Chocolate, peanut butter brownies a favorite combo

A chocolate confection cut into rectangles or squares, brownies can be cakey or fudgy (depending upon the amount of flour and fat that is used). They may be as simple as plain chocolate or could also include cream cheese or nuts. They can be frosted or simply garnished with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar. I’ve certainly made my share of different recipes from this all-American dessert, from fudgy to cakey and some mixed with coffee, fruit or nuts.

The following recipe might be my favorite combination of flavors. Every time I whip up this particular mixture, I am amazed at how quickly these chocolate gems seem to disappear.

Chocolate and peanut butter seem to have a natural affinity for each other. These brownies combine the best attributes of both to create a fudgy peanut butter taste. These are great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a glass of cold milk.

Chocolate peanut butter brownies

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Bake time: 25 minutes

Makes: 24 2-inch square brownies

¾ cup all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup unsalted butter, plus more for the pan 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, broken into pieces

½ cup chunky peanut butter

4 large eggs

2 cups granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ cup peanut butter, softened 15 seconds in the microwave

Confectioners’ sugar (optional garnish)

1. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Reserve.

2. Butter a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking pan. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

3. In the top of a large double boiler over medium heat, combine ¾ cup of butter and the chocolate and melt. Add the chunky peanut butter and stir to dissolve.

4. Remove the chocolate mixture from the heat. Add the sugar and whisk vigorously. Don’t worry if the mixture looks grainy. Add all of the eggs and the vanilla; whisk them until they are completely incorporated into the chocolate mixture. Add the reserved flour mixture to the chocolate mixture and whisk until just incorporated. The mixture should be a shiny batter like consistency.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Dot the top of the brownie mixture with the ¼ cup of peanut butter, swirling it with a knife, making sure that the peanut butter is evenly distributed. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out slightly fudgy.

6. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack, then slice into 2-inch square brownies. Sprinkle lightly with the confectioners’ sugar, if desired, before serving.

Advance preparation: These may be prepared one day ahead and covered in an airtight container.

DREAMSTIME