Chocolate Peanut Brownies

This is a triple-peanutty triple-layer brownie from “Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Baking 2006", with peanuts, peanut butter chips and peanut butter in the frosting!    It seems a little fussy, but it went together easily.   I have to admit I buy graham cracker crumbs for recipes like this to speed up the process.  The layered bars are really pretty on a holiday cookie tray.

Chocolate Peanut Brownies                          

Crust

  1 1/2     Cups  Graham Cracker -- finely crushed (4 ½ ounces)

     1/4     Cup  Sugar

     1/4     Cup  Peanuts -- finely chopped

     1/2     Cup  Butter -- melted

                        Brownie Filling

     1/2     Cup  Butter

  2            Ounces  Unsweetened Chocolate -- cut up

  1            Cup  Sugar (7 ounces)

  2            Large  Eggs

  1            Teaspoon  Vanilla

     2/3     Cup  Flour, All-purpose (3 ounces)

     1/2     Cup  Peanut Butter Chips (3 ounces)

                        Peanut Butter Frosting

     1/4     Cup  Butter

  2            Tablespoons  Peanut Butter

  2            Cups  Powdered Sugar – divided (8 ounces)

  1            Tablespoon  Milk – plus additional 2-3 Tbsp.

     1/2     Teaspoon  Vanilla Extract

Preheat oven to 350°.  For crust:  Combine graham crackers, 1/4 cup sugar and chopped peanuts.  Stir in the melted butter.  Press into an ungreased 11 x 7 x 1 12" baking pan.  Bake for 5 minutes; cool.

For filling; in a heavy large saucepan, (I used a  quart glass measuring cup and the microwave), combine the butter and chocolate; heat and stir over low heat until melted.  remove from heat.  Add the remaining 1 cup of sugar, the eggs, and vanilla; stir just until combined.  Stir in flour and peanut butter chips.  Spread evenly over crust.  Bake for 20 minutes.

Cool in pan on a wire rack.  Spread with Frosting.  Cut into 20-21 bars.  Garnish with peanut halves.

Frosting:  In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup butter and 2 tabalspoons peanut butter; beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds.  Gradually add 1 cup powdered sugar, beating well.  Beat in 1 tablespoon milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.  Gradually beat in remaining powdered suar and enough milk to make a frosting that spreads easily.