Sometimes when you look into how things started in comparison to where they stand today, it can get a little mind boggling. Some of the most successful people today started out as a failure or they were warned of future failure. I read where one of the best comedians were booed off the stage the first time they did stand up- Eddie Murphy. Also, Clint Eastwood was advised that no one would have the slightest interest in spaghetti westerns. I am not sure how much truth this information has, but it does make you think about the beginning versus the end result.
In regards to this recipe, the reason behind the creation of peanut butter is quite different than we would think. Most people view peanut butter as a good protein for sandwiches to pack for children's lunches to bring to school. However, back in the day it was created, the sole purpose was to provide protein to those people that did not have any teeth.
Since most of us have teeth, that does not mean that we cannot enjoy the great taste of peanut butter. What is even better is having that flavor enveloped in some rich chocolate. This recipe brings the two together, creating a moist fudgey brownie with a rich peanut filling in the center.
So forget about how many teeth you have and forget about your age, this classic combo is something that can be enjoyed by all. This recipe makes 1 to 1 1/2 brownies using a pan with square shapes, but a muffin or cupcake pan with circular shapes can be used.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownies
adapted from Pennlive.com and Southern Living
Ingredients/ Peanut butter filling
1/4 cup plus 2 tbs creamy peanut butter
3 oz softened cream cheese
1/4 cup plus 2 tbs sugar
3 tbs whipping cream
1 egg
Ingredients/Chocolate Brownies
4 oz unsweetened chocolate
1 cup melted butter
4 eggs
1/4 cup milk
4 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup flour
Ingredients/Ganache Topping
1 cup chocolate chips (semisweet or dark)
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Prepare a 12 cavity pan (round or square cavity) by lining with cupcake papers.
The first component to make is the filling. Blend the cream cheese with the peanut butter using a mixer on medium speed. Once completely mixed together, beat in the sugar and whipping cream. Then whisk the egg in a small bowl and pour into the peanut butter mixture. Beat at medium speed until mixture is smooth, the consistency should be like a cake batter. Cover the top and place in freezer to chill for about 30 minutes so it can be scooped like ice cream.
While the peanut butter filling is chilling, start on the brownies. Prepare a double boiler and heat until pot with water comes to a simmer. Maintaining the same heat, place butter and chocolate in top pot to melt. Stir in intervals until all is completely melted together. Remove top pot and stir in sugar. Let the mixture cool for about 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Once cooled, add one egg and beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Repeat this process with each egg until all are incorporated into the batter. Stir in the vanilla extract. Using a wooden spoon mix the flour into the batter in 1/4 cup increments.
Using a squirt bottle or spoon, create a 1/4-1/2 inch a layer of chocolate batter in the bottom of each cavity, smoothing until even. Then pull out to chilled peanut butter filling. Add one heaping teaspoon of filling to each batter lined cavity, being sure that the filling is centered and does not touch the sides. Then spoon more chocolate filling into the cavity, until each is 3/4 full.
Place in oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until tester indicates brownies are done baking. Let cool in pan for 15 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.
Prepare the ganache topping by pouring the chocolate chips into a shallow bowl (like a pasta bowl). Spread the chips out evenly into the bottom of the bowl. Take out a small microwave bowl and fill with whipping cream. Place in microwave and heat for 30-45 seconds, just so cream is simmering.
Pour hot cream over the chocolate chips and let mixture rest without stirring for about 5 minutes and then stir. Stir until all chocolate chips are melted and cream is blended.
Using a spoon or knife smooth some ganache onto the cooled brownies, being careful not to get any chocolate on the paper liners. Before serving, make sure the ganache is set on the brownies.
Tips and Notes:
1. For a better appearance, try greasing the interior of the pans instead of using cupcake papers. Also, cupcake papers, when pulled off the brownies, do stick a bit. If I was to make these again, I would not use the papers.
2. Make sure that the peanut butter filling is thick but not rock hard. If too frozen it will cause brownie to expand and then sink in the middle. There will be some sinking even with the correct temperature, but not enough to be noticeable when coated with ganache.
3. You can use crunchy peanut butter if you want a little crunch added to the texture.
4. The brownies are middle of the road when it comes to texture. They are not extra fudgey nor are they light and cakey.
5. The peanut butter filling came from a Southern Living recipe. The Pennlive site recipe included a different blend for the filling- 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 1/4 cup peanut butter and 1 tsp vanilla. A double boiler should be used to melt the first two ingredients together and once melted the vanilla is stirred in. The mixture is then cooled and shaped into balls and used to fill the pan cavities in the same manner as instructed above. I declined from this recipe due to one comment stating that the mixture was hard to work with. However, the blend seems to be more of a candy type filling for the brownies, if you are interested in this option.
**LAST YEAR:Peach Upside Down Rum Cake**