Pet Chow Brownies Are the Final Chocolate Peanut Butter Dessert

In the event you’ve made my Do-it-yourself Pet Chow recipe earlier than, it’s one of the vital standard treats on Two Peas & Their Pod. Whether or not you name it pet chow or muddy buddies, it’s an irresistible mixture of crunchy cereal coated in chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. It’s excellent for snacking…but it surely’s additionally fairly wonderful on prime of brownies.

I’ve even used it to make Pet Chow Cookies, one other enjoyable strategy to put pet chow to good use. However these brownies? They is perhaps my favourite model but.

The brownies are wealthy, fudgy, and loaded with chocolate. As soon as they’ve cooled, they’re topped with a fluffy peanut butter frosting and a beneficiant layer of crunchy pet chow. Each chunk has the right stability of fudgy, creamy, and crunchy textures, making them inconceivable to withstand.

I like making these brownies for birthday events, bake gross sales, potlucks, recreation day, vacation dessert tables, or anytime I desire a dessert that will get folks speaking. They all the time disappear quick, and everybody asks for the recipe.

In the event you love chocolate and peanut butter collectively, it’s a must to make these Pet Chow Brownies. They’re nostalgic, enjoyable, and assured to impress.

Elements (with Useful Notes)

For the Brownies

• Butter: Soften the butter and let it cool barely earlier than mixing.
• Granulated sugar & darkish brown sugar: Utilizing each creates chewy edges and fudgy facilities.
• Eggs: Room temperature eggs combine in additional easily.
• Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla for one of the best taste.
• All-purpose flour: Spoon and stage when measuring, by no means pack flour into the measuring cup.
• Cocoa powder: Dutch-process provides the brownies an additional wealthy chocolate taste nad that’s what I like to recommend utilizing, however pure unsweetened cocoa works too. In case your cocoa is clumpy, you possibly can sift it first.
• Espresso powder: Optionally available, but it surely enhances the chocolate taste.
• Kosher salt: Balances the sweetness.
• Chopped chocolate: Creates melty pockets of chocolate all through the brownies. Use your favourite chocolate bar. I like Dealer Joe’s pound plus bar (72% darkish chocolate).

For the Peanut Butter Frosting

• Creamy peanut butter: Common creamy peanut butter works finest for a easy frosting, a model like Skippy or Jiff.
• Unsalted butter: Softened to room temperature.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
• Kosher salt: Retains the frosting from tasting overly candy.
• Vanilla extract: Provides heat and taste.
• Heavy cream or complete milk: Helps create a light-weight, fluffy frosting.

For the Pet Chow Topping

• Do-it-yourself Pet Chow (Muddy Buddies): Do-it-yourself pet chow provides one of the best taste and crunch. You want 3 cups for this brownie recipe, however I all the time make your complete batch as a result of we like snacking on it too! You can also make it prematurely and preserve it within the freezer.

Make Pet Chow Brownies

• Begin with a wealthy, fudgy brownie base made with melted butter, cocoa powder, and loads of chopped chocolate. The batter comes collectively in a single bowl, then will get unfold right into a 9×13 pan and baked till simply set. The important thing right here is to not overbake, the brownies ought to keep mushy and fudgy within the heart. Allow them to cool utterly earlier than shifting on so the layers keep distinct.
• As soon as the brownies are totally cooled, make the peanut butter frosting. Beat collectively creamy peanut butter and butter till easy, then add powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and a splash of cream. Combine till the frosting is gentle, fluffy, and straightforward to unfold.
• Unfold the frosting evenly over the cooled brownies, then prime with a beneficiant layer of pet chow (muddy buddies). Gently press it into the frosting so it sticks in each chunk. Slice into squares and serve.

Retailer

• Retailer the brownies in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 3 days.
• In case your kitchen is heat, refrigerate them for as much as 5 days. Let the brownies sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes earlier than serving so the frosting softens.
• Remember the fact that the powdered sugar coating on the pet chow might turn into much less vibrant over time because it absorbs moisture. The brownies will nonetheless style scrumptious, however they’re at their very best the day they’re assembled.
• You can even freeze the plain brownies (with out frosting or pet chow) for as much as 3 months. Thaw, frost, and prime with contemporary pet chow earlier than serving.
• When you’ve got leftover frosted brownies with pet chow, you possibly can freeze them too, they only gained’t be as fairly, however nonetheless good!

Vegetarian

Pet Chow Brownies

Extremely-fudgy chocolate brownies topped with creamy peanut butter frosting and crunchy selfmade pet chow. The final word chocolate peanut butter dessert for events, holidays, bake gross sales, and each peanut butter lover.

For the brownies:

• 1 cup butter, melted and barely cooled
• 1 cup granulated white sugar
• 1 cup packed darkish brown sugar
• 4 giant eggs, at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup Dutch-processed cocoa (or unsweetened cocoa powder)
• 1 teaspoon espresso powder, elective
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/4 cups chopped chocolate, divided

For the peanut butter frosting:

• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream, or complete milk

For the pet chow topping:

• Prep the Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and frivolously grease.

• Make the Brownie Batter: In a big bowl, whisk collectively the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar till easy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and whisk till properly mixed. Add the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder (if utilizing), and salt. Stir till simply mixed. Fold in 1 cup of the chopped chocolate.

• Bake the Brownies: Unfold the batter evenly into the ready pan. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup chopped chocolate excessive. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted within the heart comes out with just a few moist crumbs hooked up. Test early and don’t overbake. Cool the brownies utterly within the pan.

• Make the Peanut Butter Frosting: Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the peanut butter and butter till easy and creamy. Add the powdered sugar, salt, vanilla extract, and heavy cream. Beat till gentle and fluffy.

• Frost the Brownies: Unfold the peanut butter frosting evenly over the cooled brownies.

• Add the Pet Chow: Sprinkle the pet chow evenly over the frosting, gently urgent it into the frosting so it adheres.

• Slice and Serve: Lower into squares and serve.

• Don’t overbake the brownies. A toothpick ought to come out with just a few moist crumbs for the fudgiest texture.
• Cool the brownies utterly earlier than frosting.
• Use common creamy peanut butter (not pure) for the smoothest frosting.
• Gently press the pet chow into the frosting so it adheres with out breaking up.
• For the freshest look and crunch, add the pet chow the day you intend to serve the brownies.
• If storing lined, the powdered sugar coating might lose a few of its vibrant white look over time due to moisture. That is utterly regular and doesn’t have an effect on the flavour. You’ll be able to all the time mud the brownies with further powdered sugar. 
• For clear slices, chill the brownies for 20 to half-hour earlier than chopping and wipe the knife clear between slices.

Energy: 361kcal, Carbohydrates: 43g, Protein: 5g, Fats: 21g, Saturated Fats: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g, Monounsaturated Fats: 7g, Ldl cholesterol: 59mg, Sodium: 301mg, Potassium: 213mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 28g, Vitamin A: 490IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 47mg, Iron: 4mg

Key phrases brownies, chocolate, peanut butter, pet chow

Have you ever tried this recipe?

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Variations

• Further Peanut Butter: Stir peanut butter chips into the brownie batter.
• Crunchy Peanut Butter Frosting: Swap creamy peanut butter for crunchy peanut butter within the frosting.
• Mini Peanut Butter Cups: Sprinkle chopped peanut butter cups over the pet chow.
• Gluten-Free: Use my gluten-free brownie recipe as the bottom.

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