Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Brownies
Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Brownies will evoke these responses – “This is sick!” “I hate you!” “OH MY GOD!” “Seriously?!?”
I knew I had stumbled upon an incredible brownie when all my friends gave me feedback like this. Funny thing was that I felt the exact same way.
It started when Ellen, a friend from high school, posted a recipe on her facebook page for Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Brownies with a tease for me to try them out. It really only took one look at the picture and I knew what I was going to be baking next.
After sending goodie bags around to friends and getting their feedback, of which I only quoted the printable responses, I did a bit of digging. The original recipe was posted on Food Network, but it was RECIPEgirlwhose post made it to my friend’s facebook page. I decided that I wanted to incorporate the best of both recipes to achieve brownie nirvana. They may be a tad on the decadent side, but they are soooo worth it.
My major challenge was deciding what type of peanut to go with, as I wanted the crunch and taste that peanuts bring into a recipe. My initial thought was to add lightly salted peanuts and the salt/sweet balance was wonderful. Yet, I was not quite satisfied. Well, actually, I was very satisfied and stuffed, but thought that I could bump these brownies up one more notch. Then it hit me, honey roasted peanuts. I am sure this is exactly what the doctor would order since I am adding protein to my ‘diet.’
If you are anything like I am, these brownies will undoubtably turn into a keeper recipe for you. May the decision of which peanut to use be your most challenging decision of the day.
Pin it: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/26106872815616416/
| Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Brownies | | Print |
- Brownie Layer:
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup bittersweet chocolate chips
- Cookie Dough Layer:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup honey roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
- Chocolate Topping:
- ¾ cup bittersweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ tablespoon sugar
- 1 cup peanut butter chips
- Preheat oven to 350º. Line an 8” x 8” baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper. Set aside.
- For the brownie layer:
- Melt the butter and unsweetened chocolate together. Set aside.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat together the sugar and eggs until combined. While the mixer is on, add the chocolate mixture. Add the flour mixture. Blend in the vanilla. Lastly, fold in the chocolate chips.
- Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 28 minutes. Remove and cool completely on a wire rack.
- For the cookie dough layer:
- Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, peanut butter and brown sugar until creamy, scraping the bowl down as needed. Add the milk. Blend in the flour and salt until combined.
- Evenly spread the cookie dough layer over the top of the brownie layer, taking it to the sides. Top with the chopped peanuts, gently pushing them into the cookie dough. Refrigerate while making the topping.
- For the chocolate topping:
- In a small bowl, combine the chocolate, whipping cream and sugar. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave 30 more seconds. If the mixture is not melted, continue to microwave in 20 second intervals until it is completely melted.
- Pour the chocolate topping over the peanuts, taking it to the edges. Sprinkle the peanut butter chips over the chocolate topping, gently pushing them into the chocolate. Refrigerate until firm, at least one hour.
- Gently lift the parchment paper out of the pan and place on a cutting board. Peel the parchment sides down. Use a thin, sharp knife and cut into 16 squares. Allow to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving.
- Betsy's tidbits:
- Lightly salted peanuts may be substituted for honey roasted ones. It is a tough decision between the two. Keep both handy and you will always be happy with the end result.
- The density of the brownie may be altered for personal preferences. If you want the brownie layer to be cakier, bake a couple of minutes longer. If you prefer a mushier brownie layer, bake a couple of minutes less.
