Peanut Butter Crunch Brownies

By chelyc13

"I pack them in tins or stack them in cellophane bags secured with raffia or ribbon before shipping. They are a good choice for short, quick shipping, as they keep for up to 5 days." The Flying Brownie by Shirley Fan

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 oz unsweetened chocolate
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup crushed lightly salted peanuts

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan or line with parchment paper; set aside.

2. Put the butter and chocoalte in a medium size heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over a pot of simmering water and sitr until the butter and chocoalte are melted and blended. Remove the bowl from teh ehat and stir in the sugar and salt; mix to combine. Seta side to begin cooling.

3. While the mixture is still slightly warm, add the eggs one at a time, stirring after each one to incorporate fully, and then add the vanilla. Fold in the flour and cocoa, and mix until there are no streaks.

4. Put the peanut butter in a small bowl. Microwave on high powder for 10 to 15 seconds or unitl the peanut butter is loose and runny. Fold the peanut butter into the brownie batter, leaving some streaks. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and then scatter the peanuts on top. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan comes out mostly clean, about 30 minutes.

5. Allow the brownies to cool in teh pan on a rack before slicing into 16 squares. Wrapt he brownies individually with waxed or parchment paper or plastic wrap, seal with tape, and pack in a zipper top plastic bag or other container. Alternatively, layer unwrapped bars in an airtight container, separating the layers with waxed or parchment paper. These brownies also ship well stacked in cellophane bags, which you can tie close dwith string or ribbon.