Make Your Valentine a Home-made Chocolate Treat

Sometimes it’s difficult to think of an original gift idea for Valentine’s Day, but we at Bigelow Tea have a wonderful and tasty solution.  Across the country, people exchange candy and flowers, but more often than not, its store bought.  Why not add that special touch to your present by giving your special valentine something home-made?

Chewy Chocolate Mint Brownies

Bigelow Tea has some excellent  recipes, and we think our Chewy Chocolate Mint Brownies are just perfect for Valentine’s Day!  Made with our Plantation Mint Tea (or Mint Medley Herbal Tea for those who want to use caffeine free tea) this is a great way to say “Happy Valentine’s Day!”

Chewy Chocolate Mint Brownies

Ingredients:

5 Bigelow® Plantation Mint Tea Bags (or Mint Medley Herb Tea)
½ cup water
1 3/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
¾ cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
4 large eggs, room temperature
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
9×13 inch baking pan, greased and floured

Yield: Yields one 9″ x 13″ pan.

Instructions:

These chewy brownies are packed with intense chocolate and mint flavor, thanks to Bigelow® Plantation Mint^TM tea. If you prefer a caffeine-free tea alternative, substitute the same amount of Mint Medley® herb tea.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and set the rack on the middle setting.
Place tea bags in ½ cup of hot water. Set aside to cool, and then remove tea bags, squeezing out liquid from bags.

Meanwhile, place 1 ¼ cups of the chocolate chips and butter in a metal bowl. Set over a saucepan filled with about 2 inches of water, to create a double-boiler. Heat on low and let chocolate and butter melt, stirring frequently.

In a medium sized bowl, whisk together eggs and sugars until well blended. Add the cooled tea mixture and whisk to combine. Add a few tablespoons of the melted chocolate/butter combination to the egg mixture and stir to combine. Add the remaining chocolate and incorporate. Lastly, add the flour and remaining ½ cup of chocolate chips, mixing until smooth.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake approximately 25 minutes. Center will feel firm but still moist. Bake 5-10 minutes longer for a drier brownie. Place pan on a wire rack to cool completely before cutting into 20 squares.

If you are too busy to make brownies for this special day, then treat yourself and your Valentine to our special Valentine Day teas.  Enjoy!

White Chocolate Kisses Valentine Tea & Sweetheart Cinnamon Valentine Herb Tea