Butterfinger Brownies

Haven't tried these yet but they look delicious....

butterfinger brownies

Yield: 25 brownies

Prep Time: 20 min

Cook Time: 25 min

Butterfinger lovers... I give you your favorite brownie recipe ever!

Ingredients:

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups light brown sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
16 (.65 ounce) Butterfinger candy bars, chopped (or just use 10.4 ounces total)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 9x13-inch pan with foil; grease the foil.

2. Melt chocolate in glass bowl in the microwave- short bursts of 30 seconds; stir after each burst and remove from microwave when melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.

3. In a large mixing bowl, mix butter, peanut butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract. Mix in melted chocolate. Blend in flour. Stir in chopped butterfingers (reserving about 3/4 cup for the top).

4. Spread batter into prepared pan. Top with reserved butterfinger chunks.

5. Bake 25 to 35 minutes. Watch closely and remove from oven when toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.

6. Refrigerate until brownies are well-chilled- if overnight, cover with plastic wrap. When ready to cut, remove from the refrigerator and turn onto a cutting board. Carefully peel off the foil and use another cutting board to flip the brownies back upright. Use a large, sharp knife to cut into squares.

Tips:

*Don't use natural peanut butter for this recipe- it just won't turn out very well.
*When you chop the butterfingers, don't try to chop them too finely... they tend to flake apart pretty easily. Opt for larger chunks but add everything into the mix (even the smaller, flaky parts).
*If you happen to have a quarter-sheet pan, that's what I like to use for baking up these brownies.
*To get nice, clean-cut brownies, chill well and use a sharp knife to cut. Wipe knife with paper towels between cuts. Cut off edges before cutting into squares if you'd like to have all edgeless brownies.

Twix Bars

Twix Bars:
I haven't ever made these, but they look delicious!

1 c. salted butter at room temperature
1 c. powdered sugar
2 c. all-purpose flour, lightly spooned into measuring cups and leveled with a knife
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. caramels (1 14-oz. package Kraft caramel or 2 c. homemade caramel)
1-3 tablespoons cream (1 if using Kraft caramels, 3 for firmer or homemade caramel)
3 cups mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (about 1 1/2 11-oz. bags)

Preheat oven to 300. Spray a 9×13″ pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl or the bowl of your mixer, combine the butter, sugar, flour, and vanilla until the mixture comes together.  Lightly press the shortbread dough into the pan. Prick with a fork to prevent the crust from bubbling.  Bake for 35-45 minutes or until the crust is lightly golden.  Remove from oven and run a knife around the edges of the bars. Allow to cool completely.

Combine the caramels and cream in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring each minute, until the mixture is smooth. Spread evenly over the cookie crust, then place the pan in the refrigerator and chill for 30-60 minutes or until the caramel is solid. (I ended up using 1 tbsp of milk and it turned out just fine-that way you didn't have to buy an entire carton of cream!)

In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the unwrapped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups until melted and smooth, stirring each 45 seconds.  Spread over the cooled caramel. Place in refrigerator for 1-2 hours or until the chocolate layer is solid. They can also be placed in the freezer for less time if you’re in a hurry.  Cut into squares and serve. Store leftovers in a cool area or the refrigerator.