Peanut Butter Caramel Brownie Cake

Peanut Butter Caramel Brownie Cake

You’ve heard of cookie cake, but brownie cake? Yeah, it’s a thing.

And it’s even more a thing when it’s smothered in peanut butter caramel and sprinkled with sea salt. If you’re looking for me, I’m hiding in a closet with a giant wedge of this and a martini. Come find me sometime next week.

Oh, and did I mention there are peanut butter chips inside the brownie? This is one of those times when you run toward making this. No walking!

Peanut Butter Caramel Brownie Cake

I’m sure you’ve all been following the news story about the gorilla and the kid at the zoo. The story is tragic and scary in so many ways, but that’s not what I’ve been thinking about for the past week.

To be honest, I’m completely shocked at the response to this event. Without seeing much (or any) footage or even knowing details, people quickly and vocally split into Team Kid or Team Gorilla. They’ve been tearing one another apart online, each side insisting on being right. Experts have been brought in too, just in case the fighting wasn’t loud enough.

Peanut Butter Caramel Brownie Cake

Even if you know the details, even if you were there, can I make a request?

Be compassionate. Be kind. Have good manners. Stop assuming you know everything and that you are above reproach. Stop tearing other people apart.

No matter what political affiliation you have, this election season has been marked by the same vitriol and hate. Instead of arguing issues, people are employing the classic logical fallacy of ad hominem rhetoric to make personal insults and senseless jabs the order of the day. It’s as though a reality TV mentality has taken over our political consciousness and landscape, replacing real conversation and intellectual debate with spite and pettiness.

Peanut Butter Caramel Brownie Cake

Well, I’ve had enough. I don’t want to read any more about the horrible things people say and do to one another. How can we expect our children to grow up and be good people if the adults around them have lost their minds?

I spend a lot of time practicing avoidance. Instead of letting stupidity get to me, I often pass up reading the newspaper. That probably makes me less informed, but considering how idiotic people can be, I’m cool being out of the loop. I’d rather stay in my bubble and eat dessert.

Peanut Butter Caramel Brownie Cake

All I did here was take my happy brownie base, add peanut butter chips, and put it into a 9-inch springform pan. After baking it, I covered it in my super-easy peanut butter caramel, which is a hack. Just combine sweetened condensed milk with a cup of peanut butter over low heat and stir until smooth. Once it’s covered and set, sprinkle the whole thing with sea salt.

The result is a brownie cake you will not soon forget. I wish I could forget all the ickiness going on in our world right now, and that everyone could just behave. But since that won’t happen, I’ll hole up with this instead!

 

Peanut Butter Caramel Brownie Cake

Ingredients

Brownie Base
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup flour
1 cup peanut butter chips
Peanut Butter Caramel
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat-free)
1 cup peanut butter
Garnish
sea salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350. Coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the cocoa into the melted butter until it dissolves. Add the sugar and stir again. When the sugar is incorporated, mix in the vanilla and eggs. Add the salt and flour, mixing until just combined. Fold in the peanut butter chips.
  3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes until set. Cool completely.
  4. In a medium saucepan, stir the sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter over low heat until combined and smooth.
  5. Release the brownie from the springform pan. Place it carefully onto a large plate.
  6. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the brownie base and spread it evenly using an offset spatula or knife. Some of the peanut butter caramel will spill down the sides and to the edge of the plate.
  7. Allow the topping to set. Sprinkle with sea salt to taste.
  8. Cut into wedges and serve. Store covered.
http://justaboutbaked.com/peanut-butter-caramel-brownie-cake/

 

Mir

I fulfill many roles in life: wife, mother, teacher, everlasting learner. This site is dedicated to one role that expresses my creativity in ways that I find consistently challenging and rewarding: baker. Inventing new ways to enhance food, especially if that food involves chocolate or peanut butter (or both!), is a passion of mine. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you.

This Post Has 28 Comments

  1. Sues

    omg that caramel on top!! That is everything.
    Sues recently posted…Thai Scrambled Egg TacosMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Yes, it is. Caramel is the best!

  2. Manali @ CookWithManali

    the brownie cake looks sensational Mir, yum! and totally with you on this whole gorilla story. We judge way too soon.
    Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…Strawberries and Cream EclairsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      We really do. People can be so mean!

