Brown Butter Peanut Butter Paisley Brownies {Brown Butter Week}

Have you ever browned butter? I'm sure the answer is YES for most of you foodies but for the rest of you who have not, then let me tell you, you are missing out on a secret ingredient. I was in the same boat until a few weeks ago when I decided to give it a try while trying a new cookie recipe and I was pleasantly surprised. 

 
So what is brown butter you ask? It is simply cooking butter beyond it's melting point to where the milk solids brown and you cook away most of the water. But you see, browning your butter enriches its flavor and gives it a rich caramelizing nutty flavor that takes any recipe that calls for butter up a notch. And in the past two weeks since my discovery of this secret ingredient, I've tried brown butter in everything from these brownies to pan seared scallops. Obsessed much?? I know, that's why I decided to have a brown butter dedicated week on the blog!! So let's start off with these peanut butter paisley (wanna-be) brownies.

Peanut butter fans, you will love this. It is a double peanut butter chocolate brownie!! I found the recipe on the back of the Reese's peanut butter chips label and I had to try it again with brown butter. Of course, I think it is much better with brown butter because there is an added nutty flavor to the peanut butter and chocolate medley. I think you would love this combination of flavors. The brownies also have soft centers as you bite into the chocolate layer but as usual my favorite part is the crunchy edge :)

Here are a few tutorials on how to brown butter. It is very easy and all you need is 5 minutes. So go brown some butter today! And please come back during the week for more brown butter recipes :)

theKitchn: How to brown butter 
Simply Recipes: How to Brown Butter
How Sweet it Is: Step-by Step pictorial instructions

Brown Butter Peanut Butter Paisley Brownies
Yield: About 20 brownies

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, browned and cooled to room temperature
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
3 eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 2/3 cups peanut butter chips
1/2 cup chocolate chips, melted and cooled

Directions:
To brown butter: Cut butter into pieces and melt in a saucepan over medium heat. Start to whisk constantly once the butter starts to foam. When the butter starts turning brown, fragrant and you see brown bits at the bottom of the pan, remove from heat. Transfer to a mixing bowl and allow to cool.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and peanut butter until combined. Add the sugars and beat well. Add the eggs, one at a time and beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla.

Add the flour mixture into the peanut butter mixture and mix until well combined. Stir in the peanut butter chips.

Spread half of the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Spoon the melted chocolate over the top and spread evenly. Using a cookie scoop, add the rest of the batter on top. Spread the batter evenly with a spatula and then swirl with a metal spatula or knife for marbled effect.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is lightly browned. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into squares and serve.

Adapted from: The back of Reese's Peanut Butter Chips