Chocolate-Peppermint One-Bowl Brownies

These one-bowl brownies are deeply fudgy from real unsweetened chocolate melted with butter, then dressed up for the holidays with a drizzle of white chocolate and a shower of crushed peppermint candy on top.

The chocolate and butter melt together in the microwave, then sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, and optional nuts get stirred in by hand, all in the same bowl. No mixer, no extra dishes. The batter is thick and glossy.

Pull these from the oven when a toothpick comes out with fudgy crumbs, not clean. Clean means overbaked. That slight underbake is what keeps the center dense and chewy rather than cakey.

Once cooled, drizzle melted white chocolate over the top in thin lines and scatter crushed peppermint candies while the white chocolate is still wet so they stick. Cut into slim sticks for an elegant presentation.

Pro Tips

• Line the pan with foil for easy removal and clean cutting
• Use a glass pan at a lower temperature so the edges don’t overbake before the center sets
• Crush the peppermint candies in a sealed bag with a rolling pin for uniform pieces
• Let the brownies cool completely before drizzling the white chocolate

Variations

• Add a teaspoon of peppermint extract to the batter for mint flavor throughout
• Use dark chocolate drizzle instead of white for a double-chocolate look
• Skip the peppermint and drizzle with caramel sauce for a non-holiday version