Peppermint Patty Brownie Cups
I have come to the conclusion that I will never be a cool music person.
You know, like one of those people who listens to obscure bands and finds meaning in lyrics and is always suggesting songs and making playlists for people?
That will never be me.
Basically because I only like songs that are on the radio.
Also, I don’t really need songs to have a deep meaning. They just have to make me want to dance, even though I can’t dance because my body never seems to do what my mind thinks it can.
Seriously, if I could dance like my brain says I should, I would probably never do anything else.
Even my husband has like all these weird old school country songs on his iPod that are about meaningful things. The closest I get to classics are Janet Jackson and TLC.
(And if you want to know the truth, I finally Googled Left Eye’s rap solo in Waterfalls the other day and Oh Em Gee I have been singing it so wrong for years)
I don’t go watch local bands at bars like cool people do. I’ve been to two concerts in my life–one was a country concert that my husband chose (Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley) and then one that I chose a few years ago (begged, is more like it).
It was the Britney Spears Circus Tour.
It was the pinnacle of my musical life, if you want to know the truth. And it was on a weeknight during the school year, and since all my friends are moms and things, I didn’t really have anyone to go with. So my husband had to take me.
And he sat through the entire concert (he said his back hurt, but I think really he was scared of all the screaming 14 year olds) while I sang Womanizer and tried to come up with a way to talk Britney into taking me home with her.
What I’m saying is, I’m sort of lucky that I still even have a husband.
So if we are going to be friends, you need to know that I have horrible taste in music. All I want is a mad beat (even though I am probably too old for mad beats) and lyrics that I can understand and sing.
Sorry you had to find this out about me, but there you have it.
But the good news is, if you come with me to concerts full of glitter and Top 40-ish songs and screaming teenagers, I will bake you lots of treats to make up for it.
Like these Peppermint Patty Brownie Cups.
**image courtesy of Chicago Metallic
I recently got this Surprise Pan from Chicago Metallic and wanted to come up with a fun cupcake recipe so I could give it a try. The pan has a thin post in the center of each mold, so you can fill your cupcakes with candy or fruit and it won’t sink right to the bottom. Isn’t that cool?
I decided to make brownie cupcakes with a peppermint patty center, peppermint cream cheese frosting, and chocolate glaze. They were easy, gorgeous, and so so good.
(click here for printable recipe)
INGREDIENTS
Box of brownie mix (about 20 oz) plus ingredients to make for cake-like brownies (or your favorite homemade recipe)
12 muffin liners or baker’s nonstick spray with flour
12 fun size peppermint patties, plus extras for garnish if desired
Preheat oven according to package directions. Line Surprise Pan with liners or spray bottoms lightly with baker’s spray
Make batter according to directions. Spoon a small amount into each tin, just covering the bottom. Push a peppermint patty on each post, pushing down until it meets the batter. Cover with more batter and smooth. Each mold should be about 2/3 full.
Bake 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the edge comes back with fudgy crumbs.
If you didn’t use liners, loosen edges with a sharp knife while hot. Let cool for 5 minutes and then remove brownies from tins.
Let brownies cool completely.
Make frosting:
8 oz block of cream cheese, softened
1 stick of salted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons peppermint extract
4 cups powdered sugar
In the bowl of a mixer, beat butter, cream cheese, vanilla and peppermint on medium speed until smooth and combined. Slowly add powdered sugar and beat on low until just combined. Increase speed to high and beat for one minute.
Pipe (I used a jumbo round tip) frosting on brownies, or just pile on with a spatula. Chill for one hour.
Make glaze:
2 oz semi sweet chocolate, chopped finely
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons honey
Put chocolate in a small bowl. Pour cream into a small saucepan and heat on the stove until it just starts to simmer and gets hot. Remove from heat and pour over chocolate. Stir until chocolate is melted. Add vanilla and honey and stir.
Let glaze cool just a bit until it is lukewarm and a bit thicker. Pour over frosting.
**Makes 12 Peppermint Patty Brownie Cups
So…hopefully you will make these and love them and be so mesmerized that you forget that I am a grown woman who made my husband take me to see Britney Spears.
Thanks so much for reading. Have a fabulous day!!
**I am a Chicago Metallic Partner in Baking. I was provided with the Chicago Metallic Surprise Pan free of charge, but the recipe and my experience with it are my own. I was not compensated for this post monetarily.
Thanks for visiting my blog! I realize you could be doing more important things with your time. Like watching the news or washing socks. I hope you stay awhile. Much more fun than socks, I promise. 
The cupcakes look divine!
I now understand why I love you so much. We’re basically the same person. Only, I’m in camp Christina – excuse me – Xtina. A few years ago, I made James take me to one of her concerts. Only I was super sick with walking pneumonia. I went anyway, because we paid a stupid amount of money for the tickets. And I couldn’t hear *anything*. James sat through the entire concert I couldn’t hear. That’s love, I tell ya.
P.S. The cupcakes look awesome. Isn’t that pan fun? It’s on my to-buy list.
