These chocolatey Gluten-Free Mint Brownies have a thin layer of delicate mint running through them . . . in the form of an After Eight Mint! They’re the best gluten-free mint brownies ever, and recipes using After Eight mints are incredibly decadent and simply irresistible! 
Where have I been?
Well, it’s five weeks today that my dad’s been in the hospital. What should have been one week is now five, and it’ll still be another few.
This heart surgery that was going to give my dad a “new lease on life.” His shortness of breath was going to be gone, and he’d be able to hike in his beloved Santa Monica Mountains again.
Ironically, his heart is doing great. It’s the numerous complications that have been keeping him there. In the last couple of days though, it seems like things are finally beginning to turn around. Phew.
He’s very weak, and his spirits are quite low. I’m working on turning that around, too.
My mom, who has her own set of health issues, isn’t able to visit him, so it’s the longest time in their fifty-two year marriage that they’ve ever been apart. It’s both heartbreaking and lovely to see how much they miss each other.
I believe my dad will be back home with my mom soon, and a while after, I’m hoping he’ll climbing those mountains again. 
In the meantime, there’s not much like the comfort of chocolate, so I made brownies. Gluten-Free Mint Brownies, that is, so my gluten-free son could also partake.
Not just ordinary mint brownies, either!
Have you ever had an After Eight, Mint Chocolate Thin?
There are quite a few recipes using After Eight mints out there, but this one just made it to the top of my list.
They’re quite special. Growing up, my friend Aimée’s family always seemed to have these around the house — and I always seemed to be eating them!
These individually wrapped candies are a creamy mint fondant inside a crisp, delicate, dark chocolate coating.
Of course they’re delectable on their own, but I thought it might be nice to have a thin layer of them in a brownie. 
So I made it happen.
You should too, because quite frankly, these Gluten-Free Mint Brownies are the best! We’re talking, THE best!
Here are a few more delicious gluten-free brownie recipes:
- Gluten-Free Brownie Cake
- Gluten-Free Nutella Brownies
- Flourless Chocolate Espresso Caramel Brownies
- Best Ever Chewy Fudgy Gluten-Free Brownies
While I wish I could tell you Nestle sponsored this post, but I’m just singing the praises of their oh-so-delicious After Eight Chocolate Mint Thins because I love them. 🙂
Enjoy!
Chocolate Mint Brownies have a thin layer of delicate mint running through them . . . in the form of an After Eight Mint!
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
- about 32 After Eight Mint Chocolate Thins about 1 1/4 boxes
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Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and adjust a rack to the center.
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Melt the butter and set it aside to cool. Use the butter wrappers to grease the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking dish. Set aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar, vanilla and salt until it's light in color and thick, about 2 minutes. (Use an electric mixer if possible.) Fold in the cooled, melted butter.
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In another bowl, mix the gluten-free flour with the sifted cocoa powder. Now fold this into the wet ingredients and mix until you no longer see dry spots and it's smooth.
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Spread the remaining half of the batter on top of the candies evenly, and place the baking dish in the oven just until the batter is cooked all the way through and is set, about 40 minutes.
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Let the brownies cool in the pan for at least 45 minutes and then slice them into 2 dozen evenly sized pieces.
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Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
Sending good thoughts for your Dad (and Mom), and oh YEAH on these brownies! I make some with a huge Hershey’s candy bar inside, and they are my most popular thing to bring to a bake sale! YUMMMMMMM…and a few more MMMs.
valentina says
MMMMM is right, Dorothy! I am loving the sound out that Hershey’s bar! Thank you for the good thoughts! XOXO
Liz Schmitt says
Thinking of you and your family – sending healing thoughts to your Dad. Such a stressful time for you all.
valentina says
Thank you so much, Liz! I so appreciate it! XOXO
Doralece Dullaghan says
Valentina,
So sorry to hear about your parents. I can tell you that for my husband prayer and chemo are the best cocktail and I will keep your parents in my prayers as others have done for Bill and my mother who broke her hip. I will try these these brownies this weekend. They look delicious!!
Hugs to you!!
Doralece
valentina says
Thank you so much Doralece. I love hearing from you and I have had you and Bill in my thoughts, too. What a fighter he is, and what a loving, wonderful family you have. Sending lots of love. (Hope you enjoy the brownies!) XOXO
Deb|EastofEdenCooking says
My heart aches when I hear that your parents can’t be together. And the mint brownies, comfort food just when It’s needed the most! Stay strong and keep good thoughts during this most stressful time.
valentina says
Thank you so much, Deb. Much appreciated. 🙂 xoxo
sippitysup says
Very clever and made with love so you know they’re delicious. XOGREG
valentina says
Awe, thank you Greg. xoxo
David says
So glad to hear that your father is doing well! This must be – and must have been – an extremely hard time for you and your family.
Not that I have a great mind, but am I allowed to say, “great minds think a like?” I made brownies the other day and stuff them with dark chocolate and mint Dove chocolates. Okay, they weren’t gluten-free, but they were really good!
valentina says
You do have a great mind — and if I’m lumped in with you in the cooking department, than I have a great mind too! 🙂 Thanks for the kind words for my dad. xoxo
Kaye says
I was just thinking about you a day or so ago, and realizing I haven’t been to see him. I am relieved he’s had a turn for the better. The recipe looks amazing.
valentina says
Thank you, Kaye! XO
Melissa @ Insider The Kitchen says
I have been making these for years. I can’t get away from them, my whole family always asks me to “Just bring those mint brownie things”. They taste like an Andes Candy and are just perfect!
valentina says
I will never get away from them now! SO GOOD! 🙂
Jovita @ Yummy Addiction says
What a coincidence! I have a few boxes of mint chocolate thins sitting for quite a long time in my drawer because my hubby is not a fan of these. Now I know that I’m making brownies. Thanks for the idea!
valentina says
They wouldn’t sit in a drawer for more than a minute at my house! ;-). Enjoy! 🙂
Shashi at Savory Spin says
I’m sorry to hear that your dad has been in the hospital for 5 weeks – but, glad he’s finally on the mend. My dad used to love After 8 Thin mints so I am very familiar with them – but, I’ve never had them in quite such a delicious brownie – gosh this looks good – now am gonna have to add some chocolate chips to my oats to keep from eating my screen! 🙂
valentina says
Chocolate and oats, I love it! Thanks for the good thoughts for my dad!
Jane @ littlesugarsnaps says
Right, I need to make these brownies. After Eighs are just the best. I was so into them as a kid I’d beg for the After Eight Easter Egg just so I could get hold of some, even though it meant a dark chocolate shell to contend with. I know I would love these squares with that complete layer of minty treasure at the centre.
valentina says
Oh, those Easter eggs! SO GOOD! 🙂
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry says
These look like a little piece of heaven and gluten free too! What more could you want?
valentina says
I couldn’t agree more. 😉
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs says
I love after eight mints and very impressed you manages to get a whole after eight in each brownie!!
valentina says
Why thank you. 🙂 Enjoy!
Jen says
Can I replace the butter with coconut oil? Will it change the taste?
valentina says
Hi Jen, I haven’t tested the recipe with coconut oil, but I think it should work. Coconut oil is mostly a saturated fat, like butter, and it’s fairly flavorless. It will change the flavor slightly though, because while it doesn’t taste like coconut, it doesn’t taste like butter either. 😉 Please let me know how it goes! (I would substitute the butter with the same measurement of the coconut oil.) Good luck!
Beth says
Would this work with your Brownie Cake recipe?
valentina says
Hi Beth! I haven’t tried it with them, but I would think it would work well. Let me know if you try it and how they turn out. 🙂