Friday, December 12, 2008

brownie peanut butter cups

I know.

You've been in a dither all week, wondering how the progressive dinner went and what I made for dessert.

Let me just tell you, I availed myself of the opportunity to try a bunch of recipes from one of my favorite food porn blogs -- Bake or Break, and I baked.

And baked.

I used:

2 whole pounds of butter
18 eggs
and 11 ounces of cream cheese
And a bunch of flour and sugar, that sort of thing.


Knowing that, you know it had to be good -- in a very Paula Dean way, ya'll.

The one bad part?

I put one of the desserts (Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Squares) in my fridge downstairs and forgot about it.

And then I was going to take them to my Book Group Brunch today, and I forgot them again.

Either they don't think they want to be eaten, or it's a sign that they are horrible.

Anyway, here is the official dessert menu:

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Squares (almost)
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Blonde Brownies (only so-so)
Supernatural Brownies (so ultra yummy)
Raspberry Almond Tarts (ugly, but yummo -- even though my nephew said they tasted like Pop-Tarts. He can't help it. His Dad lives in Ketchup infamy.)
Lemon Bread (so good)
Pear Bread (surprisingly tasty)

and last, but not least:


Brownie Peanut Butter Cups (amazingly good, and impressive looking).
If my brother-in-law Bill were here, he would have taken a picture of the line-up. But he wasn't, and I forgot. (Bill is studying to be an attorney, but really he should be a food photographer. I think it is his calling in life.)

Here's the recipe for Good Food Friday:


Amaze Your Guests With Brownie Peanut Butter Cups


3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon water
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup peanut butter chips plus about 1/3 cup more for garnishing
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips plus about 1/3 cup more for garnishing
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter


Preheat oven to 350 . Spray or grease 12 muffin cups.
In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine sugar, butter, and water. Microwave on high for 1 minute or until butter is melted. Stir in 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips until melted. Stir in egg and vanilla extract. Add flour and baking soda, stirring until blended. Allow to cool to room temperature. Then, stir in 1/2 cup each peanut butter chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Spoon batter by heaping tablespoonfuls into muffin cups.
Bake for 13-15 minutes or until top is set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out slightly wet. Place pan on wire rack. Centers of brownies will fall upon cooling. If not, tap centers with the back of a teaspoon to make a hole.
Place peanut butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 45 seconds, then stir. While brownies are still hot, spoon about a tablespoon of peanut butter into the center of each brownie. Top with semi-sweet chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Cool completely in pan.



As I said, these look cool, but are surprisingly easy. And very rich and delicious. At least three of my nieces/nephews hid some of these in napkins and took them home with them.


And Jeanne, I would love you to share your yummy dessert with me! Please!
brownie picture by bake or break

8 comments:

miranda said...

I'm sooo sad you forgot the vanilla bean cheesecake! Although the lemon bread was yummy!

Head Nurse or Patient- you be the judge said...

Glad you had so much fun with the fam.

Amber said...

Can I get your supernatural brownie recipe? Love, Nicki

Jeanne said...

Ooooh those look so yummy! I'll have to try them. I'll post my recipe on my blog because I have to make it for Christmas-it's tradition.

Allyson said...

Thanks for a new food blog I can stalk! Sounds like you have been busy doing the baker thang - I am doing all mine on Sunday following my typical form of relieving stress and avoiding the studying I really need to do.

Ps. All the recipes you have on here are so great, I am pretty sure nothing you make could be horrible.

Kellie :) said...

I am going to have try out the brownie peanut butter cups I love chocolate and peanut butter together.

Kate said...

oh I love dessert! What kind of chocolate do you use. the stores here in HP only seem to carry Hershey's or Nestles, you know the cheap stuff. I'll have to take a trip into the city to buy the real stuff. Then I'll make all these yummy things!!!

the lunch lady said...

I tried some Scharffenberger chocolate this time. I think you just need to look for a high cacao content.