Adele and Ken Zell raised five kids on N. NE 48th Avenue. They lived there from 1948 to 1999. All the kids (Mary, Ken Jr., Tom, Anne, and John) attended Beaumont when it was a K-8 school; four later attended Grant and one attended Adams High School. This three-layer classic mint-chocolate combination was one of Adele’s favorite desserts. The creme de menthe and creme de cacao may require a trip to the liquor store.
Maut Zell’s Chocolate Mint Brownies
Brownie Layer
- 4 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate
- 1 c butter
- 2 c sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 c all purpose flour
- 1 c chopped nuts (optional)
Mint Frosting Layer
- 6 Tbsp butter, softened
- 2 Tbsp heavy cream
- 3 tsp creme de menthe
- 3 c powdered sugar
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- Green food coloring (1 to 2 drops)
Chocolate Glaze
- 1 c chocolate chips (semi-sweet)
- 4 Tbsp butter, softened
- 1 Tbsp creme de cacao
For the Brownies:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9- by 13-inch pan. In a double boiler or bowl over a pan of hot water, melt the unsweetened chocolate and butter, stirring often. Set aside to cool slightly (10 minutes). Combine the sugar and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth and then add flour and nuts (if used), stirring just to combine. Stir in the chocolate-butter mixture. Pour batter into the greased pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
For the Mint Frosting:
Combine the frosting ingredients and beat until smooth. Spread evenly over the cooled brownies.
For the Chocolate Glaze:
Melt the glaze ingredients together in a small bowl over a pan of hot water as described above. Allow to cool for about 5 to 10 minutes. Spread evenly over the mint frosting. Let cool to harden slightly before cutting into squares with a sharp, thin knife. Enjoy!
John Zell is a Portland native and has lived in the B-W neighborhood for 55 years. He attended Beaumont Grade School and graduated from Grant High School in 1975. His career has been in printing and graphic design. John and his wife Christy have operated a graphics services business in SE Portland for 30 years.