Mint Julep Brownies flavored with bourbon and mint and covered in chocolate frosting are the perfect sweet treat for Derby Day.
The Mint Julep is one of my favorite cocktails. It’s such a simple cocktail with just 3 basic ingredients: mint, bourbon, and sugar. But the taste is anything but simple.
Since the Kentucky Derby is just weeks away, I decided to turn this beloved cocktail into a brownie.
The brownie batter is flavored with both bourbon and mint and it’s topped off by a smooth and creamy frosting. Just because given the choice between a frosted brownie and an unfrosted brownie, I’ll take the frosted one every time.
Mint is one of the herbs I use all summer, but rarely use other months of the year. It grows like a weed during the summer time and often times can’t even be killed by someone with 2 brown thumbs. My grandfather, who was from Louisville, grew a big patch of mint to use in his Mint Juleps. One Derby Day, he drank a little too much and my grandmother chopped all the mint down with a hoe so that he would no longer be able to make Mint Juleps. She was quite surprised and exasperated when it grew back even more bountiful than before.
I actually don’t drink that much, maybe 1 drink per week on average, but there’s one thing I always have in my liquor cabinet. Bourbon. Makers Mark to be specific. I probably cook with it more often than I drink it.
Bourbons woodsy, vanilla flavor is so southern and distinctive and works so well as a flavoring for foods.
So this coming Derby Day, if you don’t want to drink your Mint Juleps, you can eat them. Or you can do both. 🙂
Try These Other Amazing Mint Julep Recipes:
- Mint Julep Cupcakes
- Mint Julep Cake
- Mint Julep Fruit Salad
- Sweet Tea Mint Juleps
- Watermelon Mint Julep
- Mint Julep Ice Cream
Mint Julep Brownies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate,, chopped
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves,, I used about 8 leaves
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
Frosting
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate,, chopped
- 1 stick butter,, softened
- 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place 1 cup (2 sticks) butter and chopped chocolate in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring frequently, until both butter and chocolate are melted. Set aside and let cool for about 5 minutes.
- Combine sugar and mint in a food processor and pulse until mint is finely chopped and incorporated into the sugar.
- Place eggs and mint sugar in a large bowl and whisk together well.
- Gradually whisk in chocolate/ butter mixture.
- Whisk in flour, salt, and bourbon.
- Pour into a lightly greased 9X13-inch pan. Bake 25-28 minutes. Let cool before frosting.
- To make frosting, melt chocolate in a small, heavy bottomed saucepan over low heat. Let cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together. Add 3 tablespoons milk and beat, stopping to scrape down the sides, until smooth.
- With mixer on low, slowly add chocolate and then beat on medium until mixed well.
- Mix in vanilla extract and salt and add an extra tablespoon of milk if frosting is too thick.
- Spread frosting on brownies.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published April 10, 2014.
More Bourbon Recipes
Pecan Chicken with Bourbon Maple Cream Gravy
Pumpkin Pancakes with Bourbon Vanilla Maple Syrup
Slow Cooker Bourbon Baked Beans
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Bourbon and mint combination tastes amazing!
Loved the frosting.
Any suggestions to make ahead and still be fresh?
YUMMY
I’m making these for my husband’s birthday.Thanks for the recipe. The frosting directions confused me. After giving it a try, I’m guessing the first direction should say melt the chocolate and not the butter?
Yes it should! Thank you for pointing out my mistake. It is corrected now. 🙂
No problem. My husband LOVED these. Thanks! (I added more mint and bourbon to the frosting just for fun.)
Wow, bourbon in brownies – such a genius idea! Plus, I am a big fan of anything mint and chocolate and can’t get over how thick that frosting is!
The frosting is always my favorite part so I like lots of it 🙂
Combining mint julep and brownies is such a brilliant idea. They look so good! I am buying some bourbon even if just for this! haha!
Loved the story about your grandfather! 🙂
I have to admit, I haven’t seen brownies with fresh mint leaves.. and I really love this idea!
They look delicious Christin!! 8 ounces of chocolate, more the better and then 2 tablespoons of bourbon, yea!! I printed your recipe and plan to give these a try 🙂 Have a great weekend! 🙂
Hope you enjoy them Michael and have a great weekend! 🙂
I cannot even believe these brownies right now. The bourbon! The mint! That frosting! Incredible. 🙂
Thank you Beth! I’m still drooling over your Chocolate Stout Cakeshakes 🙂