Peanut Butter Easter Basket Cookies

Happy Easter!

I hope everybody is having a wonderful Easter and/or Passover.  I just wanted to get a quick post up before Noble wakes up from his nap....better type fast.  I picked up a bag of the Peanut Butter Easter M&M's not too long ago and had not thought of what to make with them until last night when I came up with these.  I used the Peanut Butter Cup Cookie recipe I posted on here over four years ago and just swapped out the peanut butter cup these peanut butter M&M's.  These cookies are adorable and delicious.  I think these would work really well with regular M&M's as well which would be adorable for a birthday party. I will have to keep that in mind for when Noble turns one.

Peanut Butter Cup Easter Baskets
recipe from Baked Perfection

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda1/2 cup butter, softened1/2 cup white sugar1/2 cup peanut butter1/2 cup packed brown sugar1 egg, beaten1 teaspoon vanilla extract2 tablespoons milkPeanut Butter M&M's

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside. In a large bowl cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet mixture; mix well. Shape the dough into approximately 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan. 

Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press M&M's into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

Fudgy Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting

Yum!

It is about time I posted something on here.  Little did I know that having a baby, selling a house, buying a new house, moving to a new state, and going back to work as an auditor during busy season was going to have an impact on this blog.  I miss blogging and I miss all the baking.  I wanted to post something for St. Patricks's Day, but the milkshakes I made this evening had way too much mint and ended up in the trash.  Then I remembered I made these brownies last month and thought I  better post something for you guys before you forgot about me.   I am really trying to find the time to get back to baking an blogging, so bear with me.

In the meantime, go make these brownies!  They are incredible.  My only tip to making this is to use really good chocolate.  There aren't many ingredients in here so it really makes a difference.  The first time I made these I did not put the peanut butter topping on them and have since decided this is my new go-to brownie recipe.  They are incredibly indulgent and absolutely delicious.

Fudgy Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting
recipe from Tish Boyle, Sweet Dreams


Brownies:

9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
2 large eggs
½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
½ cup (108 g) light brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup (64 g) all-purpose flour

Peanut Butter Frosting:

3/4 cup (180 g) creamy peanut butter (not natural)
3 tablespoons (42 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup (57 g) confectioners’ sugar
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract

Make the brownies:

Preheat the oven to 325°F.  Line an 8-inch square baking pan with foil so that the foil extends at least two inches beyond the edges of 2 opposite ends.  Melt the chocolate with the butter in the top of a double boiler. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugars until well blended and smooth. Add the salt, then the melted chocolate and vanilla extract and mix until well blended. Add the flour and mix until blended. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth it into an even layer. Bake the brownies for 22 to 25 minutes, until the top is no longer shiny and the brownies are set (they will still be moist inside). Cool completely.

Make the frosting:

In a medium bowl, using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, beat the peanut butter with the soft butter until smooth. Add the confectioners’ sugar and beat until blended and smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract. Spread the frosting over the cool brownies and refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting.