Match Made in Heaven (Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies)

Some things are better together.

Laverne and Shirley.  Wine and cheese.  Burgers and fries.  Black and white.  Blankets and pillows.   

Sun and sand.  Bonnie and Clyde.  My pup and tennis balls.  Milk and cookies. 

Peanut butter and chocolate.

So, on this Valentine's Day eve, let's pay homage to the great match that is chocolate and peanut butter.  In the form of a brownie.  With ganache.  And miniature Reese's.

Some sweetness is just too good to resist.

(And that doesn't just go for brownies.)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

(from The Candy Bar Cookbook)

Chocolate layer:

4 oz unsweetened chocolate

6 oz butter (1.5 sticks), room temperature

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup flour

1-1/2 cups mini Reese's cups or Reese's bites

Time and temperature:  375 for 35-40 minutes

Spray a 9x13" baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and preheat the oven.  In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the chocolate and the butter, stirring together until smooth.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes.  Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, cream together the sugar, brown sugar, eggs, salt and vanilla.  Blend in the chocolate.  Add the flour mixture and blend until incorporated.  Fold in the Reese's.  Spread this evenly over the bottom of the pan.

Peanut butter layer:

3/4 creamy peanut butter

6 oz butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2 cups flour

In a medium bowl, cream together the peanut butter and butter.  Mix in the sugar, brown sugar, eggs, salt and vanilla.  Add the flour and mix until thoroughly incorporated.  Spread this on top of the chocolate layer.  Bake at 375 for 35 to 40 minutes until golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool completely.

Ganache:

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons butter

5 ounces heavy cream

In a double boiler or a bowl set over simmering water, melt the chips and butter with 1/3 of the cream.  Remove from the heat and stir until smooth.  Add the remaining cream and stir until smooth and glossy.  Pour the glaze on top of the brownies and spread evenly.  Chill in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes, until set.  

Serve with milk.  And love.