Chocolate Mint Bars

These were among desserts served to the “Club” ladies, Mom’s bridge playing friends. On “Club” nights we’d sit at the top of the stairs to listen in. Usually “the boys” would refuse to quiet down and go to sleep, so Mom would run upstairs, holler and swat some fannies, then go back downstairs and play hostess as if nothing happened.

2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

1/2 cup sifted flour

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs, beat well, then chocolate; beat again till blended. Add peppermint extract, then flour and nuts. Stir till it’s all mixed in. Pour into a buttered and floured square baking pan (8 x 8 inches) Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Test for doneness by sticking a toothpick in the center. If a few crumbs stick to it, bars are done.

Cool bars on a baking rack.

Make filling:

2 T. soft butter

1 cup sifted powdered sugar

Dash of salt

3/4 tsp. peppermint extract

1 T. cream

Beat or stir butter and powdered sugar together, add salt, peppermint extract and cream. Beat till smooth. (You may have to add more cream) When bars are cooled frost with the filling.

Glaze:

Melt 1 square of unsweetened chocolate with 1 T. butter, mix together to blend, cool slightly. Dribble glaze over filling, tilting pan back and forth to cover. Cool and cut into small squares if you’re a bridge lady; the rest of us can super size them.