Peanut Butter Marshmallow Brownies

This recipe caught my eye several weeks ago. I was searching for a dessert recipe to use up a can of Sweetened Condensed milk and was in the mood for somthing different than my usual Magic Cookie Bars. This reipce combines several of my favorite flavors: Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Marshmallows. Another great thing about this recipe is that it uses a boxed cake mix keeping the ingredient list small.

While these were a breeze to whip up, it was a little time consuming. First you need to make and par bake the chocolate base. Next you need to make the filling, pour over the partially baked crust and then bake again. From start to finish these took about an hour for me, which on a hot summer day can feel like torture.

I also had a difficult time evenly spreading the sticky marshmallow/peanut butter filling over the crust. The filling was thick and way to hard to spread even with a buttered knife/spoon/spatula (maybe I was just having an off day). I ended up plopping spoonfulls of filling all over the crust and then with a greased knife did the best I could at trying make sure the crust was covered entirely. This worked well as the filling did thin and spread while baking.

The flavor of these bars made up for my frustrations while preparing them. They came out of the oven smelling faintly of peanut butter with bubbling marshmallow peeking through the chocolate topping just begging to be enjoyed. I waited about 30 minutes and then ate one warm. Don’t overbake as they are supposed to be a bit gooey when you take them out, they will firm up a bit as they cool.

The crust was sturdy but not hard, the filling had a subtly noticable peanut butter flavor and very similar to cheesecake in texture but gooier. Overall these were really great brownies and were enjoyed by all, even the non-peanut butter lovers (yes they do exist). While these brownies were yummy, they don’t beat out my favorite!

I did adapt this recipe a bit (based on my preferences and reviews) as reflected below and would recomend you do the same. Next time I will add some chopped Reese’s PB cups over the top of the brownies the last 10 minutes of baking to marry together the two flavors more fully.

I rate these brownies an 8

3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk, divided

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted and cooled

1/4 cup milk

1 (18 1/4 ounce) package devil’s food cake mix

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme (about 1-3/4 cups)

1/2 cup peanut butter chip

Directions

1Set oven to 350 degrees.

2Grease a 13″ x 9-inch baking pan.

3In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup condensed milk, butter, 1/4 cup milk, cake mix and the egg; mix to combine well (batter will be stiff).

4Press TWO-THIRDS of the batter into the bottom of the prepared baking pan (using floured hands); pat down evenly, the layer will be thin.

5Bake for 10 minutes.

6Meanwhile, combine the remaining 1/2 cup condensed milk and the marshmallow creme in a bowl; stir in the peanut butter chips/morsels.

7Remove the pan from the oven; spread the marshmallow mixture evenly over the brownie layer.

8Carefully drop the remaining batter by the spoonfuls over the marshmallow mixture.

9Bake for another 30 minutes.

10Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Peanut Butter Marshallow Brownies

adapted from here

3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk, divided (I used 1 whole can)

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted and cooled

1/4 cup milk

1 (18 1/4 ounce) package devil’s food cake mix (I used Triple Chocolate Cake Mix)

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme

(1 1/4 cups Creamy Peanut Butter)

1/2 cup peanut butter chip (I HIGHLY recommend Reese’s brand chips)

(1/4 cup Milk Chocolate Chips)

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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Line a 9×13 baking pan with foil and lighlty spray with PAM.

In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup condensed milk, butter, 1/4 cup milk, cake mix and the egg; mix to combine well (batter will be very stiff).

Gently press about 2/3 of the dough into the bottom of the prepared baking pan (using floured hands if needed); pat down evenly, the layer will be thin.

Bake for 10 minutes.

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While crust bakes, combine the remaining  condensed milk, marshmallow creme and Peanut Butter in a bowl; gently fold in the peanut butter chips and chocolate chips.

Remove the crust from the oven; spread the peanut butter marshmallow mixture evenly over the brownie layer.

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Carefully drop the remaining batter by the spoonfuls evenly over the peanut butter marshmallow mixture. Press down slightly.

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Bake for another 25-30 minutes or until edges are set and center is slightly gooey but not raw. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.