Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies
Yesterday I got an email letter. It went a little something like this.
Dear Ms. the Baker,
Hi there… blah blah blaaah. I often feel the urge to eat like a trucker. Blah blah blaaaah. I always want french fries and hot dogs and meat loaf and steak. Blaah blaah blaaaaah. Today I almost ate at a place called Burgers and Pie for lunch. Blaah blaah. Instead of burgers and pie, I just dreamt up my fantasy dessert. This bring me to my point. Will you please, please, please make me some peanut butter brownies with pretzels? I’ll be your best friend.
Blaah blah,
Rachel
Ironically, this email letter was from my real life best friend, Rachel.
Rachel is prettier than me. I’m ok with that… mostly because I can’t do anything about it.
Because I want to honor and maintain the best friendship between Rachel and I… I made her these brownies. Good Lordy Almighty! These might be the best thing to ever happen to me.
Listen…
Rachel was on to something when she dreamt up these brownies.
Dense chocolate fudge brownie swirled with sweet and salty peanut butter, topped with crunchy pretzel sticks and sprinkled with coarse sea salt.
Come on…
If you don’t have an instant desire to make these… I don’t know what the heck you’re doing here.
Lord have mercy on our midsections.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies
makes 9 large brownies
adapted from Martha Stewart
For the Brownie:
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon instant coffee (optional)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
coarse sea salt for topping
For the Peanut Butter Filling:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup smooth peanut butter, I prefer natural peanut butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
large handful of pretzel sticks
Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan. Line with parchment paper so that it overhangs on two sides and grease the parchment paper as well.
Boil two inches of water in a medium saucepan. Combine butter, unsweetened chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate and coffee powder in a heat proof bowl and place over the simmering water. Stir until chocolate and butter are melted. Use a pot holder to remove the bowl from the double boiler and let mixture cool slightly. Stir in the vanilla extract.
In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
Whisk granulated sugar into the chocolate and butter mixture. Make sure the chocolate mixture isn’t too hot and whisk the eggs in the mixture one at a time.
Fold in the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture and spoon into prepared pan.
To make the Peanut Butter Filling, whisk together peanut butter, melted butter, powdered sugar, salt and vanilla extract until smooth.
Pour the peanut butter mixture on top of the brownie batter and use a butter knife to swirl the two together. Arrange pretzel sticks on top of the brownie batter in whatever pattern makes you happy. Top with a few sprinkles of coarse sea salt. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until a skewer inserted in the center comes our mostly clean… maybe with just a few crumbs.
Let cool for about 30 minutes before slicing and enjoying.
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Oh dear god is right. My two little boys and I made those yesterday. They are gone. Nothing but the extra pound on the scale to prove they ever existed. Thanks for a really good recipe!
Just took these out of the oven and they look and smell so amazing. Don’t know if we can wait the 30 min to cool.
Shut the front door…its 8:30 here now, and I am going to start making these immediately, if not sooner ( never understood that expression, kind of like new and improved)
Hey Joy!
Saw this post today after I whipped up a batch of PB brownies myself! I have a soft spot for anything peanut butter, but peanut butter and chocolate is my KRYPTONITE!!!!! Thanks for the great recipe.. check out my post about my brownies today for a quick fix pb brownie recipe with a different twist to it!
Happy Holidays!
The Gourmetour
I love this idea! And they look great too! How fun!
OMG. Oh dear god. I love chocolate. I love peanut butter. I love pretzels. Whoever thought up the chocolate peanut butter combo was a god. I love to scoop Nutella and peanut butter out of the jar and do a half spoonful of each…this was a recipe with me in mind…Oh wow.
These? Are beyond phenomenal…to infinity and beyond phenomenal…OMGOMGOMG nom-nom-nom-phenomenal.
Now that’s a good friend! I will spend 2011 figuring out how to become your BFF as well so you can make me delicious treats. Thanks ;)
I made these just after Christmas. As yummy as they tasted , my next batch will have some changes.
I had broken the pretzels in half and lined them up like the picture. The problem came when I had to cut them up. The pretzels kept popping up at the opposite ends, making rough edges. So next time I will break the pretzels up in little pieces.
Using the natural peanut butter was a great idea, but it didnt seem to want to “pour” over the brownie batter. So next time, I will cut back on the icing sugar and see if that helps thin it out more so it can be poured on. I had to spoon it on and wasnt sure how that would blend with the brownie mix so I held back half of the peanut butter mixture. It was very stiff and hard to swirl thrughout the batter.
Other than that, they tasted great!
you are hilarious and i just spend 40 minutes looking through your posts.
I was looking for an excuse to bake for my boyfriend today. This is the excuse. Oh lawdy lawd am I excited to see his face when he bites into one of these babies! Thanks, Joy. You rule as always.
These brownies look amazing. I love love every recipe I’ve tried from this wonder blog thank you so much! I will be making them tomorrow for the guys during the big game (football)!
I just found your blog..everything you make looks so yummy…I am going to make these brownies..
thank you for sharing.
sherry ;-)
Just took these babies out of the oven, they look AMAZING! Can’t wait to try them.
