Chocolate Mint AKA Grasshopper Brownies

I don't know exactly when we started taking basic brownie recipes and kicking them up a notch.  I seem to recall that effort being related to bands with big hair and mauve-colored couches--in other words, in the '80's.

All Things Grasshopper

Grasshopper everything was big then.  You could find recipes everywhere for grasshopper ice cream drinks, grasshopper pies, grasshopper cakes, and of course, grasshopper brownies.

 Creme-de-menthe was still on every bartender's shelf--the green version.  (Pssst...here in my neck of the woods it still is.  You can't have a supper club without ice cream drinks.)  

Still, this recipe has gone by the wayside a bit along with leg warmers and pastel upholstery.  I see no reason it should have.  Mint and chocolate are a natural pairing.

It's pretty simple when it comes down to it.  For those who don't like the idea of putting creme-de-menthe liqueur in a dish (even though it does have a pretty low alcohol content),  you can substitute green food coloring and peppermint extract for the creme-de-menthe.  It's not quite the same but is any kind of extract ever the same?  No.  But they work.

Brownies With...Hershey's Syrup???

Let's start with the brownies.  The trend then was to use Hershey's Syrup for the chocolate flavor.  I guess we all preferred pouring stuff right from the container to melting and measuring.  Now I know why Tip Hero videos are so popular.  Shortcuts are not a new thing at all.

Actually, any brownie recipe will work for this, but as long as we're in the '80's, I thought I'd just go with it and I went straight to where the recipe originated way back then--in a Hershey's cookbook.  The recipe is still on their website.  They call it "Chocolate Mint Dessert" now.  New name, same decadent flavor. 

Click on what they should be called for the recipe:  Grasshopper Brownies.

On a side note, I think the filling should be as green as possible.  None of that pastel mint color for me.  So, go ahead and add some extra green food coloring to that creme-de-menthe or peppermint extract.  Somehow they just seems mintier that way.

The topping is just melted chocolate chips and butter.  I noticed that the Hershey's recipe suggests using mint chocolate chips as an alternative to regular for the ganache top.  I could definitely get on board with that!

Do you have a favorite Grasshopper-inspired recipe?  Oh my gosh, that reminds me of another one!  Look for a Frozen Grasshopper Pie recipe in upcoming posts that puts all the others to shame!

In the meantime, please share your mintiest chocolate treats.