if you ask me to

Matty's been pressuring me to make brownies for a whole week. It started when I asked him to grab some flour at the store - I was all out. As we were unpacking groceries, he asked out of nowhere, "Is this flour for the brownies you're going to make me?" He asked me the same question when the peanut butter came out of the grocery bag a few seconds later.

Using my extremely powerful skills of deduction, I figured that he was looking for some peanut butter brownies to come his way. And when I found this recipe on Bake or Break, I knew it was fate - Jennifer posted the recipe on Matty's birthday back in 2008!

If you like chocolate and peanut butter, there is absolutely nothing to not love about these brownies. They're a cinch to make - all hail one-bowl brownies! I used bittersweet chocolate chips to give it a little more adult and less cloyingly sweet flavor. The additional chocolate chips and the peanut butter chips make these extra decadent, but it's really the extra dollop of peanut butter in the middle that puts these brownies over the top.

Oh, and happy National Peanut Butter Day!

Brownie Peanut Butter Cups
adapted from Bake or Break

3/4 c. sugar
2 T. butter
1 T. water
3/4 c. bittersweet chocolate chips
1 large egg
1/2 t. vanilla
1 c. flour
1/2 c. bittersweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. peanut butter chips
3/4 c. creamy peanut butter

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or grease 12 muffin cups.

2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine sugar, butter and water. Microwave on high for 1 minute or until butter is melted. Stir in 3/4 c. chocolate chips until melted. Whisk in egg and vanilla extract. Add flour and baking soda, stirring until blended. Allow to cool to room temperature. Then, stir in 1/2 c. each peanut butter chips and chocolate chips. Spoon 2 heaping Tablespoons of batter into each muffin cup.

3. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until top is set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out slightly wet. Place pan on wire rack. Centers of brownies will fall upon cooling. If not, tap centers with the back of a teaspoon to make a hole.

4. Place peanut butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 45 seconds, then stir. While brownies are still hot, spoon about a tablespoon of peanut butter into the center of each brownie. Top with semi-sweet chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Cool completely in pan.