butterfinger brownies

i claim that this recipe is the reason why tyler proposed to me. (this and my spaghetti...) i made these for him one time when he came to visit me when i lived in montgomery, and the entire pan was GONE before the weekend was over. i even caught him in the kitchen eating brownies in the morning. it was too funny. so these have become a valentines tradition for him. instead of giving him a box of chocolates, i'll make him a pan of these brownies. to be honest, i don't really like them. they have too much of a peanut butter taste for me, but tyler LOVES it, so i'm blogging it...

INGREDIENTS:

2¼ cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup butter, softened
2¼ cups brown sugar
3 large eggs
1½ tsp vanilla extract
 6 regular-sized butterfinger candy bars, crushed (separated into 3 and 3)

DIRECTIONS:

1. preheat oven to 350F. grease and flour a 13x9 inch baking pan.

2. in a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. set aside.

3. in a medium bowl, with electric mixer at medium speed, combine butter and brown sugar.

4. beat in eggs and vanilla until smooth.

5. stir in flour mixture and 3 crushed butterfingers.

6. spread in prepared pan.

7. sprinkle remaining crushed butterfingers over top of batter.

8. bake 30-35 minutes, or until the bars are a bit firm to the touch.

9. cool completely before cutting into bars.

this recipe makes 12 brownies. or, for my hubs, 1 giant brownie.

i used my brownie pan for this, but i recommend just using the regular 9x13 pan. the result is much better that way. and also make sure that you let them cool completely before cutting into bars. i didn't (because the hubs was being so impatient!) and it kind of made a goopy mess. but he said it still tasted delicious, so we'll let it slide. :)

try it out on your peanut butter fans!

fin.

red velvet cream cheese swirl brownies

OH MY GOODNESS! YUMMY DELICIOUS!

these were so much fun to make, and they are so delicious to eat! these are great for the holidays too with their rich flavor and beautiful color and presentation! gather round, kids. this one's a doozie.

ingredients for the brownie:
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
2 eggs
3/4 cup all purpose flour

ingredients for the cream cheese layer:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract (really... 1/8 teaspoon? i used about half. i think a measurement of ANYTHING in 1/8 of a teaspoon is ridiculous.)

directions for the brownie layer:
1. preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. grease a baking tray. (i used a brownie pan that the hubs' grandmother gave us around last Christmas, and i LOVE it. you'll see that in a second.)
2. melt the stick of butter. once melted, add it to a large mixing bowl.
3. add sugar and vanilla extract. blend until combined.
4. add cocoa powder, pinch of salt, red food coloring, and vinegar.
5. blend until well blended.
6. add the blended eggs and combine until well incorporated.
8. add the white flour.
9. pour 3/4 of the batter into the prepared pan and reserve 1/4 of the batter for later.

directions for the cream cheese layer:
10. in a separate large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, 1 egg, sugar, and vanilla extract.
11. blend until smooth and creamy.

12. add the cream cheese layer over the brownie mixture.
13. spread.
14. add the remaining red velvet batter.
15. swirl!

16. place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes exactly - DO NOT OVERBAKE!!
17. cut into squares. refrigerate before serving. (it tastes much better after it has cooled.)

the reason i LOVE the brownie pan i have (that i mentioned earlier) is that it cuts the brownie into squares for me! see...

get one for yourself at bed bath and beyond. you will LOVE it!

and what i also love are these brownies!!

they will be making an appearance at family gatherings this holiday season. look at how pretty just one brownie is.

but i can't make any more until Christmas. because these little treats don't last long in our home! nom nom nom.

fin.