BUT, they don’t look as pretty as the picture :-( mine are more of an all-over-brownish color…how do you get those pretty swirls?? i tried what joy said, putting the pb mixture on top of the brownie mixture and then swirling them together with a knife, but it just didn’t bring up those beautiful chocolatey ribbons :-( any tips??
Hi Erica,
Turn your knife sideways and you will have a wider swath. I go over the brownies in all four directions, sometimes twice. Then you will see the swirls.
Found you on Elana’s Pantry blog and cannot stop reading !!! Forget the food, you need to write a book – you have a gift for writing and expressing yourself in a very unique and straightforward style. Your observations on friends, neighbors, cats …well, I’m a foodie and I forgot about the food and just wanted to read and read more and more. So get even busier and start that book. Since it’s only my first day here, I can’t give you any suggestions on the topic – I barely know you, but I would certainly buy a book you wrote. That much I do know already. Just a suggestion from a total stranger.
I was saving this recipe for a special occasion. I made them yesterday fora SuperBowl party. Scale 1 -10: 11! So rich & delicious & the pretzel topping blew me away. I secretly saved 2 for mysel & they are haunting me. They wont last long!
My boyfriend and I have a peanut butter-chocolate treat Valentine’s tradition. These, my friend, will be made and consumed this weekend in early celebration. Can’t wait to get my glutton on!
….genius, Joy!
I am pretty sure my 3-year-old son is going to topple over with happiness when I tell him tomorrow that we are going to bake these.
Thank you. :)
PS. I’m also pretty sure my consumption of these will undo the P90X my husband begged me to do with him tonight.
Thanks a lot. :(
Joy, what did I do?
The chocolate part came out a bit dry, and the peanut butter part was still gooey – I didn’t get them to mix together very well. Maybe next try will be better?
I made these a couple weeks back and they were incredible. Perfect combination of sweet and salty. I ran into some spatula issues, but that’s another story. http://foodiebia.blogspot.com/2011/02/chocolate-peanut-butter-pretzel.html
True confession: made these last night, but with Ghiardelli brownie mix! I still consider them slightly homemade, because I made the peanut butter batter. Thanks, Joy! They were a hit! (Although, how could they not be…peanut butter and chocolate are kinda unfairly irresistible).
Hello! I love your blog and I just made the chocolate peanut butter pretzel brownies! Did it say in the recipe to eat spoonfuls of the peanut butter filling before spreading on top of the brownie mixture?? Ha sooo good! Joy, do you go to Ecclesia Church?
Joy,
what a fantastic job you’re doing. I love your site! I am dying to try these brownies and would like your permission to post them on my blog with a referral to your site. I just know my readers are going to love them!
I enjoyed reading your story about Main Street in Santa Monica. You poor thing, first to have a bee fly down your shirt and then to rip your shirt off. You told the story in such a fantastic way that I could clearly picture it.
Here’s to cute bras and not-so-nosy bees!
go for it! thanks for asking!
the more i exercise, the less i want to eat
the less i exercise, the more i want to eat
the more i want to eat chocolate, brownies and peanut butter things. for instance those flourless peanut butter cookies of yours; i made them for my boyfriend on valentines day (and kept some extra for myself :P) and ive been thinking about them ever since :D
and so theeesse LOOK AMAZING!!
as soon as i saw the peanut butter and brownie together, i fell in love, kind of. I cant say I’m HUUGGGEEEE on pretzels, but I’ll trust that they’re damn good with these blissfull looking cakes (brownies are kind of like cake… kind of?)
I made this for friends and they are absolutely raving over this!!! never heard such compliments on a cake before. So – compliments go to you – thanks, Joy, for the amazing recipe!
Joy, I made these finally and I have to say, while they are good, they are just not my taste. I think I’m not a chocolate/pb person and sadly none of my family is either. I think these were just too rich for us- the 12 TB of butter, peanut butter, and chocolate chips make these one of the richest desserts I’ve ever made, if not the richest. And they were seriously salty, even though I left out the coarse salt. The pretzel pieces weren’t appealing either. The brownie portion was yummy though.
StumbleUpon sent me to your website about a month ago and these brownies caught my eye and have had me craving for a month! finally caved tonight and baked them! thanks so much for the great recipe!
I just melted into a puddle of chocolate. this. looks. fffing. awesome.
Hi Joy,
I’ve been meaning to set aside a day to make these ever since I saw your initial post. I must admit that I am a novice baker, but I thought I did pretty well right up until I had to mix the peanut butter topping on top of the brownie. I was confused as to whether I was actually using the knife to mix the pb into the chocolate below or if it was intended to stay just as a top layer. I did the former, basically making a big gunky mess in the pan. Unfortunately the brownies never really cooked all the way through (maybe because of all the oil in the natural pb?) so I couldn’t serve them, but the bits that were cooked along the edges tasted pretty good! Any tips for next time for a beginner?
the peanut butter layer is just supposed to be swirled on the top… not mixed all the way in. i’m sorry that was unclear!
