5.07.2009

#61) PB Brownie Bars


Ok, I have a couple of apologies to make:

1) I am sorry to those of you who have come here looking for those super-duper healthy sweet treats I keep promising to experiment, but the baking demands of my brother always include chocolate and peanut butter, and although I use light pb, it still isn't very healthy... I am sorry if you feel misled :(

2) Apology #2 is for my future actions - or lack thereof... I am heading back to university for the summer, but there is a considerable amount of moving involved for an extra bout of teaching practice and classes so I will not have my "own" kitchen for quite some time... Although I will try my best to get some sweet treats up here for all my lovers - I can't make any promises :(

Now that that's over on to better and chocolate-ier things :)

This bar is a new take on my brother's favorite treat - Peanut Butter Balls. The brownie bottom is, I hear, excellent, seeing as it isn't "safe" for me... and the peanut butter looks so ooey, gooey that it must be amazing :) Please give 'em a try and let me know what you think!

Brownie Bottom

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chocolate (I used milk)
1 1/2 cups sugar
Dash salt
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup flour
2 tbsp cocoa

Steps
-Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 9x9 pyrex dish with foil and spray.
-Melt butter and chocolate together. Let cool slightly.
-Add sugar, salt, and vanilla. Mix until incorporated.
-Beat in eggs one at a time.
-Mix in flour and cocoa just until combined.
-Turn into dish and bake for 35-45 minutes, rotating halfway through.

Peanut Butter Filling

Ingredients
1 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup icing sugar
Dash salt
1 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla

Step
-Beat together until well combined.

Chocolate Topping

Ingredients
1 cup chocolate (I used milk)
1/4 cup butter

Steps
-Melt together.
-Pour over cooled brownies and chill for at least 2 hours.

26 comments:

  1. No apologies necessary. Thanks for posting this recipe. It's fantastic. I bet they tasted really, really good.

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh oh those look so good! I love peanut butter and chocolate and these surely look delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  3. How about trying natural peanut butter? It's 100% good for you since it consists of nuts only, without added sugar or other crap, with healthy fats and tasty on top of that!

    ReplyDelete
  4. All I can say is WOW!! Those look amazing.

    Maria
    x

    ReplyDelete
  5. YUM! Two of my favorite things in this world!! Good luck to you...I will miss seeing your recipes. But look forward to seeing them again soon!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the bars! A little indulgence never hurt once in a while ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh my gosh! These look fantastic! I will be making these very, very soon!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Dani, peanuts (also peanutbutter), chocolate and caramel is the best combination ever (we all know this since snickers ;-) ), so feel free to post more of this yummy stuff. I hope you'll miss your kitchen not too much in summer. Have a nice week end, Anja

    ReplyDelete
  9. This looks amazing, pb and chocolate make a killer combo. Have a great time at school.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Serious drooling going on here - those look fantastic Dani!!

    Apologies for not calling by earlier due to my back circumstances.

    Rosie x

    ReplyDelete
  11. The look of bars is amazing! This must be something WONDERFUL!! :))

    ReplyDelete
  12. These look soo good! Can't go wrong with PB and chocolate.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You have nothing to apologize for :). These look great and I hope you have fun at school!

    ReplyDelete
  14. These look AMAZING. Just amazing. Oh, your brother is so lucky. Don't apologize to me about the lack of healthy sweets. You know what? I eat everything else healthy; I don't need my sweets to be so sinless. Tasting everything never really hurt anyone ;) I think going back to University for the summer sounds great. Sorry that you won't have your own kitchen, but we'll be super excited to hear from you whenever you get the chance! Sorry that I've been an absent commenter; I just finished up my law school exams and am finally getting around to my google reader.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Okay, I am not sure if I am the only one to notice, but it says "Beat in eggs one at a time." and than for the ingredients it does not say anything about adding any eggs. So how many egg's should I use?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Well I would use my name Joe but I am not sure how to put it as that for this. Anyways it's all good, but thats how many eggs I used anyways. I made these and I must say they were amazing. I plan on making these again soon because they were that good. Something I found online that I actually like. =]

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dani, no apologies required - I adore your treats and hey best of look on your return to university! Love your bars just right up my street :D

    ReplyDelete
  18. so glad you liked them joe! my favorite part was licking the spoon from the brownie bowl yummmy!

    thansk rosie!!!! i will hopefully be back in business next month - keep your fingers crossed :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. 1st there is nothing to sorry for me.. and just keep on doing what you like..

    ReplyDelete
  20. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Okay, I admit I'm a terrible baker but am trying to learn....I found you on Baking 101 FB group, and your recipes looked scrumptious so I tried
    these PB brownie bars. For the brownie bottom it says; Line long pan with foil and spray. Can you be more specific? What's a "long pan?" I foiled and sprayed a cookie sheet, spread the mixture to the corners and it was too thin, overbaked and crisp, instead of thick and chewy. Should it be a 9x13 baking dish? This is why my confidence goes south.....and I never want to do it again....it took all morning, and zero results, just dirty dishes. I'll keep the PB mixture and try again this weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  22. kelly - i am so sorry my intructions weren't as clear as they should be :( Thank you for pointing it out. If memeory serves, these were made in a 9x9 pyrex dish, so yes, "long pan" was far off the mark! don't be so hard on yourself, i take all the responsability for the no-go... and the dirty dishes :( I am fixing it right now. please let me know if you have another go at it :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh, you're so kind Dani....Thanks for changing it. The PB mix is standing by, so will bake the brownie bottom this morning. I was so frustrated yesterday...I made gingerbread too, and decided to add choc. chips (I love choc and ginger together) and see how it came out. Baked it in a
    non-stick bundt pan sprayed with Pam, let it cool and came out mangled...still tasted good though. I'll let you know how this batch of PB Brownies turn out! Many thanks again....Kelly

    ReplyDelete
  24. Loved the recipe. Have been a chef for many years but there is no pride in my baking abilities. I am off from work for Christmas break and thought I would give these a try. I did a Google search for PB chocolate bars and yours came up. Everything was clear except when to add the PB mix. I am assuming I let the brownies cool and then spread the PB mix. Then put the chocolate topping on and chill. Am I close? THanks so much. My wife will be so pleased (or rather miffed she has to go to a few extra Zumba classes this week) to have these to munch on. THanks again!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. sorry about that anonymous... but u r on the money - let the brownies cool and slather on the PB mixture :)

    hope your wife enjoys them! and merry christmas :)

    ReplyDelete