Peanut Butter Brownies

I cut this recipe out of the Toronto Star many years ago. It has a brownie base and peanut butter filling (almost like peanut butter nanaimo bars!). Very yummy and I have yet to find someone who didn't love it. Even kids go crazy for it!

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Yields: 36 brownies

Ingredients

• brownie base

• 5  ounces  semisweet chocolate
• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 2  eggs
• 1  cup white sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped pecans (optional)

• peanut butter layer

• 3⁄4 cup peanut butter
• 1⁄3 cup butter
• 2  cups  sifted icing sugar (you won't need this much)

• icing

• 6  ounces  semisweet chocolate
• 1⁄4 cup butter

Directions

1. Brownie Base.
2. Melt chocolate and butter together over low heat. Reserve.
3. Whisk eggs with sugar. Beat in chocolate. Stir baking powder with flour and add to chocolate mixture. Add pecans, if using.
4. Pour into 9 inch baking pan lined with foil. Bake in 350F oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Do not over bake. Cool in pan. Chill 30 minutes.
5. Peanut Butter Layer.
6. Cream peanut butter with butter until smooth. Start with 1-cup icing sugar and beat in amount needed to make mixture spreadable.
7. Spread over chilled brownie base. (Drop in small portions and then spread, as this is thick).
8. Chill 30 minutes.
9. Icing.
10. Melt chocolate with butter over low heat. Cool.
11. Spread over peanut butter layer.
12. Chill 1 hour before cutting.