Sweet, Salty, Chewy, and Crunchy Brownies

Monday, March 7, 2011

Sweet, Salty, Chewy, and Crunchy Brownies

I seriously have no idea what to call these things. If I listed all the ingredients in them, they’d become something along the lines of “Pretzel, Peanut, Salted Caramel Brownies”. But I kind of like describing them by the contrasting aspects of those ingredients. Hence “Sweet, Salty, Chewy, Crunchy Brownies”. My friend M preferred to just call them “Super Brownies”. Whatever you decide to call them, they’re awesome.

I whipped these up for a little gathering of friends and we could barely put a dent in them! They’re very rich and indulgent, so even though I had cut the 8×8 pan of brownies into 16 pieces, a bunch of us still prefered to share one brownie. Definitely plan to have a cup of cold milk nearby when you enjoy these.

Sweet, Salty, Chewy, and Crunchy Brownies

Yield: 16

Ingredients:

1 batch brownies (made from mix or scratch)
1 (11 ounce) bag Kraft Caramel Bits, or about 3/4 of a bag of Kraft Caramels, unwrapped
1/4 cup half & half
1/2 tsp sea salt
12 ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp shortening
1 cup mini pretzels, slightly broken
1 cup lightly salted peanuts, roughly chopped

Directions:

Line an 8x8 or 9x9 pan with foil all the way to the top and brush with oil. Make the brownies and cool completely.

Melt the caramels with the half and half in a large bowl in the microwave on high heat. Stir every thirty seconds until melted. Pour over cooled brownies. Sprinkle sea salt on top of caramel. Let cool until set.

Melt the chocolate and shortening in a large bowl in the microwave on high heat. Stir every thirty seconds until melted. Mix in the pretzels and peanuts. Spread over brownies. Cool and serve.

Recipe adapted from The Cooking Photographer

Bars and Brownies, Dessert

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14 Responses to “Peanut Butter Brownies”

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nutmegnanny — August 12, 2009 at 3:54 pm

Peanut butter and chocolate is my most favorite combination ever! I’m so happy you love your kitchen and it’s really sweet of you to bake for your designer. Homemade treats are such a delicious way to say thank you:)
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2

Amanda — August 12, 2009 at 4:22 pm

Oh wow – these look like the best brownies ever. Beautiful!
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Megan — August 12, 2009 at 5:00 pm

Amazing looking brownies!

Does your designer sign on for small projects? We’re looking to add some backsplash. The area behind the sink and stove is just so plain.
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4

Jen — August 12, 2009 at 5:12 pm

Megan, Our designer works at Home Depot in the kitchen department. So I think she only does projects where you order cabinets/countertops from Home Depot…
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stephchows — August 12, 2009 at 5:21 pm

We start kitchen destruction at the end of the week! I’m so excited!! Great idea about the counter on top of the radiator!! I’d be totally excited is someone showed up to my work with those brownies 🙂
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Katie — August 12, 2009 at 6:25 pm

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!! those look sooooooo good!!
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Ingrid — August 13, 2009 at 12:21 am

Oddly enough I don’t like chocolate or PB on their own but together it’s a whole other story! LOVE it so this is right up my alley.
~ingrid
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Jigginjessica — August 13, 2009 at 2:24 am

Yours look great! I am glad you liked them. I was very pleasantly surprised when I tried this for the first time. (And fantastic pictures!)
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Nicole — August 13, 2009 at 3:20 pm

Can’t wait to try the recipe- thanks! When do we get to see pics of the new (finished) kitchen? 🙂
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delightfullysweet — August 13, 2009 at 5:07 pm

Peanut butter and brownies! What could be better?
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heidi — August 13, 2009 at 5:49 pm

These look phenomenal, what an awesome way to spice up some brownies!
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Colleen — August 14, 2009 at 2:42 pm

Yum, these look fabulous!
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Amanda — August 15, 2009 at 2:46 am

Those look Heavenly!
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Jessica Segarra — August 16, 2009 at 4:35 pm

MMMMM I could seriously go for a whole plate full of those right now!!

Sweet, Salty, Chewy, and Crunchy Brownies