"The Best" Brownies

These might be the best brownies ever!  So when I found myself unable to get out due to the horrible storm of 2014, Mike requested a batch for Valentine's Day.  Then he said, "and I'd like them with peanut butter.  And no fake stuff." (Sometimes I try to veganize my recipes and use flax seed egg replacer... it works fine, but Mike is old fashioned--and I decided to treat him.  Like my daughter-in-law UnKyong said, "Dad can deserve that for a special day."

So here goes... Valentine's Day Brownies with a peanut butter twist.

From:  Hershey's Coca Cookbook (This was a mail-order cookbook.  You'd send in so many labels and you'd get a little cookbook.  It is copyrighted 1979. And it has been used hard.)

Hershey's Cocoa Cookbook

"The Best"  Brownies

Original Recipe

1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted butter (I always used oil)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/3 cup Hershey's Cocoa
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)  Mike does not like nuts.

Blend oil, sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl.  Add eggs; beat well with spoon.  Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to egg mixture until well blended.  Stir in nuts if using.  Spread in a 9-inch square pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan.  Cool in pan.  Frost if desired; cut into squares.  16 brownies

This is a recipe that I'd make quite often when the kids were little.  And I could either make them plain or add the frosting for a special little treat.  I almost always doubled it.  The frosting is a nice consistency and is easy to add a little swirly decoration.  It was a go-to for when I needed something quick to take to a picnic or covered dish.

Creamy Brownie Frosting

3 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 tablespoons Hershey's Cocoa
2 tablespoons light corn syrup or honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons milk (I prefer to use soy milk.)

Cream butter, cocoa, corn syrup and vanilla in small mixer bowl.  Add confectioners' sugar and mik; beat to spreading consistency.  About 1 cup frosting.

The Peanut Butter Faction:

To achieve Mike's request for peanut butter brownies, I used half the oil  or butter called for and half peanut butter in both recipes.  That's it.  They were so good--unfortunately, we can't leave them alone!  Not good for two people watching their waists.

Peanut Butter Brownies for Valentine's Day