Grasshopper Squares

Prep Methods/Techniques ,
Cuisine
Course
Servings 1
Description
We made these cookies for Christmas one year several years ago and they were so good that we have made them every year since.
Noted on 3/30/2012
Ingredients
    Brownie Layer
  • 12 tbsp butter (1 1/2 sticks)
  • 10 1/2 oz bittersweet chocolate (no more than 60% cacao), finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • Mint Ganache
  • 6 tbsp heavy cream
  • 15 oz white chocolate, chopped
  • 2 tbsp green crèam de menthe
  • 1 tsp peppermint extract
  • Chocolate Ganache
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 12 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
Method
    For the brownie layer:
  1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 13- by 9-inch baking pan with 4 crisscrossed sheets of foil in 2 layers, leaving a 2 inch overhang on all sides. Butter foil.
  2. Melt butter and chocolate with brown sugar in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Remove from heat. Whisk in eggs and vanilla until combined. Whisk in flour, cocoa and salt until just combined.
  3. Spread batter evenly in baking pan and bake until set and a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs adhering, about 20 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a rack, about 1 1/2 hours.
     
  4. For the mint ganache:
  5. Bring cream to a simmer in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan and remove from heat. Pour over white chocolate in a bowl. Let stand 1 minute, then whisk until smooth. Stir in crème de menthe and extract and chill, covered, stirring occasionally, until thick, about 1 hour.
  6. For the chocolate ganache:
  7. Bring cream to a simmer in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan and remove from heat. Pour over bittersweet chocolate in a bowl. Let stand 1 minute, then whisk until smooth. Chill, covered, stirring occasionally, until thick, about 30 minutes.
  8. To assemble the layers:
  9. Spread mint ganache over top of cooled brownie in a thin even layer using offset spatula, then chill until firm but still slightly sticky, about 30 minutes.
  10. Spread chocolate ganache over mint and chill until very firm, at least 2 hours.
  11. Lift dessert out of pan using foil overhang. Run a heavy knife under hot water and wipe dry. Cut dessert into 1-inch by 1-inch squares and peel from foil. The cuts will be cleaner if the knife is cleaned, reheated and wiped dry after each cut.
Cook's Notes
Yield
Makes 6 dozen pieces
Advance Prep
Squares keep, layered between sheets of wax paper or parchment, chilled in an airtight container 3 weeks.
Special Equipment
An offset spatula is helpful for spreading the ganache.
I use a perfectly straight sided baking pan for making these cookies.
Source/Adapted From
Gourmet Magazine