Sometimes I hate winter. Oh, not for the reasons you are thinking of, I imagine.
I hate it because the days are so short and I never get to see daylight. Nor do I get enough time to go home and bake and take photos after. It’s always much too dark by the time I get home, let alone for picture taking.
So The Boy and I are constrained to cook and/or bake only during the weekends in winter *SFBS*. This is a lot harder than you think. We are both constantly fighting over the use of the stove/oven in our tiny kitchen as well as the time it takes each of us to come up with our perfect recipe and plating.
Most weekends we aren’t even home as we are busy catching up with friends and family or running errands (We have such major first world problems :P).
On one such weekend, I woke up with a plan in mind. Brownies wouldn’t take long at all! I ran into the pantry to see what I had and ran back to my trusty Mac for some in depth “googling” and found an easy to follow Nutella and Peanut Butter Brownie recipe to replicate.
I’ve since baked this two more times for work mates and the Biggest Morning Tea event which was held at work (much to everyone’s delight).
This is a recipe adapted by Craving Chronicles (originally posted by The Hungry Housewife) and is one of the easiest baking recipes I’ve ever had to follow. Literally, mix (A + B + C ) x bake = Ta-Dah!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Butter (melted)
- 1 cup Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 cup All-purpose Flour
- 1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
- Pinch of Salt
- 4 Tbsp (1/4 cup) Peanut Butter (chunky, smooth, whatever you have on hand)
- 4 Tbsp (1/4 cup) Nutella
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius (fan forced). Line a square cake tin (or a square 8 x 8 pan; which I didn't have) with baking paper.
- Mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the sugar into the melted butter. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the vanilla extract and combine thoroughly. Add the flour mixture and combine well.
- In a separate microwaveable bowl, pop the peanut butter and Nutella into a microwave and heat it up for 10-15 seconds (or until runny). Fold this into the brownie mix. I didn't mix this thoroughly as I wanted to keep the peanut butter swirls intact upon baking.
- Pour the batter into the lined baking tin and bake for 45-55 minutes (check with the skewer test) in the oven.
- Let cool in the tin for 2-3 minutes before removing. Cut into as many or as little pieces as you require and serve warm with a glass of milk.
Notes
To be honest, you could skip the vanilla altogether as I couldn't taste it at all in the end.
Adapted from Craving Chronicles.
If you need help with the conversions, All Recipes does it pretty well (I’ve checked and measured to compare).
I might double up on the quantity of the peanut butter the next time I make this so that I get more chunks of salty delight through the brownie.
All in all, these are fairly easy to make and very fast in disappearing as well.
Make double batches to ensure you get some!
Perfect for a rainy day don’t you think?
What do you have in your pantry that you could possibly throw together to bake? Wouldn’t mind hearing some inventive answers for inspiration!
believe it or not, i was just thinking about brownies this morning but didnt want to do anythign complciated! thank you! this will be promptly made as soon as an oven arrives to fill the gaping hole in my kitchen!
milkteaxx recently posted…Recent home cooking adventures @ Milkteaxx HQ and the 30 before 30 project!
This is the least complicated baking ever! So easy…
LOL everyone’s been complaining about winter 🙂 But I actually dont’ mind it! Better than the heat hehe!
Ohhh love making brownies and peanut butter and nutella!! Would make it for the team…but one colleague has a nut allergy >_<
[email protected] recently posted…Mushroom Mania Part I – Komeyui
I complain about the daylight my dear.. not about the actual cold!
Replace the Nutella with Biscoff and I’ll be your best friend.
Hannah recently posted…Clinton St. Baking Company and Il Laboratorio del Gelato, New York
I don’t even know what Biscoff is 😛
HOLY SH*T GET TO GOOGLE COOKIE BUTTER OMG.
Hannah recently posted…Life Delights In Life: One Year On
Oh a Blogger’s pain! ;P Diet was starting today, but then seeing this recipe……!!! Why am I always so hungry when I’m trying to be good??
[email protected]. recently posted…Eat. @ La Flaneur – Dinner Service
Hahaha.. you can always diet on seeing food 😛
I’ve made this twice! totally love it, so easy and sooo delicious!
Jo recently posted…The Sweet Swap
I love it too!
Dear Ms I-Hua
These brownies look a bit too sweet for me.
ChopinandMysaucepan recently posted…La Disfida Enoteca Pizza, Haberfield
They actually aren’t sweet at all! A bit salty and tangy from the PB 🙂
Lovely and looks addictive 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
P.S I will not be commenting for 4 weeks due to exams – see you afterwards 🙂
CCU recently posted…The Sexy Vegan Kitchen #3: Sweetly Raw Banana Pudding & Book Review
Thanks and hope your exams are going well!
Oh man, 2 of my favourite things. They look scrumptious!
Tina @ bitemeshowme recently posted…Ramen Ikkyu, Haymarket
Best thing ever!
These look so delicious – am bookmarking this post for sure!
Cara @ Gourmet Chick recently posted…How to make spiced carrot soup with quinoa and goats cheese
You won’t regret it!
It is frustrating when it gets dark at 4.30 pm isn’t it! Lovely looking brownies indeed, very rich 🙂
InTolerant Chef recently posted…Pork and Apple Sausage Rolls
It is soooo frustrating!! Feel my pain!
NOM TOWN!! can’t go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate 😀
Iron Chef Shellie recently posted…{Eating Out} Coda
Can’t even go to the wrong town *wink*
Loved these brownies! Not too sweet at all and the good pinch of sea salt flakes added that lovely hint of salty goodness. These were done in my fan forced oven at 25 minutes. Great, simple recipe – thanks for sharing!
It’s such an easy recipe.. good tip with the sea salt! Shall do that!
Those sound amazing and we just had a weak moment yesterday and bought a big jar of nutella – oh yum
Johanna GGG recently posted…Healthy banana bread and kids making do
Wuhoo.. cave to the goodness
I feel your pain on the lighting front! It is really tough at this kind of year. These brownies speak for themselves though – you could have skipped the photos altogether and I’d still have been sold 🙂
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts recently posted…Pumpkin pie loaf cake with cardamom spiced apple
I’m so glad you feel my pain! But it is getting lighter! Wheeee
You can leave out the cocoa powder too as the Nutella already gives it a great chocolate flavor. I used crunchy peanut butter for extra nutty flavor. I didn’t use baking powder but the result was still gooy and delicious. I cut up a few marshmallows for topping.
Oh my these sound incredible. Thank you for sharing this delicious sounding recipe.
Simon