PB Choc Brownies

Double Peanut Butter Cheesecake Swirled Brownies
(from bakingblond.wordpress.com)

• 3/4 cup butter, very soft (not melted but softer than room temp)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 T. vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate, melted
• 1 oz. semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted (I just used 1/3 cup unsweetened choc chips for these 2 oz)
  
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Swirl

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  1/2 cups creamy PB
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 5-6 Reese’s peanut butter cups (regular size) cut into 6-8 pieces each

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8×8″ square pan (mine was 8x11 and that worked well) with foil and lightly coat with PAM cooking spray.
2. In a microwave safe bowl melt the two baking chocolate squares in 30 second intervals stirring after each interval until smooth and melted after stirring. Do not scorch! Remove from microwave and allow to come to room temperature.
3. In a large mixing bowl, Beat together butter and sugar until combined. Beat in eggs one at a time until blended.
   
4. Add vanilla and melted chocolate. Mix to combine.
   
5. Combine dry ingredients in medium bowl and wisk together. Gradually stir dry ingredients into butter mixture. Do not overmix.
6. In separate mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, peanut butter sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add egg and beat until just combined.
7. Spread about 2/3 of chocolate brownie batter into prepared pan. Evenly drop 1/2 of cheesecake batter in dollups over brownie batter. Run a knife through both mixtures to slightly swirl.
8. Dollop remaining brownie batter and cheesecake batter over swirled mixture. Run knife through the brownie and cheesecake dollops (not all the way through the already swirled layer) to create a swirled pattern.
9. Bake for 40-45 minutes**, or until center is set and a toothpick inserted in the center has a few crumbs stuck to it. Do not overbake or they will harden, if underbaked they will be too gooey. Every oven is different so watch and check these after about 35-40 minutes of baking to ensure propper doneness.
10. **After about 35-40 minutes of baking (with about 5-7 minutes of baking time left, you just need to eyeball it) gently place cut up Reese’s cups over top of almost fully baked brownies. Finish baking until a toothpick inserted in the center has a few crumbs stuck to it. The Reese’s PB cups will melt but hold their shape slightly. Cool completely on wire rack before cutting and serving.

These take a little extra time (not much, I promise) but they are so smooth and decadent, it's worth it. If you like pb and chocolate and have a special occasion to use this for (so you don't eat the whole pan) this is worth making!