Peanut Butter Brownie

So Aubree was craving peanut butter and chocolate.  As a strong advocate of that combination on a daily basis, Ashley went right along with helping Aubree find a fix. lol. But truly we wanted peanut butter and chocolate and we had a brownie mix on us, so one thing led to another.  This recipe is rich. And by rich I mean you need a glass of milk/can't eat two in a row unless you like super rich things.  It's really easy to make in general, but in case you don't want something super rich then just leave off the frosting.

The cost you might ask? $5

Start by making the peanut butter mix that will be added to the brownies.  In a small bowl add 1/3 packed brown sugar, 1/3 crunchy peanut butter, and 1 egg.  About the actual peanut butter--we only had smooth peanut butter (remember people in the house don't like nuts), so use what you have.  In hindsight the nuts might help cut down on the richness but it's your call.

Make the brownie mix according to the box.

Preheat the oven depending on what pan you bake this in.

Here comes the fun part.  Put 3/4 of the brownie batter into your pan.

  

About a tablespoon at a time (give or take a bit) drop the peanut butter mixture into brownie mixture.  Spread it out so that you have peanut butter throughout the pan.

Then cover the peanut butter with the remaining brownie mixture left over.

Take a knife and gently sweep it back and forth mixing the peanut butter and brownie batters.  It's not an exact science you just want to mix the two.

Bake according to the box.

While the brownies are baking it's time to make the frosting.  Take a container of vanilla frosting and scoop 3/4 into a bowl.  Then add 1/4 peanut butter (you probably want smooth but it's up to you) and then 2 teaspoons milk.

Combine the ingredients together and there's the frosting.  Now just wait for the the brownies to cool and then add on the frosting.

Here's a secret: it's sometimes really hard to cut brownies or bars.  So you can use a knife or a plastic knife and gently saw. Or you can use a pizza cutter. Yup a pizza cutter.  If you get any brownie on the blade just wipe it off, but it leaves pretty clean lines.  So easy now. Do you have a good way to cut brownies?

Recipe (adapted from Betty Crocker)

Brownies:

1 box brownie mix

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter

1 egg

Frosting:

2/3 cup vanilla frosting (from 16 0z container)

1/4 peanut butter

2 teaspoon milk

Combine brown sugar, peanut butter and egg in small bowl.  

In separate bowl make brownie mix according to package.

Put 2/3 of brownie mix into 13 x 9 pan.

Scoop tablespoons of peanut butter mixture into brownie mix

Cover peanut butter with remaining brownie batter

Bake per box

Make frosting by combining vanilla frosting, peanut butter and milk in bowl.

Allow brownies to cool on a wire rack.

Frost brownies and have milk ready to drink!