Peanut Butter Brownies

I'm only baking treats once a week (dang New Year's resolutions). As a result, I've had to get really choosy about desserts. I was having a craving for peanut butter and Zak was wanting chocolate, so after an extensive internet search I decided to try the Peanut Butter Brownies (from Smitten Kitchen).They were so very good. I changed the recipe up a bit and it was perfectly suited to our cravings.

Peanut Butter Brownies

For brownies
2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter, softened
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 large eggs plus 1 large yolk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (9 ounces)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in middle. Butter a 13- by 9- by 2-inch baking pan.

Beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until mixture is light and fluffy, then add peanut butter and beat until incorporated. Beat in whole eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla. Reduce mixer sped to low, then mix in flour until just combined.

Mix in chocolate chips (1 1/2 cups) then spread batter in baking pan, smoothing top. (It will be thick, almost like cookie batter.)

Bake until brownies are deep golden, puffed on top and a wooden pick inserted in center come out with some crumbs adhering, 40 to 45 minutes.

The original recipe uses a ganache topping, but I changed it up. I really liked the way it turned out.

Topping
2/3 peanut butter
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Melt together and spread over the baked brownies. Cool and serve.

Photo courtesy of Smitten Kitchen