  3. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    Mmm brownie cakes are SO good! I would take this over a cookie cake any day. And I’m with you about hiding in a closet with this and a good drink. Sounds perfect to me!
    Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Frozen Strawberry LemonadeMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Hiding in closets with dessert is my thing!

  4. Kate @ Framed Cooks

    AMEN times a million to everything you said about compassion and good manners. So important. And also to that delectable brownie cake!
    Kate @ Framed Cooks recently posted…Warm Bacon And Cheese SaladMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I know. Would it kill us all to be a little nicer?

  5. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary

    I have come to the conclusion that 95% of the people in this world have no manners, compassion or empathy. Seems like most people are haters these days and so eager to tear down other people. I’m not really sure why this is, because it takes SO much more energy to hate. Sure everyone has an opinion, but is it really necessary to vocalize it, especially when your opinion is meant to hurt? I’m thinking hiding in a closet with some (or all) of this cake and a martini is the best idea EVER. 😉 I totally love cookie cakes, but a brownie cake is genius, Mir! With the peanut butter caramel and sea salt on top I bet this is one addictive cake!! SO YUM! Cheers, girlie!
    Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Grilled Mojo Salmon Tostada PlatterMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Good manners are so important, Cheyanne. Everyone seems to be forgetting that!

  6. Medha @ Whisk & Shout

    This cake looks unreal- chocolate, caramel, AND peanut butter?! It’s like when they came out with peanut butter twixes, but BETTER.
    Medha @ Whisk & Shout recently posted…Lighter Spring Frittata with Peas, Goat Cheese, and Caramelized Pearl OnionsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      The best of all worlds, Medha!

  7. annie@ciaochowbambina

    I’ve got my running shoes on… I’ll happily join you in the bubble to eat brownie cake and drink martinis!
    annie@ciaochowbambina recently posted…Zucchini CarpaccioMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Run on over here, girlfriend!

  8. mira

    Yeah, election season, I’m sure more fun things are about to come! This brownie cake looks perfect! PB chips inside? Genius! Pinned!
    mira recently posted…Blueberry Watermelon Hibiscus Ice Pops RecipeMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Election season is CRAZY this year.

  9. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom

    Mir, oh my goodness! I hadn’t heard of the gorilla and the kid at the zoo story and just spent like 20 minutes watching all the videos on youtube! I agree 100%!!! Be compassionate. Be kind. Have good manners, people! there are some messed up, mean, silly people in this world .. pass me a big slice of this amazing peanut-butter-caramel-brownie-cake! Today, I need like 3 slices .. !
    Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Power Pasta SaladMy Profile

    1. Mir

      It’s the craziest footage, right? I think people are being so mean to the mom. I mean, we all have unguarded moments. Show me a perfect parent, because I haven’t met one yet!

  10. Jessica @ Citrus Blossom Bliss

    I’m pretty sure the world would be a better place/people would totally forget about being hateful if they had at least one bite of this delicious brownie cake. Wars would end, peace would be made. Until then, I’ll join you in the closet!
    Jessica @ Citrus Blossom Bliss recently posted…Sit and Chat SaturdayMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I know. More cake, no war!

  11. Amanda

    I usually think the richer the better when it comes to dessert, so brownie cakes are wonderful to me! This looks so tasty! I really dig all that peanut butter action!
    Amanda recently posted…Cookie Dough Cheesecake BarsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Me too. PB is my life!

  12. Trish - Mom On Timeout

    The peanut butter caramel is blowing my mind. It looks INCREDIBLE! I’d need two slices – at least 🙂

    1. Mir

      I ate way too much, Trish!

  13. Katie @The Semisweet Sisters

    I hear ya, the news makes me crazy. I avoid it at all costs because I can’t handle the drama they start. But on to the better things in life like this incredible looking brownie cake…that caramel topping looks to die for!!!

    1. Mir

      I know. It’s so discouraging sometimes!

  14. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust

    That story drove me insane too! Like, THIS is what we’re talking about today? A GORILLA? Anyway, I could live on these brownies. LOVE!
    Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted…Famous Trilogy Cinnamon RollsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Yep, people went nuts. And we have some serious problems out there, like mass shootings. Let’s focus on fixing that!

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