Because it's Christmas.

In my house, Christmas and cookies are two words that just go together. I don't care how healthy you are, you're going to eat a cookie around Christmas time. Go on and admit it!

Recently I had a Christmas cookie party at my home and challenged all the attendees to a cookie bake off. Here's the winning recipe, and ps... it's a brownie!

Janette's Award-Winning Mint Brownies

(if you're looking for them in the picture, you'll find them in the round tray on the right, above the rectangular tray on the bottom)

Ingredients:

For the brownies:

One box of dark chocolate brownie mix (Janette uses Duncan Hines)

2 eggs

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon mint extract

2 tablespoons dutch cocoa powder

1/4 bag milk chocolate chips

1/3 bag white chocolate chips

1/3 bag mint chocolate chips

For the icing:

3 tablespoons butter, melted

1/3 bag white chocolate chips, melted and cooled

1/3 bag mint chocolate chips, melted and cooled

1/3 cup milk

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Add brownie mix, water, oil, and eggs to a bowl and mix until blended. To this, stir in mint extract, cocoa, and all the chips. Pour batter into greased 9" x 13" pan and bake as directed on box.

2. To make the icing, add the melted butter to a medium sized bowl and stir in all the melted chocolate. Add the milk and powdered sugar and mix until smooth, adding more milk or sugar until you get a good fudge-like consistency. Pour icing over cooled brownies.