Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Bars

If you like chocolate and peanut butter, you'll love this recipe! I was wondering what I might do with the other half of a box of devil's food cake mix (I used half a box for mocha cupcakes a week ago) and thought I might try to make brownies. Just brownies? No ... of course not. They had to be special! Duncan Hines suggested to use eggs and melted butter. I used 1 egg (since I only had half a box of cake mix) and oil instead of butter, but the batter was a little thick so I added just a splash of milk. The peanut butter topping recipe is from Martha Stewart! The topping is hard to explain, it's almost crispy.

Ready to get baking.

Fresh from the oven.

Mmm!

Are you drooling yet?

Makes 16 squares

Ingredients
1/2 box devil's food cake mix
1 large egg
1/4 cup canola oil
1/8 cup milk

4 teaspoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup honey roasted peanuts

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a 9x9 pan with parchment and grease with a little oil.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix, egg, oil and milk with a wooden spoon. Mix well. Pour into prepared pan and spread the batter to the edges with a spatula.

In the same bowl (because I hate washing dishes) combine the butter, powdered sugar, peanut butter and vanilla. Mix well with the same wooden spoon. Place blobs of peanut butter mixture all around the chocolate cake then use a knife to swirl it around.

Sprinkle with chocolate chips and just a few honey roasted peanuts.

Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before cutting.