Chewy Peanut Butter Brownies Recipe

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Imagine two simple childhood pleasures, the heartwarming taste of homemade brownies and the irresistible creaminess of peanut butter, combined in one delightfully chewy treat. Meet the Chewy Peanut Butter Brownies, the delightful mash-up that transforms two familiar favorites into a whole new delicious experience.

For many of us, peanut butter and brownies have been there through countless after-school snacks, picnic treats, and late-night study sessions. But did you ever think of bringing them together in one recipe? This delightful twist on the classic brownie recipe does just that, taking the nutty, creamy goodness of peanut butter and folding it into a chewy, chocolate-free brownie base.

It's like the best parts of a PB&J sandwich and a pan of freshly baked brownies decided to meet in the middle and throw a little party. And guess what? You're invited! This is the kind of recipe that encourages you to break free from tradition, try something new, and discover a flavor combination that you might not have thought of before.

It's not just a flavor addition; it's the main event. It adds a rich, creamy texture and an unmistakably nutty flavor that works so well with the brown sugar and vanilla. Meanwhile, the brown sugar and vanilla extract come together to add a comforting, homey flavor to the mix, resulting in a brownie that's perfectly chewy, slightly sweet, and wonderfully peanut-buttery.

So come on in, put on your apron, and let's get started.

JUMP TO:

INGREDIENTS:

Peanut Butter: Start with a high-quality, smooth peanut butter. Natural, unsweetened peanut butter gives the most authentic flavor without any unnecessary additives or preservatives. However, if you only have sweetened peanut butter, you might want to adjust the sugar in the recipe accordingly. You can substitute peanut butter with almond butter or cashew butter for a different flavor profile, but bear in mind it will alter the final taste significantly.

White and Brown Sugar: The blend of white and brown sugar in this recipe provides sweetness and moisture. Brown sugar contains molasses, which contributes to the chewiness of the brownies due to its hygroscopic nature. Always choose fresh, soft brown sugar - if it's hardened, it's old. If you're considering alternatives, coconut sugar or granulated maple sugar can be used, but they will change the flavor profile slightly.

MAIN STEPS:

Creaming Peanut Butter and Margarine (Step 04): The creaming process is crucial for incorporating air into your batter, which contributes to the lightness of the brownies. Be sure to cream the peanut butter and margarine until they're smooth and well combined. This might take a few minutes, but it's worth the effort.

Combining Wet and Dry Ingredients (Step 06): When combining the wet and dry ingredients, it's essential not to overmix. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to tougher brownies. Stir gently until just combined for a delicate, tender crumb in your brownies.

Cooling Before Cutting (Step 09): Allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting into squares. Cutting into warm brownies can lead to them falling apart or the edges being ragged. For the cleanest cut, use a sharp knife and clean it after each slice. If you can wait, chilling the brownies in the fridge before cutting can make this process even easier.

SERVED WITH:

Starter: Peanut Soup (West Africa): This is a rich and creamy soup that uses peanuts as a base, and is commonly served in many African countries. It pairs well with the brownies due to the shared ingredient of peanuts.

Side Dish: Satay Salad (Thailand): This Thai salad features a peanut satay dressing over fresh vegetables. The peanut flavors in both the salad and the brownies would complement each other well.

Main Course: Chicken Pad Thai (Thailand): This stir-fried rice noodle dish often includes a peanut sauce. Its tangy and savory profile would balance out the sweetness of the brownies.

Dessert: Peanut Brittle (United States): This classic American candy is made by embedding peanuts in hard sugar candy. Sharing the peanut flavor, it's a more traditional contrast to the soft and chewy brownies.

Dessert: Banoffee Pie (United Kingdom): This English dessert combines bananas, cream, and toffee on a biscuit base. The banana flavor works well with peanut butter, making it a complementary dessert to the brownies.

Cake: Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Cake (United States): This cake involves layers of chocolate cake interspersed with peanut butter frosting. It mirrors the chocolate-peanut butter combination of the brownies but offers a different texture and presentation.

Drink: Peanut Punch (Caribbean): This is a popular beverage in the Caribbean that is made from peanuts, milk, vanilla, and spices. The creamy drink shares the peanut flavor with the brownies and can enhance the overall dessert experience.

ALTERNATIVES:

Dessert: Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cookies (United States): Using similar ingredients, these cookies combine the delectable flavor of chocolate and peanut butter in a crispy treat.

Dessert: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie (United States): A rich, creamy dessert that utilizes a graham cracker crust, peanut butter, and chocolate filling. This pie offers a different texture and experience from brownies, yet using similar ingredients.

Dessert: Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread (United States): This is a delicious twist on the classic banana bread recipe, incorporating peanut butter and chocolate. It's a softer, moister dessert that offers a different mouthfeel than brownies.

Dessert: Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies (United States): These easy-to-make cookies feature the much-loved combination of chocolate and peanut butter. As a bonus, they require no oven time.

Dessert: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Pancakes (United States): A fun breakfast or brunch option that uses the same beloved flavor combination. These pancakes are fluffy, sweet, and filled with mini chocolate chips.

