#82, Chocolate Brownies with Caramel, Peanut Butter, and Pecans

“This is a variation on a brownie that we served at the bakery for years. In this version, though, the caramel and pecans, plus the surprisingly tasty addition of peanut butter chips, are layered between the graham cracker crust and the brownie.” (Excerpt: Magnolia)

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The end of a harrowing journey.

RECIPE LINK

This journey looked as though it would be a cake walk. I had everything needed for the recipe.

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Got to use my food processor to turn graham crackers into powder.

I can feel the power of the steel blades.

Reached stage 2 with a promissing crust and everything ready to roll.

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I should say, ready to pour.

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I smell sweetness brewing! Caramel, chocolate, butter.

Cauldron-bubbling

Mmmmmmmmmmmm.

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Officially way too much caramel. My sweet tooth was in the driver’s seat.

No sign of danger yet.

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This layer is the caramel, peanut butter chips, crushed pecans and walnuts – not yet finished sprinkling on the walnuts.

Decpetive tranquility.

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Chocolate brownie layer. Fits perfectly.

10 minutes later, I peeked inside the oven and saw and smelled a caramel volcano oozing and dripping down every side of the pan. BUT !!! I could tell that the brownie was holding its place over most of the surface. So I was determined to let the caramel run its course and let the baking proceed.

lava flow

The resulting brownie lava field AFTER having scraped around all the edges.

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Trim off 1 inch perimeter of candied caramel and an AMAZING brownie awaits.

Best brownie of my life.

Dense. Just beyond gooey into the pleasantly chewy realm of YUM. Yep, back to the land of YUM and glad I made the journey.

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#48, Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies, p. 80

Remember the old peanut butter versus chocolate argument? You don’t have to decide — you can have an abundance of both in this unbelievable brownie! (p. 80)

RECIPE LINK

What do you do when teenagers can’t think of anything to do but stare into the screen of a laptop? Invite them to bake something they’ll love eating! In this case… a multi-step brownie recipe.

BROWNIE COOKIE?

I sort of wonder why the Magnolia bakers call this a brownie. It seems more like a “bar”of some sort. A very good some-sort.IMG_1118

Multi-step? Cookie? Brownie? What would Shrek say?

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Well….. What layers?

1) Crust (therefore the cookie/bar ref) – melted butter, flour, confectioner’s sugar, chopped peanuts.

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    Next tool? A small rolling pin? Any other ideas? Still, kinduh fun to apply the baker’s personal, hands-on touch.

2) Filling – cream cheese and peanut butter (mainly) —– Total YUM !!!

3) Brownie – flour, sugar, butter, vanilla, chocolate, AND peanut butter chips !!

( You can see the peanut factor is multiplying.)

Remember the "teenager" remark earlier? This gif shows what was substituted for the computer screen.
Remember the “teenager” remark earlier? This gif shows what was substituted for the computer screen.

Garnish – MORE peanut butter chips — I failed to add these – for reasons to be explained.

ARRIVAL

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Lava swirl perfection.

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Why no final sprinkling of peanut butter chips?

TIME SLIPS AWAY

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Willie says it better than I do.