Today's recipe is from Extreme Brownies: 50 Recipes for the Most Over-the-Top Treats Ever by Connie Weiss. Weiss, a pastry chef who sells her sweet treats at the Old Beach Farmers' Market in Virginia Beach, knows a thing or two about brownies and shares recipes that live up to the book's title. These deeply chocolate peanut butter cup packed brownies which Connie made for The Today Show are a good example.
As the book promises, they are extreme. A 9x13 inch pan makes 12 dramatically large or 24 generous size brownies. And while you could always cut them smaller for meetings or parties, the large size brownies are perfect for bake sales and would look beautiful individually wrapped and labeled.
Overall, I was pleased with the recipe and have bookmarked quite a few others including the PMS Brownies, Connie's Caramel-Stuffed Sea Salt Brownies, Chookie Brownies (Connie's rendition of a "brookie") and Tuxedo Brownies, which have a fluffy layer of white filling between the fudge brownie and chocolate icing. There are also a lot of interesting sounding blondies.
Many thanks to Connie Weiss and Andrews McMeel for sharing the recipe.
Recipe
Extreme Brownies Peanut Butter Cups Brownies
Ingredients
- Vegetable shortening for pan
- 1 12-ounce package miniature peanut butter cups (or use Reese's Unwrapped Minis)
- 3 sticks 12 ounces unsalted butter
- 4½ ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
- 1½ cups 9 ounces 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate chips
- 6 large eggs at room temperature
- 1½ cups 10.5 ounces granulated sugar
- 1½ packed cups 12 ounces light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1½ cups 6.8 ounces bleached all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped salted peanuts
- ¼ cup 1 ounce milk chocolate chips (I used Reese's Pieces)
Instructions
- Adjust an oven rack to the middle level of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Prepare a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil (Note: The book tells you how to do this if you don't know how). Lightly grease the foil in the pan.
- Unwrap the peanut butter cups; set aside.
- Cut the butter sticks into 1-inch slices. In a small, heavy saucepan, melt the butter pieces over the lowest setting. While the butter is melting, chop the unsweetened chocolate into ¼-inch pieces and add to the melted butter along with the bittersweet chocolate chips. Use a small whisk to speed the melting process. When the chocolate is melted and completely smooth, turn off the heat but leave the saucepan on the burner while proceeding with the recipe.
- Using a large whisk, lightly beat the eggs in a large mixing bowl. Place the sugars and salt in a separate small mixing bowl, then whisk into the eggs just until incorporated. Briefly whisk the melted chocolate mixture, then gradually whisk into the egg mixture until just combined. Briefly whisk in the vanilla.
- Place the flour and baking powder in the small mixing bowl; whisk together to combine. Sift through a medium strainer directly onto the batter; stir in with a silicone spatula until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a small offset spatula. Push the peanut butter cups into the batter; do not place any within ½ inch of the pan sides. Use the offset spatula to cover the candy with the batter. Sprinkle the chopped peanuts over the batter, then place the milk chocolate chips evenly on the batter. Bake for 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and let cool at room temperature for at least 15 minutes, then refrigerate the pan for 7 to 8 hours, or overnight. See page xix for instructions on removing and cutting the slab, and for refrigerated storage (up to 3 weeks) and freezing guidelines.
Sue says
Those brownies and that book both look like the very best kind of trouble.
Beth says
I don't comment often, but wow! That book looks fantastic! I'll try to look past the horribly named PMS brownies 😉
Dana @ Wanted Adventure says
Just when I thought THIS was the most amazing brownie creation I'd ever seen, I saw in the "Related posts" field here down below a recipe for Peanut Butter Topped Chocolate Brownies, and I had to re-think everything!! And then I clicked on that and found a link to Extreme Fudgy Peanut Butter Brownies!!!! 😀 😀 😀 Happy baker. I think I'll start with those first.