Peanut Butter Chocolate Swirl Brownies
So, tomorrow is the big day! Are yโall excited?! This year, we are feeding the missionaries on the 14th, so we obviously wonโt be able to get all lovey-dovey in front of those sweet boys (that would be severely awkward). So weโve decided to stick to our usual plan of going out the night before instead (on the 13th)โฆ which is tonight! Itโs my year to choose where we go out to dinner, so Iโm taking us to one of the tastiest restaurants in downtown SLC: The Red Iguana. After, weโll sneak over to the Cheesecake Factory to pick out a cheesecake to take home and share (because after stuffing our faces with Mexican food, we probably will need a few hours to chill out our stomachs before something sweet). We donโt exchange store-bought gifts for Valentineโs Day anymore (because it just gets super expensive really quickly), so we always bring a little sentimental love note or something like that instead. Of course, Ryan always somehow sneaks in some flowers โ Iโm a sucker for those things. Whatever you decide to do for Valentineโs Day, enjoy yourselves! Treat yourselves! Go to town, man. ๐
For me, Valentineโs Day also has a really deep overtone of rich lavish chocolate. Maybe itโs just me, but they kind of go hand-in-hand. So of course, for tomorrow, weโre going to have to throw some serious treats at those missionaries to celebrate Valentineโs Day! These peanut butter chocolate swirl brownies were SO easy, (I even cheated a little bit with the brownies), and would be a perfect treat for anyoneโs Valentineโs Day celebration tomorrow, big or small.
I mean, look at that. Does it not make you want to go run to the nearest fridge and chug all the milk you can stand?! So. Much. Richness going on here.
When you look through the ingredients, youโre going to hate me. How on Earth can this Blondie be recommending using a store-bought brownie mix?!
Sanity, my friends. Sanity.
I made these for our some of our favorite babysitters (Kevin and Stephanie are rockstars and we seriously appreciate their willingness to watch our crazy pirate child when they can on weekends sometimes). I didnโt have much time, and knew using a brownie mix would take half the time than if I made these babies from scratch. If you have a dynamite scratch recipe, go to town my friends. But sometimes, nothing can beat that store-bought Ghiradelli version of brownies, just sayinโ. (not sponsored, just in love, man). It bakes up beautifully without any effort at all, and tastes perfect with the toppings weโre about to throw on that lovely bed of warm, cakey, but very gooey, chocolate.
Melt some peanut butter, toss on some chocolate chips, let it melt, swirl it around, top it with mini peanut butter cups. DONE and DONE. Heavenly dessert status reached. A la mode would be even more amazing.
Valentineโs Day is here, my friends. Enjoy, and happy weekending!
-xoxo
Peanut Butter Chocolate Swirl Brownies
makes 12 rich servings
ingredients:
1 box Ghiradelli fudgy brownies (donโt hate, itโs just easier) + ingredients listed on package
2/3 C creamy peanut butter
2/3 C semi sweet chocolate chips
1 C mini peanut butter cups, sliced in half
method:
1. Prepare and bake brownies according to directions on the package (or make your own made-from scratch brownies!), in a 8ร8 glass dish.
3. Melt peanut butter in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish for 45 seconds, or until completely melted.
4. When the brownies have just finished baking, remove from the oven and pour over all the melted peanut butter until it covers the surface of the brownies. Toss on chocolate chips, and let sit for 30 seconds. This will soften and melt the chips. With a spatula, slightly swirl melty chocolate chips around making a marbled look on the top of the brownies. Toss on the peanut butter cups, and then let cool completely in the fridge for at least an hour to harden.
5. To serve, slice brownies with a warmed knife, with a tall, tall, glass of cold milk.
Recipe source: Baking with Blondie