Indulgent Peanut Butter Overload Brownies with Dreamy Peanut Butter Cup Frosting
Life can be a rollercoaster, filled with exhilarating highs and unexpected lows. Sometimes, after a weekend packed with intense moments – like cheering on your favorite sports team only to witness a heartbreaking, last-second loss, or experiencing the ups and downs of youth sports where every point counts – you just need a serious pick-me-up. It’s in these moments that the soul craves something truly comforting, utterly indulgent, and guaranteed to bring a deep, satisfying smile to your face. Forget the lingering stresses and minor disappointments of the past week; it’s time to dive headfirst into a dessert that understands your need for pure, unadulterated bliss and a fresh start.
And what better way to reset and recharge than with a batch of these absolutely incredible Peanut Butter Overload Brownies? These aren’t just any brownies; they are the epitome of indulgence, a dessert designed to erase any lingering weekend disappointments and usher in a new week on the sweetest note possible. If you’re a devout fan of the classic peanut butter and chocolate combination, prepare yourself, because these brownies are nothing short of heaven, delivering a double dose of your favorite flavors.
The Perfect Union: Chocolate and Peanut Butter
The marriage of chocolate and peanut butter is one for the culinary history books. It’s a flavor pairing that transcends generations, eliciting a nostalgic warmth and an undeniable craving for more. What makes this duo so irresistible? Perhaps it’s the rich, slightly bitter notes of dark chocolate perfectly contrasting with the creamy, salty-sweetness of peanut butter. Or maybe it’s the textural interplay – the smooth chocolate melting against the slightly gritty, dense peanut butter. Whatever the magic formula, it works, and these brownies celebrate it in grand style, offering a truly decadent experience for all who try them.
These Peanut Butter Overload Brownies start with a foundation of incredibly rich and fudgy chocolate brownies. We’re talking about that perfect chewy edge and a dense, moist center that practically melts in your mouth. But we don’t stop there. Oh no, that’s just the beginning of our journey into peanut butter paradise. Generously chopped peanut butter cups are folded into the brownie batter, ensuring that every single bite delivers an explosion of that beloved chocolate-peanut butter goodness. As the brownies bake, these little pockets of joy melt slightly, creating gooey surprises throughout the fudgy base, making each square an adventure in flavor and texture.
Beyond the Brownie: The Legendary Peanut Butter Cup Frosting
Once baked to perfection and cooled to room temperature (patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to ultimate desserts!), these brownies are crowned with a frosting that takes them completely over the top. This isn’t just a standard peanut butter frosting; it’s a luscious, creamy frosting made with even more peanut butter cups. Yes, you read that correctly. Actual, delicious peanut butter cups are finely ground and blended into the frosting, infusing it with an intense, authentic flavor that no ordinary peanut butter can replicate. This is where the “overload” truly comes into play.
Imagine a frosting that’s not just peanut butter-flavored, but peanut butter *cup*-flavored. It’s a subtle yet significant difference that elevates this dessert from merely delicious to truly unforgettable. The process of grinding the peanut butter cups allows their unique chocolate and peanut butter essence to fully permeate the buttercream, resulting in a frosting so divine, you might just find yourself reaching for a spoon to enjoy it straight from the bowl. (No judgment here; it’s happened to the best of us!) The creamy texture and robust flavor of this frosting perfectly complement the fudgy brownies, creating a harmonious symphony of taste and texture in every mouthful, making each bite a delightful journey for your palate.
Tips for Brownie Perfection
- Don’t Overmix: When combining your wet and dry ingredients for the brownie batter, mix just until no streaks of flour remain. Overmixing develops gluten, which can lead to tougher, more cake-like brownies instead of the desired rich, fudgy texture. Gentle folding is key.
- Don’t Overbake: This is absolutely crucial for achieving perfectly fudgy brownies! Keep a close eye on them; baking times can vary slightly depending on your oven. The edges should appear set, but a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center should still come out with moist crumbs, not completely clean. The brownies will continue to set and firm up as they cool, so pulling them slightly early is better than overdoing it.
