I’m a big believer in ice cream year-round. Peppermint Ice Cream Brownie Bars are the perfect winter treat! They’re easy to make and packed with mint-chocolate flavor.
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An Easy Dessert
These minty brownie bars just SCREAM Christmas. White chocolate, peppermint bark, indulgence. All the good things. I can’t get enough!
Am I the only one that gets overwhelmed when thinking about holiday baking?! I know that food bloggers are supposed to relish making food for parties…but it still intimidates me. All the baking– who has the time? Christmas is still over a month away, and I’m already tired. Give me the easy recipes. I want easy recipes that will still be the hit of the party. These Peppermint Ice Cream Brownie Bars are just the thing!
Why You’ll Love These Brownie Bars
- An easy dessert. Using store-bought items like ice cream and brownie mix, this is a cinch to whip up!
- The perfect party dessert. This recipe makes a big batch– enough to serve a dozen people!
- Brownies and ice cream – together at last! This mixes two classic desserts into one delicious dish.
Ingredients
- Brownie Mix: Choose your favorite brand.
- Chocolate: White chocolate chips and good quality white chocolate baking chocolate.
- Heavy cream
- Ice cream: Peppermint flavor
- Peppermint Bark: Coarsely chopped. I used Fannie May, but you could also you Andes mint peppermint crunch baking chips.
- Whipped Topping
How to Make Peppermint Ice Cream Brownie Bars
- Prepare brownies according to package directions. Cool to room temperature.
- Heat the heavy cream and stir in the baking chips until fully melted.
- Spread the chocolate sauce over the brownies. Freeze for 20 minutes.
- Top with ice cream and then whipped topping and peppermint bark.
- Freeze at least 4 hours before cutting into bars.
Trademark note: In the spirit of transparency, please note that some of these ingredients are trademarked products. Fannie May, Andes, Cool Whip and Oreos are proprietary brands that I want to acknowledge and give credit to.
How Will This Recipe Keep Me Sane During the Holidays?
I know I should be ashamed that this DELICIOUS dessert is made with store-bought ice cream and store-bought brownie mix. Oh– and store-bought whipped topping. But honestly…I’m not. It’s great when you can make things from scratch, but it’s not always feasible. It’s great to have a couple of winning recipes up your sleeve that you can make quickly. And I think you’re going to like this one!
Keep this recipe close for when you’re in a pinch and need something delicious. You can make something from scratch next time!
What is Peppermint Bark?
Peppermint bark is a candy made from layers of dark chocolate, white chocolate, and crushed peppermint candies. It is especially popular around the Christmas season. Think of peanut brittle–how it’s broken into chunks–and Peppermint Bark is handled similarly, using chocolate and peppermint instead of peanuts and caramel.
What Variations Would You Suggest?
These brownie bars have loads of variations. Peppermint is great for the festive season, but there are so many flavor possibilities:
- Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
- Strawberry Ice Cream
- Vanilla: Sometimes simple is best!
- Rocky Road: This could be great with chopped peanuts on top of the Cool Whip.
- Cookies and Cream: With chopped Oreo cookies as a garnish– so good!
- Butter Pecan: Top the brownie with caramel instead of frosting and sprinkle the Cool Whip with chopped candied pecans.
Other Delicious Chocolate Desserts
- Velvet Chocolate Cake Recipe with Chocolate Ganache Icing (Chocolate Bundt Cake)
- Best Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe
- Gooey Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake Skillet (Easy Chocolate Cake)
- Chocolate Pot de Creme Recipe
Have you tried these Ice Cream Brownie Bars? Feel free to leave a star rating and I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
Peppermint Ice Cream Brownie Bars
Ingredients
- 18 ounce box Brownie mix for 9×13 pan of your favorite brownie mix
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 8 ounces frozen whipped topping such as Cool Whip
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces good quality white chocolate baking chocolate
- 1 quart peppermint ice cream
- 4 ounces Peppermint bark coarsely chopped, for garnish (I used Fannie May, my fave. You could also use the Andes mint peppermint crunch baking chips)
Instructions
- Prepare brownies according to package instructions. (I added in the white chocolate chips to the batter, optional.) Set aside and allow to cool.
- As brownies are cooling, bring the heavy cream to a boil in a small saucepan. Take off the heat and add the baking chocolate. Stir until well combined and allow to cool for about 5-10 minutes. You want it still pourable.
- Once the brownies have cooled, top with the white chocolate sauce. Put the pan in the freezer for about 20 minutes, until the white chocolate has hardened.
- Take out of freezer and top with peppermint ice cream. Top the entire thing with whipped topping and sprinkle on the peppermint bark garnish.
- Return to the freezer for 4-6 hours until the ice cream is fully frozen and the dessert is easy to cut into defined squares.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
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Becky’s Top Tips
- Allow the cake to sit out for 15-20 minutes or so before you slice it.
- Bake brownies until a toothpick inserted an inch or two from the edge of the pan comes out clean.
- Make sure you run a sharp knife under hot water in between each cut.
- Garnish with peppermint bark.
- Store air-tight in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
- Nutritional information does not include the additional ingredients required for the brownie mix.
Nutrition Information
Should the dessert be covered in the freezer?
Yes either in a sealed container or fully covered. Enjoy!
Can I make these two or three days in advance
Ice cream is definitely a year-round treat! I love the sound of these! Ice cream anything is suchhh a weakness of mine!
Girl, me too!!!
Girl, I’m a huge believer in ice cream all year round as well! And these ice cream bars look suuuper yummy :)
YES!
I am right there with ya…baking just purely stresses me out. I don’t know how people say it relaxes them. I mean a teaspoon too much baking soda and you have a completely ruined dish. Cooking not so much. But you are pulling on my heat strings here…ice cream and peppermint? I mean I live for the months that Edys comes out with their slow churned peppermint ice cream!!! Pinned pretty lady!!
I agree! Maybe one day I’ll get it figured out :) Thanks girl!
We love brownies and ice cream….this will be a new treat for the Holidays. It looks so yummy – love the colors.
Thanks Aunt Linda!
These look amazing! I know my family would love them.
Another terrific and beautiful recipe and post! Great job!
Thanks mom :)