OMG those look fantastic. I won’t even comment on your music choices since I was just singing Rihanna S&M because it has a fantastic beat. Until I actually listened to the words. Wow.
Anyways….the cupcakes look fab.
You are so me! Seriously, I could give a crap about lyrics, I want to DANCE! To me a song is going to be a classic if I had a really good groove on. My husband rolls his eyes when I start drinking and just gotta get my dance going…Oh and then I start obsessing about having a club in our basement. That idea really gets me excited. One day, one sweet, sweet day!
Ummm lets me see Peppermint Patty??? yeah a favorite……… and ummm Brownie???? yeah another favorite….. could anybody say Winner……. Gonna have to try these… Look amazing >:-}
You are amazing…seriously! These look wonderful!!
when i was younger i was totally cool and listened to indie bands then i grew up and now i love lady gaga. i think i got lamer as i got older but thats ok cause now i bake stuff so people still like me even if i am belting out “baby i was born this was”
so you’re super cool even if taking your husband to britney spears is sorta like taking your brother to the prom
You might not be a cool music person but you are a very cool brownie person!!!
My kids have had an insanely busy week – now I know how to make sure they have a great Friday- I will be making these cupcakes after school. Bet you they don’t last until Saturday!! THanks for such a great site-always makes me laugh (even when I know the other people will stare at me for laughing out loud!)
I have some cool music on my iTouch – thanks to my sister and other musically inclined friends. And while I do have a love of music I’m not one to go out and find it myself. So I welcome you to the Top 40-Glitter loving girl association and say “enjoy it”! Btw…those cupcakes look divinely delicious!
I don’t need concerts – I just need a couple of these babies to keep me happy!!
Love anything peppermint! By the way, I love bustin’ out in songs of my youth… just to embarrass my kids. It’s fun.
this flavor combo is great!
this might be my heaven because peppermint patties are my most favorite thing ever.
Um… yum-o-licious!!! SO need to make those! It is funny that you mention that TLC song and the rap portion of it, because of that it was one of my fave songs! Still is actually!
Lol…perfect cupcakes. I tried to Google the year Left Eye died the other day just to see how much I’ve aged…TERRIBLE TERRIBLE idea. One of my best friends is a BS fan….omg…she’s made me an expert. You have a good hubs. Mine would not do that for me, I’m sure!
OMG. I cannot ever make these people I will be in danger of eating them all in one sitting. Seriously.
I also do not know any obscure music. A lot of my friends are indie rocks lovers and I feel so musically inferior, lol. You’re better than me with knowing the radio, at least. I pretty much just listen to Glee and musicals. Major dork alert.
These cupcakes look so yummy.
As for the music, well I’m a huge music kinda person. Nothing weird or anything….well at least not in my book…lol. I will admit I never sing the right words…..not even to the new songs, just ask my kids. They laugh at me all the time.
I am kind of the same way – I like to listen to music but could not tell you the names of songs or most of the artists. I’ve been to 3 concerts in my whole entire life. I’m just not cool that way!
OMG!!! I love Britney Spears too :) I made my fiancee take me to see her Femme Fatale tour that she is doing now :) They must really love us to do those kinds of things, lol…
I want to go to that one too, but i was afraid I may be pushing my luck… :)
It is fabulous!!!! You would think I would have been happy, but oh no!!!! Last night (for my birthday, of course, lol..) I made my honey take the whole family to see Disney on Ice: Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey :) What can I say, I am a dork that loves pop music and Disney, lol…How would I have ever loved Britney if it weren’t for the Mickey Mouse Club, lol…
My friends used to tell me all the time that I had bad taste in music and that I had “missed” the 80s because I didn’t watch TV as a child. I’m slowly catching up but hey, we have better talents! Like these cupcakes for example!
These are amazing! I am dying for one. Like literally drooling a little.
My daughters just showed my girls this post… when they saw the picture of the brownie cup cut open and they saw the peppermint patty INSIDE they nearly died! Their comment was : ” OH, she’s a genius !!!” tee hee i thought you would enjoy knowing that! ;0) Misty … FB: Mommaraziii Misty D
Haha I think we have the same taste in music, I love anything that makes me want to dance!
oops ! that was supposed to say I JUST SHOWED MY DAUGHTERS…. I not My ! oopsie!
I love peppermint and brownies… that icing looks incredible and the glaze just pushes me over the edge!! These look amazing!!
My husband was beyond relieved that I found someone else to go to the NKOTBSB show with earlier this year… I don’t blame him, but OMIGOD it was *so* fun. I normally go for way more grown up shows (we’re going to Kings of Leon in 2 weeks and I can’t WAIT), but I had to relive my youth with New Kids and Backstreet boys. When I got home, he finally admitted if he’d HAD to, he would have gone, but he was sure glad he didn’t have to!!
Peppermint and chocolate are my favorite and brownies comes in a mere second to cookies. So when I saw this recipe, I wanted to jump through my computer and taste one. They look amazing!!!!! I may need to invest in that pan just to make these brownies. Thanks for the recipe.
