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April 24, 2011

Easter

For those of you who have followed my blog over the last few weeks, you’ll know about my giving up baking for Lent.  I had no idea what an important part of my life it was until I had to quit.  From Ash Wednesday through this morning, I didn’t bake a single sweet good.
I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t difficult.  It truly felt like forty days fasting in the desert.  I queried the spiritual leaders in my congregation to find out precisely when I could start baking again.  (The consensus was sundown on Saturday, but as I was at church until 10:00 last night, it was a moot point.)
My commitment also meant I was mostly giving up dessert, too, as store-bought sweets just don’t cut it for me.  Twice I broke down and begged my oldest daughter to bake a batch of cookies. I also found myself wondering what would happen if I googled “wild honey and locust dessert”.  But only if I could find an unbaked version. 
More than a few of you asked what my first dessert would be when I started baking again. Whatever I made would please my husband, who had heroically given up my baking for Lent.  But it had to involve a lot of chocolate to placate my 13-year old, who gave up chocolate. And it had to be something my whole family would love.
In the end, choosing the first dessert was the easiest part of my resolution.  I’ve been eyeing the Peanut Butter Brownie recipe on Smitten Kitchen for a while, and this was the perfect dessert to break my fast. 
By the way, I now plan to bake up a storm to make up for those lonely, barren Lenten weeks.  I’ve already made promises to my youngest daughter’s classmates, to my church’s hospitality committee, and to my neighbour’s church fundraiser.  My work is cut out for me – and I couldn’t be happier.
Peanut Butter Brownies
(from Smitten Kitchen)
For brownies:
2 sticks (one cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 ¾ cups sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 large eggs plus one egg yolk
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips
For ganache:
1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips
½ cup heavy cream
1 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter a 13 x 9 inch pan and line with parchment paper.
Beat together butter and sugar until mixture is light and fluffy, then add peanut butter and beat until mixed.  Beat in whole eggs, egg yolk and vanilla.  Stir in flour until just combined.  Mix in 1 ½ cups chocolate chips, then spread batter in baking pan, smoothing top.  Batter will be quite thick.
Bake until brownies are golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes.  Cool completely in pan on a rack.
To make ganache, put 1 ½ cups chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl.  Bring cream to a boil in a small saucepan, then pour over chocolate chips.  Gently stir in butter until it is incorporated, chocolate is melted and a smooth mixture forms.  Spread ganache on cooled brownies and let stand until set, about 15 minutes.

Filed Under: Brownies and Blondies

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. justine says

    April 24, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    yum! welcome back to your oven! I made something similar, which I'll post soon … peanut butter oatmeal fudgies. delicious!

    Reply
  2. allieksmith says

    April 24, 2011 at 9:48 pm

    Great job on making it through and the PB brownies sound so great and WELL worth the wait 😉 😉
    Happy Easter!!

    Reply
  3. Valerie says

    April 24, 2011 at 10:34 pm

    I'm looking forward to the coming baking storm. 😀 Congrats on following through with your baking fast!!

    These brownies are spectacular!

    Reply
  4. Xiaolu says

    April 24, 2011 at 11:21 pm

    Mmm chocolate and PB are so good together. Happy Easter! Welcome back to the world of baking =D

    Reply
  5. laxsupermom says

    April 24, 2011 at 11:43 pm

    Yum! Those look delicious! Peanut butter brownies are WD's favorite, too. Thanks for sharing. Happy Easter!

    Reply
  6. thejoyofcaking says

    April 25, 2011 at 12:19 am

    Excellent choice for your first post-lent baking project. PB and chocolate is my favorite combo.

    Reply
  7. Rita says

    April 25, 2011 at 12:21 am

    You just brought the humble brownie up a few notches. Enjoy your sweets; lent is over.
    Rita

    Reply
  8. Claudia says

    April 25, 2011 at 12:52 am

    But you did it – you did it! And have earned those delicious brownies (as has your family). I changed weekly what I was giving up – all in all – not a successful Lent. However, I still would love those brownies.

    Reply
  9. Lena Coakley says

    April 25, 2011 at 12:57 am

    Brava for making it through to the end of lent. Planning on making your scones recipe for the royal wedding on Friday morning! I'll tell you how they turn out.

    Reply
  10. michelangelo in the kitchen says

    April 25, 2011 at 1:12 am

    What delicious looking brownies! This should be a hit for everybody at home who loves peanut butter and chocolate! The ganache is a super idea for topping! We've got to try this incredible treat pronto! Cheers!!!

    Reply
  11. Belinda says

    April 25, 2011 at 1:32 am

    Congrats for making it! What a great way to bake again.

    Reply
  12. shaz says

    April 25, 2011 at 2:42 am

    Bet those brownies tasted good. Happy belated Easter and welcome back to the land of the oven.

    Reply
  13. Carol says

    April 25, 2011 at 3:46 am

    Great choice, they look amazing! Glad you are back to baking, looking forward to seeing what's next!

    Reply
  14. Rebecca from Chow and Chatter says

    April 25, 2011 at 3:58 am

    great brownies and great job for giving it up happy easter

    Reply
  15. natalia says

    April 25, 2011 at 9:04 am

    Ciao ! Happy Easter , and happy future baking !

