Chubby Hubby Bars

Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby ice cream is yummy. The creamy ice cream with the crunch of the chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels creates a favorite flavor.

My guys love the chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels from Trader Joe's store. In fact, Max was very irritated that I was going to use the pretzels for baking.

Can I just say, the skeptic has eaten most of the brownies.

My Hubby who is not a Chubby Hubby has not eaten very many of the brownies, only one.

When I found a brownie recipe for Chubby Hubby Brownies online I was all over it. I made some changes, of course.

Chubby Hubby Brownies

15 Chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels, cut in half
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temperature

Peanut Butter Frosting
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
4 Tablespoons butter, softened
2-4 T. half and half
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

plus Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels, crushed into small pieces for garnish or I just used chocolate covered pretzels, Flipz.

Sift together the flour, unsweetened cocoa powder and salt. Set aside. {I never sift}

Take 15 chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels and cut them in half. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl with the paddle attachment, mix together the packed light brown sugar, sugar, soft butter and vanilla extract on medium speed.
Add in the eggs one at a time. Slowly add in the dry ingredients on low speed. Mix until just combined. Take a spatula and fold the ingredients together.

Add the chopped chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels and fold them in. Spread the brownie batter into a lightly greased 8×8 inch baking pan. Bake the brownies at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Cool the brownies before frosting.

While the brownies are baking, make the peanut butter frosting. I put it in the fridge to firm it up while the brownies were cooling.

Sift (heehee, who me?) the powdered sugar. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl with the paddle attachment, combine the creamy peanut butter, softened butter and vanilla extract.

Slowly add in the powdered sugar and combine. Pour in the half and half and mix until smooth.

Once the brownies are done cooling, frost them with a thick layer of peanut butter frosting. Crush some chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels into small pieces and sprinkle on top of the frosting.

I think next time I'll make brownie bites in my mini muffin tin. Oooh! Yum! And they will be just the right size cuz baby, these brownies are rich.