my boys were little, we made Christmas cookies especially for Santa. They couldn’t wait to see if the cookies were gone on Christmas morning and what Santa had left them.

  17. When my children were growing up, we always left cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. This year, for the first time, my three-year-old grandson and his parents will be in my home for Christmas Eve, and, of course, the tradition will resume!

  18. Yes we’ve always left cookies and milk. Growing up we made M&M cookies with just the red and green ones that we would leave out.

  21. I love your books and the cover on your new book is yummy looking. The treats looks super I wish I could eat them. I would love to win your book. You are a super author. I will keep my fingers crossed.

  23. Yes I have left cookies for Santa ? many times. Your candy cane brownies sound delicious ? I’ll be making them soon
    Thank you for the chance

  24. I left cookies for Santa when I was younger and my kids left cookies, too. Whenever I think of cookies and Santa, I can’t help but remember a commercial years ago for Wisconsin cheese. The living room is full of stuff and the dad says “those must have been some cookies you left Santa,” and the little girl says “I didn’t leave him cookies, I left him cheeeeeese.”

  29. When I was young my parents would leave out cookies for Santa. Thanks for this amazing giveaway, the recipe looks and sounds delicious.

  30. Yes, when our daughter was young we always left cookies out for Santa. Also when our grandsons stayed with us we did the same thing!

  31. I use to when the children were younger and still at home. If I did now the dog or cats would eat them.

  32. Yes, as a child I left cookies and milk for Santa in front of the fireplace every year. Thank you for the contest.

  34. We always left out cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. The cookies would always be gone in the morning and there would be just a few bits of carrot left, with teeth marks. My dad would comment how Santa must have been in a hurry because he left cookie crumbs on the table.

  36. Gosh, doesn’t everyone leave cookies out for Santa?? I always have and still do!!!. The candy cane brownie sounds yum!!!

  37. When my children were small, and when our granddaughter was young, we did put out milk and cookies for Santa. And often we would also have a carrot, or some sugar cubes, for the reindeer.
    Now, the children have their own homes, and our granddaughter has a 5-year old. I think she will be putting some cheese and crackers and probably apple juice for Santa.

    Hubby and I just may have to leave a snack out for Santa this year 🙂

  38. When our children were small, and then when our granddaughter was young, we would be sure and leave milk and cookies for Santa. And usually there was some carrots, or sugar cubes, for the reindeer.
    Now our children are grown with homes of their own. And granddaughter has a 5-year old. I expect she will leave some cheese and crackers, and probably apple juice, for Santa.

    Perhaps hubby and I will also leave a treat out for Santa this year.

  47. When our boys were young, every year we baked and left out cookies & milk for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer. Now we bake cookies with our grandkids for them to take home and leave out for Santa – and we make reindeer food (dried oats with a bit of glitter) for them to leave the reindeer.

  49. Growing up my two sisters and I always left a sandwich for Santa as well as cookies and milk! We would also leave vegetables and apples for the reindeer. I loved getting up in the morning to see that empty glass of milk especially!

  53. We always put out cookies and milk for Santa when my son was young as well as my brother and I when we were young.

  55. Of course we left cookies out for santa, did it until my brother and I moved out of the family home to live on our own ! Thanks for the chance to win

  56. When we are with our grandchildren we do leave out cookies (and milk) for Santa, as well as carrots for the reindeer. We also did this when our children were little. One of our daughters has left “extra” corn by their deer feeder for the reindeer. This makes her children happy!

  57. I always left cookies and milk out for Santa and made sure my children did as well. Now I love to see my grandchildren following the same tradition

  61. We always made the cookies together and left them with milk for Santa! We also left carrots and oatmeal outside for the reindeer!

  62. When I was a kid I was always told to leave Santa a slice of the carrot cake my mom had just made. Took a long time to question why Santa’s favorite was the same as dad’s!

  63. We always left out cookies and milk and carrots (for the reindeer) when we were kids. I have 5 sisters and 1 brother. They definitely kept up this tradition with their kids!☘️

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