Peanut Butter Pep Talk

Nothing screams Halloween like orange and black. This translates into chocolate and peanut butter--my first loves. So, I did what any self-respecting baker would do and I waited until my husband left to head to the grocery store. I also picked up some dark chocolate and cream cheese. Can't be anything wrong with a little more of either, right?

So glad I decided to get the cream cheese. The recipe for these brownies creates a rich, deep flavor that is unlike most brownies. The cream cheese gives it a nice tang which cuts through the often overly sweet nature of brownies. The frosting adds the sweetness back in at just the right amount.

Prepare your glasses of milk in 3..2..1..
Cream 1 stick (1/2) butter with 8 oz of cream cheese and 1 3/4 cup sugar.
Beat in one egg at a time, adding 3 eggs in all.
Add 1 tsp of vanilla.
Add 1 cup of flour and 3/4 cup of cocoa powder with 1/2 salt and 1/4 tsp baking powder.
Stir in 1 1/4 cup peanut butter chips and 1/3 cup dark chocolate morsels.
Pour mixture (more like spread the globs) into a 13x9 baking dish and bake until barely anything come out on a toothpick.

 

For the icing cream 3 tbsp butter with 3 tbsp cocoa powder. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar very slowly so it doesn't begin to snow in your kitchen. Add 1-2 tbsp of whole milk and then prepare to add 1-2 cups more powdered sugar. I added 1 tsp of peanut butter and 1/2 tsp of vanilla to achieve the consistency and body I wanted. There is nothing wrong with you leaving out the peanut butter in icing, which would mean you add less powdered sugar. Baking (and cooking in general) is all about doing what you're comfortable with. If you want to add or subtract something, just think it out and go with it! Chances are if you like something you make, so will others around you. Be bold; be brave. Failing is a possibility, but it makes succeeding just that much sweeter--literally. Okay, pep talk over.