Pillsbury Canadian Baking Challenge

INGREDIENTS

 1 (468g) package of Pillsbury Brownies

1/3 cup sugar

1 cup creamy peanut butter

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

2 cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips

Peanut Butter Drizzle (optional)

½ cup peanut butter baking chips

1 tsp shortening

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour a 9” x 13” baking pan and set aside.

2. Make peanut butter mixture: In bowl, beat peanut butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until blended. Add melted butter, flour, vanilla, and egg. Beat on medium speed until well blended.

3. Cut one end off the Pillsbury brownies. Squeeze the dough out into the prepared baking pan, (twisting the package as directed for easy removal). Using a rubber spatula, spread the brownie dough evenly into the bottom of the pan,  (it will be thin).  Using a spoon, dollop the peanut butter mixture on top of the brownies, spacing it evenly and repeating until all peanut butter mixture is used. Gently press the peanut butter mixture into the brownie dough with the palm of your hand.

4. Bake at 325 degrees for 20-22 minutes, just until a cake tester inserted in both the brownie and peanut butter dough comes out clean.

5.  Cool brownies in pan until cool enough to handle - approximately 15 minutes.

6. Using a spoon, scoop out a heaping spoonful of the cooled brownies. Shape into a ball and place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  Repeat until all brownies are used, and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

7. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or microwave. Dip the refrigerated brownie bites into the melted chocolate and place back onto cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  Repeat until all brownie bites are coated with chocolate. Refrigerate to set.

8. (Optional) – if desired, melt the peanut butter chips and shortening together and use to drizzle on top of brownie bites. For a more festive or holiday look, seasonally coloured sprinkles or gold/silver dragees can be used as decoration instead.

Makes approximately 36 brownie bites.