Girl Scout inspired: Thin Mint Brownies!!!

Since the Girl Scouts are out selling cookies right now, I thought I would play around with some Thin Mints Cookies and my favorite brownie recipe! Lately, I have been baking everything in mini muffin pans, so here is my latest creation (with full pan instructions as well)! Girl Scout inspired Thin Mint Brownies!!! YUM! I added a Mint Buttercream Frosting and Peppermint Patty pieces for decoration, but it is not needed.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
• 2 1/4 cups sugar
•  4 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 bag or 1 cup of semi-sweet mini chocolate chips (if you don't have mini chips use the regular size)
• 1 sleeve of Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies (crushed) 

Instructions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray non-stick spray into a 9x13 pan or 2 (24 count mini muffin pans).
2. In small saucepan over low heat, melt butter completely. Stir in sugar and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Do not allow sugar mixture to boil.
3. Pour butter mixture into a large bowl or stand mixer, beat in cocoa powder, eggs, salt, baking powder, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
4. Stir in the flour and chocolate chips/Thin Mint Cookie pieces until well combined.
5. Spread into prepared pan or use a small cookie scoop to put batter in mini muffin pans (Note: batter will be very thick and sticky) and bake 25 in the 9x13 pan (do not over bake) or 8 minutes in the mini muffin pans (if you like fudge brownies bake on lower end).  Cool on a wire rack.
6. If you want chocolate buttercream frosting: Beat together two sticks of softened butter, slowly add in 4 cups of powdered sugar, 1 tsp of vanilla (or 1/2 tsp peppermint extract), a pinch of sea salt, 1/4 cup coco powder and add 2-4 Tbsp of milk as needed. Pipe or frost onto brownies. Add sprinkles or top with remaining Thin Mint Cookies or Peppermint Patties pieces!

THIN MINT BROWNIE CUPS!!!