Gooey Peanut Butter Smore Brownies-12 Weeks of Christmas Treats

Last week marshmallows played a supporting role in the Marshmallow Blondes.  Now they are moving front and center for Gooey Peanut Butter Smore Brownies for week 2 of 12 Weeks of Christmas Sweets hosted by Brenda over at Meal Planning Magic.

This bar cookie is composed of peanut butter, chocolate brownies, marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate chips and marshmallows.  What more could one ask?

I make a double batch of brownie batter from my Homemade Brownie Mix, but a commercial mix or a from-scratch brownie recipe for a 9x13-inch pan can also be used.

This is a tall and rich cookie so I cut them small.  The cookie needs to cool completely and are best cut with a sharp knife that has been dipped in hot water.  It may be necessary to dip the knife several times when cutting the cookies.

These make a nice gift when baked in a new pan, and the pan with brownies wrapped and given as a gift.

I adapted these from a recipe I found on a Western Family Marshmallow package.

Gooey Peanut Butter Smore Brownies
1/3 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
1/2 c. granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla extract
1 c. flour
1 t. baking powder
1 box brownie mix with ingredients to make brownies
2 graham cracker squares
1/2 c. chocolate chips
3 c. miniature marshmallow
1 c. chopped peanuts, optional

In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, peanut butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar.  Beat well.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix until light and fluffy.  Combine flour and baking powder in a small bowl.  Mix well and add to wet ingredients.  Stir until well blended.  The mixture will be somewhat stiff.  Spread mixture in a 9x13-inch foil-lined baking pan.  Set aside.  Prepare brownies mix according to package directions.  Evenly spread brownie mixture on top of peanut butter mixture.  Lightly swirl the two mixtures together.  Coarsely break graham crackers and scatter over the top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 55 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove from oven.  Scatter chocolate chips over the top, then cover with marshmallows until evenly covered.  Sprinkle peanuts over if using.  Return to oven and bake 7 to 10 minutes more until marshmallows are lightly browned.  Remove pan to a rack and let cool.  Lift brownies from pan and cut with a knife that has been dipped in hot water.  It may be necessary to clean and dip the knife several times.  These are very tall and rich, so I cut them small, about 1 1/2-2-inch squares.  Makes about 36.

I am linking up to 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats.  Click on over for a great Peppermint Treat Roundup.

No-Bake MandM Brownie Bites-Saturday Sweet

With no water for a day due to having our pump go out, a flooded kitchen floor, and Blogger acting up for me so I could not post my Friday Finds, I was really ready to post a sweet today.  All is well now, and all those things were but a blip on the radar of life, but I really want sweets when I am stressed (and even when I am not).

No Bake MandM Brownie Bites is a bit different recipe for no-bake cookies as it uses a brownie mix instead of sugar and cocoa.  You can use Homemade Brownie Mix or a commercial mix.  These go together quickly and are great to make on a hot day when you are craving chocolate.  The bites remain soft and do not harden up like some no-bake chocolate cookies do.

With the specialty MandM’s that are available for holidays, these are nice for parties.  I still had some Christmas MandM’s left in my fridge, (I know unbelievable with my sweet tooth) so I used them.

Some helpful hints for making these are:  pre-measure all your ingredients ahead so they are ready to add to the mixture, cut the cube of butter into 4 or 5 slices so it melts quicker, and use a wooden flat bottom spatula to stir the mixture as it scrapes the bottom of the pan as you stir helping to prevent burning.  The well-used one I have is from Pampered Chef.

This recipe has been in my recipe files on my computer a long time.  I do not know the original source.

No-Bake MandM Brownie Bites
1 box (18 or 19 oz.) brownie mix or Homemade Brownie Mix
2/3 c. milk
1/2 (1 cube) butter, cut into 4 or 5 slices
1 c. creamy peanut butter
1 t vanilla
3 c. quick cooking oats
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1 c. MandM's

Cover your work surface with waxed paper.  You will need two good-size lengths.  In a very large saucepan or Dutch oven combine brownie mix, milk and butter.  Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a full boil, stirring constantly.  Boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and add peanut butter and vanilla.  Quickly stir to blend well.  Stir in oats and walnuts.  Carefully stir in M& M’s.  Quickly drop by teaspoonsful onto the waxed paper.  Let cool completely.  Store in a zip-top plastic bag.  Makes about 7 dozen.

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