Ultimate Pretzel Crusted Peanut Butter Brownies

Yes, you read that right!  Someone posted this recipe on my message board, and as soon as I saw "pretzel", "peanut butter" and "brownie" in the same title -- DONE!  While I'm not a huge chocolate person (as you already know).....once you mix it with peanut butter, I'm a HUGE fan!

So I read the title and ran to the food store.  See....I've been doing a lot of cooking lately for my family...but also for my Mom and Dad.  Sadly my Mom's cancer spread (it's treatable though) and she's been on radiation.  She also has bronchitis and well.....those 2 things have her totally exhausted and unable to do much.  So I've taken on the role as private chef for my parents....and now I'm thinking that when radiation and chemo are over.....they might ask me to just move in...or put me on pay role!  She called me tonight and asked me "what's on the menu this week?"  With menu in hand for the week, I added these as an added bonus!

I'd been cooking ALL.  DAY.  LONG and I was tired....but I knew once dinner was over and the kitchen was clean, I could sink my teeth into one of these!

The recipe came from HERE.  I followed the recipe exact, because I had gotten all the ingredients this time!  And they did NOT disappoint!  I had one, but no one else in the family has.  Olivia was in bed by 7:15, not felling well...Ava got punished because she didn't eat dinner (can't have your pudding, if you don't eat your meat) and Joe is asleep on the couch.  But now that I've cut them up...once the smell makes its way to the living room he'll be up!   For now though......I may just have another one!  They are a little rich and sweet...so cut them into smaller "brownie pieces" unless you like rich and sweet.

There is NOTHING healthy about these....so if you are dieting or watching what you eat...LEAVE NOW before you see the picture!  If you are all "F - DIETS!", feast your eyes on these..........

(that is heaps of peanut butter from the peanut butter cups).

OK....I won't waste any more time...here's the recipe!

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups crushed butter snap pretzels

1 cup melted butter

5 TBSP sugar

Peanut Butter Cookie Mix (+ ingredients the mix calls for)

Brownie Mix (+ ingredients the mix calls for)

Snack size Reece's Peanut Butter Cups (24)

1.  Crush the pretzels in a food processor (or however you'd like to crush them).  Don't crush to dust....make sure there are small pieces still in the mix.  

Mix with melted butter and sugar.

Press lightly into a greased 13x9 pan.

Set aside

2.  Make cookie dough according to package.  Lightly press cookie dough evenly on top of pretzel crust.

3.  Unwrap 24 Reece's Peanut Butter Cups and layer them on top of cookie dough.

4.  Make brownie mix according to package and pour evenly over Peanut Butter Cups.

5.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

6. Remove, Cook and ENJOY!

My good camera is broken (sad face) so these pictures are from my phone...and do not do it's justice!

~Gianna~

Red Velvet Cream Cheese Brownies

I finally had the kitchen all cleaned up from dinner last night when I got a text from a friend of mine saying her daughter was sick, and my oldest couldn't go over and play today.  I knew I'd have a disappointed 6 year old after school, because she was so excited to go to her friend's house.   I decided we'd have a fun afternoon and night at home....early dinner, a board game or 2 and a family movie.....and obviously we'd need to bake a yummy dessert!   But what should we bake???  We did cookies a few days ago and they didn't turn out how I'd planned.....but we needed something different!  I went through a bunch of blogs I follow and a bunch of recipes I have saved (for rainy days....or when I have a sad kid on my hands that needs cheering up), but nothing was jumping at me!   I wondered over to Fake Ginger (the genius behind the pretzel bowls) to see what kind of yummy desserty recipes she might have (I hadn't gotten a chance to browse her recipes yet) and found one that JUMPED!   And boy did it jump!

Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE Red Velvet anything.....cake, cupcakes, cake balls, alcoholic beverages...you name it, I want it!   And it's funny because I DON'T like chocolate (for shame, I know!) And red velvet is chocolate cake with red food coloring...well more or less.  Aside from the cocoa powder -- I don't see the similarity (or taste it).   I also am slightly obsessed with cream cheese...and cream cheese frosting is one of my most favoritest things on Earth.  So this recipe JUMPED!  And my girls and I jumped right on it!    I also think it would be a fun dessert to make for a Super Bowl party!  Especially this year when the Giants are in it, and their team colors are Red, Blue and White!  SCORE!  

It was very simple, and my kids enjoyed making them with me.  It helps that red is Olivia's color and Ava's 2nd favorite color!   They also enjoyed swirling the batter with a toothpick!

These were very delicious, and looked beautiful!  A bit on the rich side, but red velvet cake is known to be more rich and heavy...so that was fine with me!   It's amazing how this recipe makes the red velvet much more brownie-like. , though!    My husband (the sweetest tooth in the house) who we had to hide them from......really liked them, once we let him get his hands on them!  A definite recipe we will keep for a long time!

Red Velvet Cream Cheese Brownies

(Fake Ginger)


Ingredients
For brownie layer
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup cocoa powder
pinch of salt
1 Tbsp red food coloring (I used liquid, probably should've used gel or powder like the originator said).
1 tsp.  white distilled vinegar
2 eggs
3/4 cups flour


For cream cheese layer
8 oz. cream cheese -- softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/8 tsp vanilla


Instructions
Preheat oven to 350.  Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper or butter generously.  
Melt butter. 
In large bowl add butter, sugar, vanilla, cocoa powder, salt, food coloring and vinegar and stir to combine everything.   
In separate bowl, whisk eggs.  
Add eggs to the butter mixture slowly and whisk constantly.
Fold the flower into the mixture, being careful not to over mix.
Reserve 1/4 cup of mixture.
Pour remaining batter into prepared pan.


In stand mixer beat cream cheese until soft.  
Add sugar, egg and vanilla; beat until combined.
Gently spread the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter in pan.
Dollop the remaining batter (1/4 cup you reserved) onto the cream cheese layer.  
Drag a toothpick or knife through the batter to create swirls.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cream cheese is set. 
Let cool completely on wire rack before cutting.


ENJOY!!!

~Gianna~