- Quality Ingredients Matter: Using good quality unsweetened cocoa powder and fresh, large eggs can make a noticeable difference in the final flavor and texture of your brownies. Invest in ingredients you love for a superior result.
- Cool Completely: Resist the irresistible urge to frost warm brownies. The heat will cause your beautifully made frosting to melt and slide right off, turning your masterpiece into a delicious, albeit messy, puddle. Patience pays off here, allowing the brownies to fully cool and firm up before frosting.
Crafting the Ultimate Peanut Butter Cup Frosting
- Finely Crush Your Peanut Butter Cups: For the best texture and flavor distribution in the frosting, ensure your peanut butter cups are crushed very finely. A food processor is your best friend for this step, aiming for a powdery consistency rather than large, chunky pieces. This allows the flavor to integrate seamlessly into the buttercream.
- Room Temperature Butter: Ensure your butter for the frosting is genuinely softened, but not melted. This allows it to cream properly with the powdered sugar, resulting in a smooth, light, and fluffy frosting that’s easy to spread and holds its shape beautifully.
- Adjust Consistency: The amount of milk required for the frosting can vary slightly depending on factors like humidity and how finely your peanut butter cups were crushed. Add the milk slowly, a tablespoon at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition until you reach your desired spreading consistency. You want it thick enough to hold its shape when spread, but smooth and easy to work with.
Sharing (or Not Sharing) These Delicious Treats
I distinctly remember making these peanut butter brownies when we had friends visiting. After a lovely dinner, the kids happily went off to play, promised dessert a little later. My husband and I, however, decided to seize the moment and enjoy a few slices while they were preoccupied. These brownies were so unbelievably good, so utterly moreish, that when the kids eventually returned, we might have (just might have!) told them it was too late for dessert and time to get ready for bed. There was, shall we say, not a whole lot of sharing happening that night. When a dessert is this good, sometimes you just have to keep it all to yourself – a testament to their irresistible deliciousness!
These brownies are perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a grand celebration, a casual gathering with friends, a comforting treat after a long day, or simply a desire for something extraordinary. They disappear quickly, so consider making a double batch if you truly plan to share (or if you want some glorious leftovers for yourself!). Serve them slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra decadent experience, or chilled from the fridge for a firmer, chewier bite. No matter how you enjoy them, they’re sure to be a hit.
Ready to experience true dessert nirvana? These Peanut Butter Overload Brownies with Peanut Butter Cup Frosting are more than just a sweet treat; they’re an experience, a moment of pure joy in every bite. Follow the detailed recipe below to create your own batch of these phenomenal brownies. Don’t be surprised if they become your new go-to for celebrations, comfort food cravings, or simply when you need that extra special something. Get baking and prepare to fall deeply in love with every single bite!
Peanut Butter Brownies w/ Peanut Butter Cup Frosting
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Ingredients
Brownies
- 3/4 cup butter, melted
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 11/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 whole large eggs
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup peanut butter cups, chopped
Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup peanut butter cups, crushed
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with foil, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy lifting, and spray generously with non-stick spray.
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In a large bowl, combine the melted butter and unsweetened cocoa powder. Mix thoroughly until no dry spots of cocoa remain and the mixture is well combined. Add the granulated sugar and eggs, mixing well until the mixture is smooth and glossy. Stir in the all-purpose flour and salt until just combined; be careful not to overmix. Gently fold in the chopped peanut butter cups. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or tester inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, but not wet batter. The edges should be set.
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Remove the brownies from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This is crucial for fudgy brownies and firm frosting.
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Meanwhile, prepare the glorious peanut butter cup frosting. Use a food processor to finely crush the peanut butter cups until they resemble a coarse powder or fine crumbs. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter until light and fluffy. Mix in the cocoa powder until well combined. Add the vanilla extract. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing on low speed until combined. The mixture will become very thick. Slowly add the milk, starting with 1/4 cup, and continue to mix until you achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency. If needed, add a touch more milk, half a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired texture. Finally, fold in the finely crushed peanut butter cups.
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Once the brownies have completely cooled, spread the peanut butter cup frosting evenly over the top. For an extra touch, garnish with a few whole or chopped peanut butter cups. Slice and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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