Cocoa Brownie with Salted Peanut Butter Frosting
Author: judesmama of Lansdale, PA
Recipe type: dessert
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 16
Ingredients
- For brownies:
- 10 tablespoons (1¼ sticks) butter
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cold large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-process)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ c AP flour
- For the frosting:
- 6 Tablespoons (3/4 stick) softened butter
- cup peanut butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Instructions
- For the brownies:
- Prepare an 8 inch square pan by spraying with pan spray. Line the bottom and sides of the baking pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides. Spray the foil or parchment with pan spray.
- Preheat your oven to 325*. Combine the butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt in a heat-proof bowl and place over a large pot of simmering water. The bottom of the bowl should rest in the pot but not touch the water. Stir occasionally. When the butter is just about melted, remove the bowl and let the residual heat continue to melt the butter. Stir until smooth. Carefully touch the cocoa mixture. It should feel warm, not hot. If hot, wait until warm to add the eggs. Once the cocoa mixture is warm you can stir in the eggs, one at a time. Wait until each egg is completely incorporated before you add the next. Stir in the vanilla. Once the mixture looks cohesive and shiny stir in the flour. Alice says to stir 40 times after the flour has been completely incorporated. I listen to her.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes up with a few moist crumbs. This will take about 20-25 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Once cool, frost with peanut butter frosting and sprinkle with sea salt.
- For the frosting:
- Cream the butter and the peanut butter until combined. Slowly stir in the powdered sugar until completely incorporated. Spread over cooled brownies. Sprinkle the sea salt all over.
Notes
These are delicious, decadent, and perfect for the holidays. Don't eat the whole pan at once!