Dessert: Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Cream (Italy): A cool and creamy dessert, this homemade ice cream melds the flavors of peanut butter and chocolate beautifully.

Dessert: Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge (United States): A rich, indulgent treat that uses similar ingredients, this fudge is a smooth and creamy dessert offering a taste and texture contrast to the chewiness of brownies.

HISTORY:

As we trace the timeline of confectionery delight, our narrative lands us at an enticing junction - the advent of Chewy Peanut Butter Brownies. Marrying the salty goodness of peanut butter with the melt-in-your-mouth comfort of classic brownies, this treat is a symphony of flavors.

The union of these two was as natural as it was delicious, and it didn't take long for bakers to experiment and bring us this heavenly fusion.

While these brownies may not bear a distinctive cultural identity, they carry a flavor deeply embedded in the American culinary landscape - peanut butter. Originally showcased at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, peanut butter has since found a cherished place in American hearts and kitchens. It's no wonder that it found its way into the versatile brownie recipe, making the creation of Chewy Peanut Butter Brownies almost inevitable.

In the culinary world, Chewy Peanut Butter Brownies have gained considerable popularity due to their unique taste and texture. They have become a favorite among food enthusiasts and home bakers alike, proving that something as traditional as a brownie can be transformed by a little bit of creativity.

TIPS:

Quality of Peanut Butter: Use a high-quality, natural peanut butter with no added sugars or oils. This will result in a cleaner, more intense peanut flavor in your brownies.

Add Ins: Consider adding in some texture. Peanut brittle or chopped roasted peanuts can add a nice crunch, while chocolate chunks or peanut butter chips can create pockets of gooeyness.

Salt Sprinkle: Sprinkle the top of your batter with a light dusting of flaky sea salt just before baking. This adds a wonderful crunch and enhances the sweet and savory balance of your peanut butter brownies.

Caramelization: For an extra touch of flavor, try caramelizing the sugars before mixing them into the peanut butter mixture. This adds a hint of toffee-like taste to the brownies.

Ingredients:

Conversions and Servings: Cups (8 Brownies) Cups (16 Brownies) Cups (24 Brownies) Cups (32 Brownies) Cups (40 Brownies) Cups (48 Brownies) Imperial (8 Brownies) Imperial (16 Brownies) Imperial (24 Brownies) Imperial (32 Brownies) Imperial (40 Brownies) Imperial (48 Brownies) Metric (8 Brownies) Metric (16 Brownies) Metric (24 Brownies) Metric (32 Brownies) Metric (40 Brownies) Metric (48 Brownies)

Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 175C / 350F.

02 - Grease a 9x9-inch baking pan.You can do this by using a bit of butter or cooking spray and spread it evenly along the bottom and the sides.

03 - In a medium-sized bowl, combine Flour, Baking Powder and Salt. Use a sieve or a sifter for this step if you have one, as it helps to get rid of any lumps and makes the ingredients blend better. Once you've sifted these ingredients together, set this bowl aside for a moment. We'll come back to it soon.

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04 - In another separate bowl, cream Peanut Butter and Margarine. Use a mixer or a wooden spoon to cream them together until they're well combined and smooth.

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05 - Next, gradually add in the White Sugar, Brown Sugar, Eggs, and Vanilla to your creamy Peanut Butter mixture. Make sure to mix well after each addition. You're looking for a fluffy consistency here. This is what will give your brownies that wonderful light texture.

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06 - Now, combine the wet and dry ingredients. Gradually stir the Peanut Butter mixture into the Flour mixture you prepared earlier in STEP 03. Stir gently but thoroughly until everything is well blended.

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07 - Once your Batter is ready, pour it into your previously greased pan. Spread it out evenly with a spatula.

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08 - Put your pan in the preheated oven. You will need to bake it until the top of the brownies springs back when gently touched. This will usually take about 30 to 35 minutes. But remember, all ovens are different so start checking at around 25 minutes to ensure they don't overcook.

09 - After baking, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely.

10 - Once cooled, use a sharp knife to cut your brownies into equal squares. Enjoy!

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Notes:

Peanut Butter: Creamy peanut butter would give the smoothest texture, but crunchy could add some interesting texture to your brownies if you prefer.

Creaming the Peanut Butter and Margarine: Creaming these ingredients until they're smooth will help to create a light texture in the finished brownies. Using room temperature margarine can make the creaming process easier.

Combining Wet and Dry Ingredients: As with most baking recipes, you want to be careful not to overmix once you've added the flour. Overmixing can lead to tough brownies.

Storing the Brownies: These peanut butter brownies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. For longer storage, consider freezing them.

Alternative Ingredients: For a chocolate-peanut butter version, consider adding a handful of chocolate chips to the batter before baking. Or, for a healthier twist, replace half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.

Serving Suggestions: These brownies make a great dessert or snack. Consider serving them with a glass of milk or topping them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra treat.

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Written by: Uncut Recipes

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