Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

While cleaning my baking cupboard, the other day, I found a grocery bag full of candies. Hubby had bought tons of candy, for the kids to decorate our gingerbread house with. He MAY have went a bit over board, and the result are the tons of candy I recently found. Among the candy were some of our favorites; Reese's Pieces. Those sneaky little bits of peanut butter goodness!

When I was a teenager, I worked in a coffee shop (Country Style Donuts). One of my favorite treats they made were chocolate cookies, studded with Reese's Pieces. Nothing was better than a warm cookie, during my lunch break, LOL. Not having time to make cookies and wanting the chocolate/Reese's combo, I opted to make brownies.

These were so darn good. I'd say almost dangerously good. Which is probably why they only lasted 2 days! The chewy chocolate brownie, studded with peanut butter candy, frosted with a crunchy peanut butter frosting. SIGH.....

Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
printable version

1/2 stick of butter (1/4C)
6 Tbs cocoa
3/4 C sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 C flour
2 eggs
1/2 C peanut butter candies such as Reese's Pieces
peanut butter frosting (recipe follows)
mini chocolate chips to garnish

In a medium saucepan melt butter and cocoa, over med low heat. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, salt, vanilla and eggs. Stir in the flour and candies. Spray an 8x8 square baking dish, with cooking spray. Spread batter into pan and bake at 325 degrees for 30-40 minutes (until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean). Cool completely before frosting and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips. Cut into 16 squares.

Peanut Butter Frosting

3 Tbs butter, softened
1/2 C chunky peanut butter
1 C confectioner's sugar
1-2 Tbs milk, as needed

Place the butter and peanut butter into a medium bowl, and beat with an electric mixer. Gradually mix in the sugar, and when it starts to get thick, incorporate milk one tablespoon at a time until all of the sugar is mixed in and the frosting is thick and spreadable. Beat for at least 3 minutes for it to get good and fluffy.

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