Just Putzing Around the Kitchen

Caramel Peanut Butter Cup Brownies…and a Giveaway! [GIVEAWAY CLOSED]

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Guys, Just Putzing Around the Kitchen hit a pretty big milestone this week — 1 million page views! I know. It’s crazy. One million of anything is pretty insane, but the thought that that many people have stumbled onto my blog since its inception really, really blows my mind.

When first I started this blog, I didn’t really think it would last — I figured that it, like most of my other hobbies, would fall by the wayside as I got busier. Surprisingly, it didn’t! I hit the 1 year mark…then the 2…and now, going into my third year of blogging, my enthusiasm for Just Putzing Around the Kitchen is as strong as ever. I mean, it’s 9pm on a week night, I’ve put in a full day of work, Dan and the cats are clamoring for food, and I’m parked on the couch editing photos.  Either I have a problem, or I’m super dedicated.  You decide.

Anyway, to celebrate this milestone, I decided to treat myself to a super delicious, super decadent dessert. It had to be chocolate; it had to be so indulgent that I would normally never let myself eat it; and it had to make my eyes roll back with every delicious bite. These brownies fit the bill perfectly — rich, fudgy chocolate, layered with gooey caramel, and topped with melted peanut butter cups and chocolate chips. Doesn’t get better than that, folks! Seriously — so good.

JUST PUTZING AROUND THE KITCHEN COFFEE MUG GIVEAWAY!

I couldn’t have hit this milestone if it weren’t for my readers, so to celebrate this special occasion, I’m hosting a little “thank you” giveaway. If you would like to be the proud owner of a cute, original, one-of-a-kind, Just Putzing Around the Kitchen coffee mug drawn/designed by yours truly, see entry details below! Thanks for reading 🙂

  • To enter the giveaway, leave me a comment telling me about your favorite brownie.
  • To earn up to THREE bonus entries, do one (or all!) of the following and leave me separate comments telling me what you did:
    (1) Subscribe to my blog using the RSS feed icon in the sidebar (if you are already subscribed, leave a comment saying that!).
    (2) Like Just Putzing Around the Kitchen on Facebook.
    (3) Follow Just Putzing Around the Kitchen on Twitter.
  • Giveaway will end at 5pm next Friday, August 31st.
** Congrats to Danielle, winner of the giveaway!

Print
Caramel Peanut Butter Cup Brownies...and a Giveaway! [GIVEAWAY CLOSED]
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
 
Ingredients
Brownies:
  • 2 sticks butter
  • 12 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1-1/4 cups flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 8oz bag of mini peanut butter cups
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Caramel filling:
  • 14 oz caramel candies, unwrapped
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking pan with aluminum foil, and grease the foil.
  2. Combine chopped chocolate and butter in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth, stirring in between intervals.
  3. Whisk in the sugar, eggs and vanilla until incorporated.
  4. Add the flour and salt and stir until combined. (If your batter looks too lumpy/curdled, just dribble in a little bit of milk and stir vigorously.)
  5. Pour half of the brownie batter in the bottom of the prepared pan, and spread it out in an even layer.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, but keep the oven on, and let the brownies cool while you're making your caramel filling
  7. To make the caramel filling, combine the caramels and cream in another, smaller, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, and stir. Repeat until the caramels and cream are melted and the mixture is smooth.
  8. Gently spread the caramel mixture over the brownie layer in the baking pan.
  9. Drop the remaining brownie batter in spoonfuls over the caramel and spread it out evenly across the top. (Spooning the batter in piles over the caramel will make it easier to spread an even layer of batter on top of the caramel. It's OK if you push caramel up to the edges, just keep spreading the batter until it covers the top of the pan.)
  10. Sprinkle the peanut butter cups and chocolate chips on top of the final brownie layer.
  11. Bake for 20 minutes.
  12. Transfer brownies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely.
  13. Lift the brownies from the pan using the edges of the foil. Remove the foil and cut the brownies into individual squares.
  14. Enjoy warm, with a scoop of ice cream, or slightly chilled with a glass of milk. (I personally like these room temperature -- I think they are at their fudgiest in this state.)

(Adapted from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe)

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Comments

  1. Congratulations Tina!!!!!! ONE MILLION!!!! That’s amazing 🙂 Keep up the great work!!!!

    (ps- my favorite brownie? im not picky… probably the corner brownie of any (all) brownie types :P)

    Reply

  6. And, lastly, my favorite brownies are fudgy with melted peppermint patties in them.

    Thanks for hosting the guys Saturday night!

    Reply

  10. Fudge brownies with ice cream. Yum. While I’m delurking, I just have to say that your blog is awesome, I love the photos!

    Reply

  11. WAHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Neither of us should be eating these brownies on our pre-wedding diets! ha.

    I’ll eat a brownie if it’s smothered in caramel sauce.

    I want a baby kitty mug:)

    Reply

  12. Congrats on this awesome milestone. I love fudge brownies with walnuts and fudge frosting. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway. I love these mugs.

    Renee
    fattybumpkins at yahoo dot com

    Reply

  13. I like Just Putzing Around the Kitchen on Facebook.
    Username: Fatty Bumpkins

    Renee
    fattybumpkins at yahoo dot com

    Reply

  15. Probably sacrilegious, but I’m a total sucker for the triple chocolate Ghirardelli brownie box mix. I haven’t found a homemade recipe yet that replicates that awesome gooey, decadent flavor. But the search continues… maybe these caramel peanut butter ones will overtake them.

    Reply

  19. I love slightly under-cooked (so they’re extra gooey) brownies.

    And congrats on reaching 1 million views! There is no doubt that that is a very high number

    Reply

  20. Wow! Congrats! 1 million views! That’s soo awesome! Your blog is amazing so I can see why! I started my blog back in May, and I’m falling more and more in love with it! Can’t wait to see where it takes me..I find myself happier and more adventurous ;).
    My favorite brownie…oh I haven’t met a brownie that I didn’t like..I do like the corners though..and it MUST be a la mode! 😉

    Reply

  25. I usually like my brownies to be chewy with a slight gooey center, but I recently had these brownies that were perfectly cakey with nuts and a small sprinkling of powdered sugar. Yum!

    Reply

  28. my favorite brownies are super fudgy, melt in your mouth, simple chocolate brownies with a kiss of espresso and topped with white chocolate frosting. mmmmm. i may just go make them now 🙂

    Reply

  32. Congratulations! One million page views is a Huge milestone!!! I’d be celebrating too! Your Caramel brownies have me wanting to skip supper and go straight to dessert – this dessert!!!!

    Reply

  37. I think these just became my new favs! They look amazing! My go-to recipe is “Brooke’s Bombshell Brownies” from allrecipes.com

    Reply

  47. Congrats on the milestone. And O-M-G those mugs are soooo cute. It’s totally something I would buy if I saw it! My favorite brownies are the recipe by Baked. I also recently made blueberry brownies which were amazing. Mmm.

    Reply

    • Thanks, blog twin!!! I totally bookmarked your blueberry brownie recipe already and will be making it soon hopefully 😀

      Reply

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