Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Happy Friday everyone!  It's time to put the week behind us, and move on to a beautiful weekend!  This recipe is a feature from my link party this week, and they looked so delicious, I had to give them a try!  If you have a family event, a child's play date or just feel like baking something sweet this weekend, you must give these Peanut Butter Cup Brownies from The First Year Blog a try!

Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Total Time: 23 min

Prep: 8 min

Cook: 15 min

Yield: 12 brownie cups

Ingredients

1 box of your favorite brownie mix

(Eggs & vegetable oil per brownie mix)
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
¾ cup creamy peanut butter

Cooking spray

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°/350° depending on the type of muffin pan you are using.  It will tell you on the back of the brownie box which to use.  Spray a 12-count muffin pan with cooking spray

2. Prepare and bake the brownies as directed.

3. Evenly divide the brownie mix into the coated muffin tin.  (About 3 tablespoons per muffin cup)  Bake the brownies for 13-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out slightly wet.

4. Allow the brownies to cool for about 5 minutes.  They should each fall slightly in the center.

5. Heat the peanut butter in the microwave for about 45 seconds and stir it well so it turns into a liquid.  Spoon about a teaspoon of the liquid peanut butter into the dip of each brownie cup and top them with a few chocolate chips.  Enjoy!

*Tip:  Beth at The First Year Blog recommends that if the brownies don't fall, just use the back of a tablespoon to make a slight dip in the center.

You can find this recipe linked up at these parties:

Lil' Luna 
The 36th Avenue
The Answer Is Chocolate
My Turn for Us 
Sweet Bella Roos
Domestic Superhero
Craftberry Bush

StoneGable 

Tidy Mom

Six Sisters' Stuff
Barnes & Noodles

Congratulations to Elise of Paint Chips & Frosting for winning the 4-pack Dak's Spice Blends Giveaway!  I hope you enjoy them Elise!

Nutella Swirl Brownies

I took these yummy brownies to my bible study last night, and I got rave reviews!  They are the perfect treat for a party or group gathering.  They are super sweet which is why I recommend cutting them into 16 pieces which would make them about 2 inch squares.  However, if you like a good sugar high, you can cut them even bigger.

Nutella Swirl Brownies

Total Time: 35 min

Prep: 15 min

Cook: 20 min

Yield: 16

Ingredients

Non-stick cooking spray (I used Pam)

½ cup butter

¼ cup butterscotch chips

¼ cup white chocolate chips

1 cup lightly packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 large eggs

½ cup Swans Down bleached cake flour

½ cup Nutella Spread

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Coat an 8 or 9 inch square baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.

2. In a small saucepan, melt the butter, butterscotch and white chocolate together on low heat, stirring occasionally so as not to burn the chocolate.  When the butter and chocolate have melted, remove the pot from the heat.

3. Put brown sugar and vanilla in a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of your stand mixer.  Add the melted butter, butterscotch and white chocolate mixture to the brown sugar and mix on low. 

4. Add the eggs and beat until just combined.  Stir in the flour, and mix until the batter is thoroughly blended and smooth.  5. 5. Pour the batter into the pan.

6. Put the Nutella in a small microwave safe bowl and nuke for about 25 seconds just to make it a little bit smoother.  Drop ribbons of Nutella on the brownie batter and swirl with a knife.

7. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the brownies are just beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan and are fudgy in the center.  If you want more cake-like brownies, bake an additional 5 minutes.

(Adapted from happy food, healthy life)

Nutella is not an extremely common spread in the U.S., but a widely popular snack in France.  It can be used not only for brownies but also for spreading on toast, eating with crackers and just enjoying it by the spoonful!  Have you ever tried Nutella before?  What do you think about it?