Hi Joy, I was wondering, do these brownies ship well? I’ve been looking for something special to send to a few people, and these look perfect. You website is delightful and inspirational, and I thank you for continuing to blog. :D
well wrapped and packed super tight… i would say these brownies have a chance of making it through shipping!
how would you suggest wrapping these within a care package?
i would! yes! double wrap those brownies and ship them overnight if possible.
Hey Joy,
This recipe is another super success from your kitchen to mine. Next time I plan to JUST under bake them and I may add a smidge of melted caramels for good measure (and by “smidge” I of course mean lots). Thanks for sharing!
right on!
those look incredible… i don’t know if my waistline can handle it…
“Let cool for about 30 minutes” is an irrational instruction and I shall not follow it.
I can handle the scalded tongue that will inevitably come of my disobedience.
I think of that more of a suggestion than an instruction. Much like not crossing the double line in the carpool lane (I joke). You go with your scalded tongue!
I made these in January after I saw your post and they were amazing! Everyone LOVED them!
made these tonight and they were the most perfect thursday-night-is-almost-friday treat. thank you!
Hi Joy. I made this cake yesterday – and what an lovely treat! I added meltet chokolate on top of the baked cake and some chopped salted peanuts. It was loooovely! And even better today :-D I lived in Florida for a periode of time and I fell in love with M&Ms with peanutbutter. We don’t have them in Denmark, so when i crave them – I will make this cake as an substitute ;-)
I made this! These brownies are the best brownies I have ever made and they are so SIMPLE! This is staying in my repertoir, definitely. I made mine in a bigger tray, maybe 9×12? I think next time, I’ll double the chocolately brownie part, just to make them as big and fudgey as the one’s you’ve got. I *could* buy a smaller tin… but who am I kidding? I can just make more ;)
I am making this for the second time in a week! Stop it! I’m getting fat!
i JUST made these and was really disappointed at how cakey and fluffy they came out. (disappointed is too strong of a word… the whole household still gobbled it up 10 minutes into it’s “30 min rest”).
the only things i didn’t do when following the directions are: a) used chunky peanut butter, b) didn’t have parchment paper, and c) used salted butter
would any of these factors have changed the consistency to a cake vs. denser brownies?
i don’t think these factors would change the texture of the brownie. hm… curious.
I have been thinking about these brownies since you posted the recipe! Finally making them now- One cheat- I did use a box mix for the brownies- I had it and it was quick and I need my chocolate fix now!! One other change- instead of just laying the pretzels on top I melted 2 T butter and poured it over 1/2 cup of pretzels and then sprinkled a tablespoon of sugar and a pinch of salt over the pretzels and then halfway thru the baking sprinkled them over the brownies. It really intensifies the sweet/salty combo I love so much!! Thank you Rachel for your awesome inspiration and thank you Joy for listening to your BFF!! They are almost done and I will be foregoing the wait 30 min to cool rule/suggestion!
OMG can’t wait to try!!!
My friend Elizabeth made these for our small group this week and they were PERFECT!
Oh My…I think I just died and went to Heaven. I just made these to take to ladies’ night out and of course had to quality check my work. ZOWEE! They are fantastic. Thank you, Joy, for continuing to provide these wonderful recipes! I’m looking forward to making the Hot cocoa popovers next! YUM!
Oh my word.
In my line of work when I have a “bad day” it usually involves a lot of drama resulting from other people’s poor life choices. Today was one of those days.
I set up the ingredients at 8pm and then got called in for a meeting. Well, it’s 2:30am and I’ve just finished eating my sacrificial corner piece.
Thank you. I really needed that tonight.
Hi Joy,
I’m a baker, but just didn’t love how these turned out. Cakey, crumbly, dry and not very chocolately. I wish they’d been more dense and fudgy. I love the flavor combinations…just think the textures aren’t the best. I tend to underbake brownies, but even shaving off some of the baking time, didn’t help me here. Maybe I’m more of a blondie girl at heart.
Love your site. Never seen Rachael and she probably is pretty but to prettier than you would mean that she would have to be an “angel” . Not saying that you’re not. lol
Just popped these in the oven – Joy you are a goddess! I am shipping these to a friend of mine tomorrow. This week she’s turning 30, two days after her husband ships off to Afghanistan. :( I’m including 3 candles (one for each decade) and a video of me singing Happy Birthday. If she does not LOVE this effort solely for the brownies, it’ll be for the entertainment of me trying to sing to a camera – with no make-up on (who can be bothered?). :)
As it is now officially summer here in the UK and so my family and I took ourselves off to what should have been a delightful outdoor concert at the park. Sadly the rain started as soon as we arrived, and did not stop, not even for a minute. I can’t tell you how delighted everyone was when we pulled out these little squares of peanut butter, chocolate pretzel goodness, they saved the day.
I’m so making these for my husband’s birthday in a couple weeks. Wish me luck, I’m not a baking mvp.
Hi Joy!
I’m absolutely in love with your site. Haven’t been able to make any recipes off of it yet, but trust me, plenty are bookmarked. On top of that, your writing is awesome- everything I want my blog to be!
Just wanted to be a fangirl for a minute. Do you think you could make these with boxed brownie mix? I know, I know, they probably wouldn’t be as delicious, but I’m a college student and a grocery store is not easily accessible for me. Thanks!!