Indulge in these decadent brownies that reach new heights with a luscious peanut butter fudge and a velvety chocolate ganache!
Buckeye Brownies
Ingredients
*For the brownies:*
- 1 cup melted salted butter
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 4 eggs at room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup Ghirardelli cocoa powder
*For the peanut butter fudge:*
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup softened salted butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 tbsp milk at room temperature
*For the ganache:*
- 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate
- ¾ cup heavy cream
Instructions
*For the brownies:*
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 12×8 baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine melted butter, oil, granulated and brown sugar. Whisk until smooth.
- Add vanilla and eggs, beating for 30 seconds until the batter lightens.
- Sift in flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Mix lightly until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chunks on top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until the center no longer jiggles. For fudgy brownies, avoid overbaking. For cakey brownies, bake 5-8 minutes longer.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
*For the peanut butter fudge:*
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine all peanut butter fudge ingredients. Beat until smooth. Add milk, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a spreadable but stiff consistency.
*For the ganache:*
- Break up the chocolate and place it in a medium-sized bowl.
- Heat cream for 30-45 seconds in the microwave until it bubbles. Pour over the chocolate and let sit for 3 minutes before whisking.
- If the chocolate doesn’t completely melt, microwave for an additional 20 seconds and whisk until smooth. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
*For assembly:*
- Once the brownies have cooled completely, top them with the peanut butter fudge and spread evenly.
- Pour the cooled chocolate ganache over the top and spread to coat evenly.
- Allow to set for 30 minutes before cutting and serving. Get ready to savor every bite!