Peanut Butter Brownies

Do you love peanut butter?

These brownies are for you!

They are sure to be a hit with all your peanut butter loving family and friends too.

These easy Peanut Butter Brownies are a favorite from the classic and my first cookbook, The Fannie Farmer Cookbook: Anniversary, the one my Mom turned me on to and the one I received when I was first married so many years ago.

Peanut butter cookies have long been one of my favorite homemade cookies.

I remember them being one of the best things about school lunch so many years ago as well.

These easy brownies are a great alternative to traditional peanut butter cookies when the time you have to spend in the kitchen is at a premium, since they are baked in a pan in one single batch.

When using peanut butter for baking, for best results it's best to use one of the commercial peanut butters; not 'natural' peanut butter.

The taste and texture of your peanut butter cookies, brownies, and cakes will be better.

Peanut Butter Brownies Recipe

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped salted peanuts

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking pan and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter and butter and beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
Add the brown sugar and vanilla and beat well.
Add the eggs and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.
In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Add flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture and beat until well combined.
Stir in the peanuts.
Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top appears dry and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.
Cut peanut butter brownies into desired size and shape.

This recipe makes one 8-inch pan Peanut Butter Brownies.

Source:
The Fannie Farmer Cookbook: Anniversary by Marion Cunningham.

Would you rather make a large (9x13) batch of Peanut Butter (Bars) Brownies

Peanut Butter Brownie Bites
You can cut these extra-rich, fudgy brownie into 64 bite-size pieces to satisy all your chocolate and peanut butter loving friends!

Peanut Butter Brownie Bites

Peanut Butter Brownie Bites Recipe

1 18-ounce package fudge brownie mix
1/2 cup chopped peanuts (optional)
1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons milk
1 egg yolk
1 16-ounce can chocolate frosting
Chopped peanuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
Lightly grease a 13x9-inch baking pan and set aside.
Prepare fudge brownie mix according to package directions.
If desired, stir in the 1/2 cup chopped peanuts.
Spread the batter into prepared pan.
In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup of the peanut butter, the milk and egg yolk with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
Spoon mixture into decorating bag fitted with a small round tip (or spoon into a resealable plastic bag and snip off one corner of the bag).
Pipe mixture over brownie batter in pan.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Cool pan on wire rack for 1 hour.
In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the frosting and the remaining 1/2 cup peanut butter.
Spread over cooled brownies.
If desired, sprinkle with additionl peanuts.
Cut brownies into small squares.