Everything about these screams out to me! bahaha I’m not a cool music girl either. I think it’s just a thing. At least I know there are other girls like me! haha
First off – these look amazing!
Secondly – Many years ago when TLC Waterfalls came out I distinctly remember being at the skating rink with my friends and “rapping” that portion of the song and all of the sudden the music just stopped. There I was “rapping” all the wrong words while everything was silent. So humiliating. Basically I feel your pain.
BTW – I am one of those people who love music and look for the deeper meaning in them. Drives my husband crazy!
Just found your blog! These look delicious.. peppermint patties are the best!
And the last concert I considered going to was… NKOTBSB. Yeah…. *yikes*
I LOVE peppermint patties, and these look to die for!!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you are dangerous my friend, bad music fan or not.
I have the exact same taste in music as well as skill in dancing. I got a D in DANCE. Who the heck gets a D in dance?!?
Ok, color me stupid, but I have to ask. The post – for the pan – is that like a Wilton flower nail? If you bake the cupcake with a paper liner, you have to leave the “post” in the cupcake, right? And people have to give you the posts back?
I know if you coat candy in flour it is supposed to keep it from sinking to the bottom. May not work with something heavy like a peppermint patty.
No, the post stays in the pan…it’s stuck to the bottom. So when you remove the cupcakes, they have a tiny hole in the bottom.
Ha! Why didn’t I think of it that way? Very clever. Thanks for your response.
Um yeah — so I totally just googled the Waterfalls lyrics out of curiosity and I too have been butchering for years…I think I like my version better!
This cupcakes look amazing!
I love music, lots of different types and love to sing along (knowing the lyrics or not…mostly not) and because I look like Elaine on Seinfeld when I dance I save doing that in my own home…alone or with my grand-kids who don’t judge.
They’d dance with me for hours on end if I made them these cupcakes!
These look so refreshing! And chocolatey and delicious. Pretty much everything that’s awesome. :-)
You are TOO funny! If you think you have unusual taste in music….I listen to Christmas music ALL YEAR LONG! I makes me want to bake and cook ….and occasionally clean! My long-suffering husband has decided that the food is worth it!
the cupcakes look amazing¡¡¡¡¡
sweetest greets from spain :)
These… Look… Amazing… !!! No seriously! I am drooling!!!
I wish my husband would read this blog… Because he would be cracking up and nodding his head and pointing a finger at ME! I am the wife that gets all of the lyrics wrong. I love music, but when I sing out loud… and yes, I sing out loud… I get the lyrics all wrong! Just last weekend, he updated his FB post to make fun of me about getting lyrics wrong… Hey I can roll with it… I’ve got my big girl panties on! But I must have these amazing looking cupcakes! Would you make me some? And then ship them to me??? Cause one other thing I don’t do is bake well… Yeah, I’m pretty horrible at baking, but I can knock the socks off a Crock Pot!
I made these yesterday. Ab Fab. I had to fashion my own Surprise Cake Pan (out of toothpicks and pink polka-dot paper cups), so they aren’t EXACTLY the same, but….they taste divine, so I don’t care if they aren’t perfect.
I was going to bring them into work to share, but I’m thinking I might just need to be greedy with them and keep ‘em to myself.
I was thinking you could probably do this with all sorts of things….nilla wafers, peanut butter cups, any number of small bits of deliciousness that would fit. yUm!
Great idea, and great blog!!
Oh my those are amazing! Chocolate and mint my fave!
HOLY MOLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Those look A- Mazing!!!!!!!!
Wanted to let you know I made these this weekend. Wow…they are worth the effort. The only thing I changed was the glaze. I don’t know if I have a bad batch of vanilla flavoring but it made my glaze taste slightly of alcohol (have to be kid friendly at my house). I threw that batch out and made another without the addition of vanilla and it was perfect. Thanks as always for the awesome recipes. I have been a blog-stalker for quite some time now:-)
Now that’s different. I can taste the mint just looking at the picture!
[...] and peppermint together; the combo can’t be beat! And after spotting Kristan’s yummy Peppermint Patty Brownie Cups over at Confessions of a Cookbook Queen, I figured I better do something with these partners in [...]
Quick question: what does “Box of brownie mix (about 20 oz) plus ingredients to make for cake-like brownies (or your favorite homemade recipe)” mean? Do I take a box of brownie mix and combine with a box of cake mix and then combine the wet ingredient requirements for both recipes?
So confused. :(
Most brownie mixes have two sets of instructions–for regular brownies or cake like brownies. Use the ones for cake like brownies (usually means adding an extra egg). If you’re not a mix fan, use your favorite homemade recipe. No Cake Mix is involved :) Hope this helps.
Thank you!! :) I super appreciate the quick response, so thanks again. I’m going to try this recipe this week with toothpicks in the place of the posts, so I’ll let you know how it goes. I’m really excited because they look so good!
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[...] Peppermint Patty Brownie Cups from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen [...]