Easy Grasshopper Bars

Last week I shared with you my new favorite website, Pinterest. It’s becoming a problem for 2 reasons:

Way too many cute home decor items, and I want to buy them ALL.
Way too many delicious sweets, and I want to make (and eat) them ALL!

Mint chocolate has always been one of my favorite dessert flavors. Lemon and lime are the only close competitors. Maybe peanut butter.

When I saw Grasshopper Bars on Pinterest, I repinned them immediately. A few days later, I went back to look at the recipe. It was a lot of ingredients, and a lot of work. I knew there had to be an easier way. Brownie mix, of course!

I’m fairly new to baking from scratch. I’ve overcome my fear of cookies, but brownies… well, brownies always seem to be better from a box. And I’m okay with that.

(adapted from Betty Crocker)

brownie layer:

1 box brownie mix, plus egg and oil to prepare
1/4 tsp mint extract

frosting layer:

2 3/4 cup powdered sugar
4 tbsp butter, room temperature
3 oz cream cheese, room temperature
3 tbsp + 1 tsp whipping cream
1/4 tsp mint extract
4-5 drops green food coloring

chocolate layer:

1/3 cup whipping cream
1 1/3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup butter

Prepare brownies in a non-stick sprayed foil-lined 9 x 13 pan, according to package directions, adding mint extract to the batter. Cool completely. (I stuck it in the freezer to speed up the process).

To make frosting, beat all ingredients with an electric mixer until smooth.

Spread the frosting over the brownies. Chill the pan in freezer 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, to make the chocolate layer, melt ingredients in a double boiler, stirring frequently until smooth.

Remove from heat and cool until almost room temperature. Spread the chocolate over the brownies. Cool completely, then refrigerate about an hour before cutting.

These are really good, but superrrr sweet. So if you lick all three bowls and then eat a couple, you’ll probably want to hurl. Not that I would know. But in case you’re wondering, you WILL go back for more a couple hours later.

Store the bars in the fridge. Or in the freezer if you like chilly treats!