    Reply
  16. girlichef says

    April 25, 2011 at 11:09 am

    Oh delicious…that's the way to jump back in! I'd eat one for breakfast 😉

    Reply
  17. Annie's Dish says

    April 25, 2011 at 11:47 am

    The peanut butter brownies were a great choice! I hope you and yours had a wonderful Easter!

    Reply
  18. comfortablydomestic.com says

    April 25, 2011 at 2:33 pm

    Honestly, Beth! I'm not sure if I would have the strength to give up baking for over a month. Congratulations. Excellent choice for your foray back into baking.

    Reply
  19. Tasha says

    April 25, 2011 at 2:54 pm

    Kudos to you for giving up something so dear to you. These look amazing and the perfect recipe to get back into the kitchen!

    Reply
  20. Ann says

    April 25, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    What a great recipe to break your fast with. These look wonderful. There's no better combination than peanut butter and chocolate.

    Reply
  21. Heather says

    April 25, 2011 at 4:09 pm

    These sound so delicious! Now that Lent is over, I'm looking forward to more of your baking posts! 🙂

    Reply
  22. Angela Felsted says

    April 25, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    This looks amazing!

    Reply
  23. Katerina says

    April 25, 2011 at 5:02 pm

    I think there was no better treat than these bars to end your lent! They look delicious!

    Reply
  24. tenaciouslyyours.com says

    April 26, 2011 at 1:21 am

    Beth! I am SO impressed that you actually made it through Lent! Those treats you baked looked delicious (and I truly had never heard of them before this) and the chocolate bunny in the background looked like a perfect accoutrement.

    Reply
  25. Medeia Sharif says

    April 26, 2011 at 5:20 am

    I don't like peanut butter by itself, but I love it baked with something else. These look scrumptious. I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend.

    Reply
  26. Meagan Spooner says

    April 26, 2011 at 6:13 am

    Ohhh my god, these look amazing! We just got our new oven up and running, and are ready to jump back into the baking. These may have to be the first things Amie and I go for. *drools*

    Reply
  27. Xinmei @ Pudding Pie Lane says

    April 26, 2011 at 8:20 am

    What a great choice for your first bake, peanut butter is yummy! Looking forward to seeing your bakes for all of those upcoming events!

    Reply
  28. Joanne says

    April 26, 2011 at 11:44 am

    I truly can't imagine giving up baking for that long, but I'm impressed that you got through it! And don't you feel so much stronger for it? These peanut butter brownies seem like the perfect comeback recipe!

    Reply
  29. Jess says

    April 26, 2011 at 2:00 pm

    These sound absolutely gorgeous~ yum, yum, yum!

    I'm so impressed that you supressed the baking bee within! Congratulations on such an accomplishment, Beth. Well done 🙂

    Reply
  30. danasfoodforthought says

    April 26, 2011 at 3:26 pm

    This sounds like the perfect first recipe to make! Sounds deliciously decadent!

    Reply
  31. A.L. Sonnichsen says

    April 26, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    You did it! Congratulations. 🙂

    Those look delicious … as usual.

    Amy

    Reply
  32. Manzanita says

    April 26, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    I love a woman in an apron with flour on her face. Happy baking.
    Love and peace,
    Manzanita

    Reply
  33. Barbara says

    April 26, 2011 at 11:39 pm

    Now you're going to be baking up a storm, Beth! These are a great start! Delicious!

    Reply
  34. 5 Star Foodie says

    April 27, 2011 at 2:12 am

    A wonderful dessert and a great way to come back to baking!

    Reply
  35. Raina says

    April 27, 2011 at 1:02 pm

    Wow..peanut butter brownies covered in chocolate! That is surely a fitting way to make up for all of those nonbaking (and eating treats) days:) These sound incredible.

    Reply
  36. Fresh Local and Best says

    April 27, 2011 at 4:07 pm

    These decadent brownies are a spectacular way to reintroduce baking and desserts to your life. What dense and chocolatey treat!

    Reply
  37. Jude says

    April 27, 2011 at 5:21 pm

    That…looks…DELICIOUS! I'll have to try it 🙂 I love Easter treats.

    Reply
  38. Julie Musil says

    April 27, 2011 at 7:26 pm

    What an accomplishment! Holy cow, peanut butter and chocolate is my absolute favorite, and your brownies look divine 😀

    Reply
  39. Reeni says

    April 28, 2011 at 12:45 am

    These are incredibly delectable looking! Great choice and great job for giving it up.

    Reply
  40. Kristen says

    April 28, 2011 at 8:42 pm

    Welcome back to baking! You picked a great treat to start with. PB brownies sound delicious right now.

    Reply
  41. Deborah says

    April 29, 2011 at 3:24 am

    I don't think I'd do very well at giving up baking! These look delicious – I wish I had one right now!

    Reply
  42. Catalina says

    May 5, 2011 at 8:57 am

    Peanut butter brownies? Sounds amazing! I love the chocolate on the top and the Lindt bunny is really lovely 🙂

    Reply

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