Calling all brownie lovers! Calling all peanut butter lovers!!! Heck, calling anyone and everyone that ever knew anything delicious to come and try these Gluten Free Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Brownies! Fudgy, peanut buttery, chocolaty gluten free goodness.
I was going to post the recipe for the epic cheesecake I made on Mother’s Day last week, but then these happened. Brownies!!!
Ben’s birthday was yesterday, the 12th of May, which either falls really close to Mother’s Day or right on Momma’s Day itself. That always makes for a real special day for me, if you can imagine. Actually, I think that has only ever happened once in our 13 year marriage.
Needless to say, yesterday was all about BEN!!!
Well, it would have been if he was actually home. He left by 5:30 in the morning to fly to the Big Island of Hawaii and didn’t return home until 8:00 at night. Which then we shoved dinner in his face, ignored him while we watched one of our favorite cooking shows, and threw presents at him faster than he could open them just so we, ourselves, could get to brownie time.
Originally I wasn’t even going to make anything for him because I knew that this scenario was pretty much inevitable. Plus, I figured we could just postpone party celebrations until the weekend. However, neither my conscience nor my girls were going to let me off the hook.
So instead, the morning of his birthday and an hour before I was supposed to leave for surfing, I busted out my pantry essentials to make a batch of these Gluten Free Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Brownies that would anxiously be awaiting Ben’s return.
You see, two things my husband loves are chocolate and peanut butter. Now I know that Snickers is his ultimate favorite candy bar, but I’m pretty sure Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups runs a close second. Really, who doesn’t love a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup???! Especially the holiday shaped ones. Why are those soooooo much better??? It will always be a mystery.
But back to these birthday brownies. Boy are they perfect!!!
I know I sound a bit arrogant calling my brownies “perfect”, but in my house these really do fit the criteria for perfect. Everybody has different brownie preferences, but in our household these are the brownie must haves:
- Fudgy.
- Chewy.
- Crispy edges.
- Chocolaty mix-ins.
- Crackly surface.
- Topped with ice cream.
Uh, let me see…check, check, check, check, check, and CHECK!!! Well, it was a mad rush to the store to pick up some Haagen Daaz vanilla ice cream in order to fulfill number 6, but alas the checklist was complete.
I’m telling you, especially you box mix brownie lovers, these taste just like those perfect box mix brownies that for some reason always seem to taste better than homemade. Again, another mystery. How can something so simple like a box mix brownie taste sooooo much better than the love and effort that goes into homemade???
Trust me, if there was a good gluten free box mix brownie out there, I would be all over it. But, there’s not. Or at least none that I’ve tried thus far. But with these brownies tasting so darn close to a regular box mix brownie, I don’t think I even need to search anymore. These are glorious!
I’d imagine you could replace the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups with any mix-ins of your choice and you’d end up with just as stellar of a brownie. Besides the candy, the recipe makes a basic brownie batter…in other words, a blank brownie canvas.
So yes, this post is obviously about a delicious brownie. One that you should waste no time making. But, more importantly this post is about an extraordinary man: my hubby. I’m sure he would rather be recognized somewhere other than his wife’s mediocre food blog, but this is the best I got. Take it or leave it.
Babe, I truly do love you. You’re the drama referee, the financial and emotional provider, the calmness in our storm, the patient reasoner, the spiritual strengthener, and the pure example of care and compassion in our home.
In this past year, I’ve seen you grow in confidence and in muscles. Wink wink! You’ve taken us down this crazy Hawaiian roller coaster ride of highs and lows, but mostly we’re soaring above the clouds. I love experiencing this adventure with you. Our family is stronger because of your presence. Your example of hard work and dedication is a priceless gift that our girls will forever treasure…except when they’re doing chores. I only hope they can follow in their father’s footsteps.
Happiest of birthdays Babe!!!
- 1 stick butter
- 1 cup organic cane sugar
- ½ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup sour cream (I used light)
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup brown rice flour
- ¼ cup sweet sorghum flour
- ¼ cup gluten free oat flour
- ¼ cup potato starch
- 2 tablespoons tapioca starch
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- about 15 miniature Reese's peanut butter cups, quartered
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray the bottom of a 9X13 pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large microwave safe mixing bowl, combine butter, cane sugar, and coconut sugar. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir until combine. Microwave on high for an additional minute and mix until well combined.
- Add vanilla to butter mixture and stir until incorporated. Add chocolate chips to bowl and let sit for 2 minutes so chocolate doesn't cease. Stir until chocolate melts into mixture. Add egg and whisk until combined. Add sour cream and stir until smooth.
- Add remaining ingredients to mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Pour mixture into greased 9X13 pan. Scatter Reese's peanut butter cup pieces on top and gently press halfway into brownie batter.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 27-30 minutes until sides are set and middle barely jiggles. Remove from oven and allow to completely cool so brownies are able to set.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in freezer for up to 3 months.
