Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies

Does anyone else out there still have leftover Easter candy? I know its absolutely shocking that I do, since I eat candy like its my job, but I do have a stash of leftover peanut butter eggs.

It would be a travesty to let these go to waste! So I decided to use them in brownies, after all, there is no better combination than peanut butter and chocolate.

For those of you who also have leftover candy, or who like incorporating candy into desserts, I've brainstormed some ideas for using it up:

1. Peeps S'Mores
2. Jelly Bean Cookies
3. Ice cream sundaes - chop candy bars and toss them into a bowl with ice cream, hot fudge, and whipped cream.
4. Frappes (a.k.a. milkshakes for all of you non-New Englanders) - chop up candy and blend with your favorite ice cream flavor and milk.
5. Cookies or Brownies - add your favorite candy bars to chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, or brownies. I think Butterfinger, Snickers, or Baby Ruth would be especially good options for this.

I made peanut butter fudge brownies.

First I had to kill the peanut butter eggs...

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium-sized microwave bowl, melt the butter, then add the sugar and stir to combine.

I ran out of stick butter, so I used 1 stick of unsalted butter and the rest was Light Healthy Balance spread.

Return the mixture to the microwave briefly (until hot, not bubbling) - it will be come shiny looking as you stir it. Heating the butter and sugar a second time will dissolve more of the sugar, which gives your brownies a shiny top crust. Transfer butter and sugar to a mixing bowl.

Stir in the cocoa, salt, baking powder, and vanilla.

Add the eggs, beating until smooth.

Add the flour, beating until well combined.

Add the chocolate chips and stir to combine.

I used half regular chocolate chips and half mini chocolate chips.

Add the peanut butter cups and gently fold into the batter.

Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and transfer batter into dish. Bake the brownies for 28-32 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out dry (there may be a few crumbs clinging to it).

Remove dish from oven, and after 5 minutes loosen the edges with a butter knife (helps prevent the brownies from sinking in the center as they cool).

Cool completely before cutting.

These brownies are moist, very chocolaty, and the chunks of peanut butter in them just add to the decadence. These are the perfect companion for a tall glass of cold milk. If you want to get really crazy, I bet an ice cream sundae with vanilla ice cream, peanut butter sauce, hot fudge and whipped cream would be out of this world.

Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies

Recipe adapted from King Arthur Flour's Best Fudge Brownies Ever recipe

Makes 24 brownies.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cups Ghirardelli unsweetened cocoa
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 heaping cup chopped peanut butter cups

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium-sized microwave bowl, melt the butter, then add the sugar and stir to combine. Return the mixture to the microwave briefly (until hot, not bubbling) - it will be come shiny looking as you stir it. Heating the butter and sugar a second time will dissolve more of the sugar, which gives your brownies a shiny top crust. Transfer butter and sugar to a mixing bowl.
3. Stir in the cocoa, salt, baking powder, and vanilla. 
4. Add the eggs, beating until smooth.
5. Add the flour, beating until well combined.
6. Add the chocolate chips and stir to combine.
7. Add the peanut butter cups and gently fold into the batter.
8. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and transfer batter into dish. Bake the brownies for 28-32 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out dry (there may be a few crumbs clinging to it).
9. Remove dish from oven, and after 5 minutes loosen the edges with a butter knife (helps prevent the brownies from sinking in the center as they cool).
10. Cool completely before cutting. 

What do you do with leftover candy or other sweets?