Peanut Butter M&M Brownies
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Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 16
 
Chewy chocolate brownie with Peanut Butter M&M's, topped with fluffy peanut butter buttercream and sprinkled with more Peanut Butter M&M's!
Ingredients
PEANUT BUTTER M&M BROWNIES
  • ¼ c plus 2 Tbsp cocoa
  • ½ c plus 2 Tbsp (1¼ sticks) butter, melted
  • 1 c sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp instant coffee
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • ½ c plus 2 Tbsp flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ c Peanut Butter M&M's
PEANUT BUTTER BUTTERCREAM
  • 6 Tbsp (3/4 stick) butter, room temperature
  • ½ c (heaping) peanut butter
  • 2 - 2½ c powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • 2 - 3 Tbsp heavy cream
  • ½ c Peanut Butter M&M's (roughly chopped) for garnish
Instructions
PEANUT BUTTER M&M BROWNIES
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray an 8x8" pan with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper so that it comes up the sides. You want to be able to grab the parchment paper once the brownies have cooled and lift it out of the pan.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder together and set aside.
  3. In a small saucepan melt the butter then whisk in the cocoa and instant coffee.
  4. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla and sugar. Allow it to cool some for about 5 minutes and transfer to a medium size bowl.
  5. Add the eggs, one at a time whisking well after each addition.
  6. Add the flour mixture and mix with a wooden spoon til the flour is almost completely incorporated.
  7. Finally fold in the M&M's, fold until all the flour is incorporated making sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.
  8. Bake in a preheated oven for 25 - 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center has just a few crumbs on it.
  9. Set brownies on a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
PEANUT BUTTER BUTTERCREAM
  1. Using the paddle attachment of a stand mixer, cream the butter and the peanut butter together until it pales in color a bit. (Or you can use your hand mixer instead.)
  2. Turn the mixer to low and slowly add powdered sugar ½ c at a time.
  3. Add the salt and the vanilla.
  4. Add the heavy cream and beat on high until light and fluffy.
  5. Generously spread an even layer of buttercream over the cooled brownies and garnish with some Peanut Butter M&M's.
Recipe by The Red Eye Baker at https://www.theredeyebaker.com/2016/09/peanut-butter-mm-brownies/