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Some kids get neglected. That’s a tragedy I don’t want to talk about. But something I can handle discussing? Candy bars that get neglected.
When I was a kid, my dad would pick us up after school and on simpler days, we’d go straight home. But sometimes there were errands to run, so we had to go out and about. While I hated errands, it usually meant I got to pick out an after school candy bar. For years, that candy bar was Baby Ruth. Those chocolate-covered peanut and caramel bars have a great deal of nostalgia for me.
Which kind of got me to thinking. I rarely bake with Baby Ruth bars, and that’s a crying shame. So today, I’ve remedied that neglect. They’re getting their very own brookie!
For those of you who are way behind the trend, a brookie is a fantastic mashup of a brownie and a cookie. It’s one of my favorite combinations, right up there with pake (pie and cake, a combo I fell in love with thanks to the show Drop Dead Diva) and pookies, a pie and cookie combo. Mashups don’t just belong in music, after all. They hold up even better in dessert. If you want to learn more about them, read my friend Dorothy’s amazing cookbook. She has some rocking recipe mashups!
Mashups also extend to other areas of life. Like the spork. You know the spork, right? That miraculous blend of spoon and fork? Why in the name of all that’s holy don’t cutlery sets (the real ones, not the plastic) come with sporks? They’re the only answer to the question, “What is the best way to eat an ice cream cake?” Duh! Spork!
Another mashup I love is the skort. I know that sounds incredibly dorky, but hear me out. As the mother of daughters, it’s so great to have them wear something that looks like a skirt, but has shorts underneath for when they inevitably do a downward-facing dog pose in front of a crowd. See, little girls love to show off their fancy underpants. The skort stops that from happening.
In fact, the skort is so awesome that I found a couple of really chic ones (no, I’m not kidding) on sale at Athleta. They look like miniskirts, but really, they’re miniskorts. I look cute, and I don’t have to worry that someone is looking up my skirt when I’m not sitting with my knees clamped together.
So if you haven’t gotten it by now, I love mashups. And these Baby Ruth brookies are no exception. The bottom layer is a brownie made with real chocolate. That happened because I ran low on cocoa, so I made it up as I went along. It worked! Brownies are forgiving, and now you have the recipe below. The top layer is a cookie dough, and it’s run through with chopped fun-sized Baby Ruth bars. If ever there were an appropriate name for smaller candy bars, it’s “fun-sized.” What marketing genius came up with that?
If you haven’t spent much time thinking about the joy of mashups, you’d better start now. Begin with a neglected candy bar from youth and then branch out to cutlery and clothing. It’s the perfect way to reject having to compromise. Get something exactly the way you want it!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Line an 8 X 8 pan with foil and spray it with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and chocolate chip for one minute. Stir until smooth. If not melted, heat an additional 20 seconds and stir again.
- Mix the cocoa into the melted butter and chocolate 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.
- Spread the brownie batter in the prepared pan and bake for 15-20 minutes until mostly, but not all done.
- While that's happening, make the top layer. Mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter with both sugars until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and egg, beating again until smooth.
- Beat in the dry ingredients until a cookie dough has formed. Mix most of the chopped Baby Ruth bars into the dough.
- After the initial brownie baking time, carefully spread the cookie dough on top of the partially baked brownies. Press the remaining Baby Ruth pieces into the top. Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes until golden.
- Cool and cut into squares. Store in an airtight container.
Baby ruths are definitely neglected by me, but I do love them! These brookies sound delicious, Mir! What a fun way to through in this delicious candy!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Skinny BLT Ranch Dip
Thanks, Gayle! But see, now I can’t stop eating them…
haha, love that you gave some love to Baby Ruth candy bars today!!!! you are right! they are so neglected! it’s funny. . with cereal, rice crispies get all the attention b/c of the bars so I love seeing people using different cereals now for bars. . spreading the love. ‘Bout time. LOVE these brookies, Mir!!!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Berry Smoothie Breakfast Bowls
You’re right, Alice. I’ve always wanted to make a cereal bar with my all-time fave, Honey Bunches of Oats. But nobody does that. Why? Why? We SO have to spread the love!
What a great way to use Baby Ruth bars. I have only ever had one, but it was on a 2 day train journey I did from Seattle to L.A and it gave me a serious boost about half way through the journey.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Moroccan Lamb Skewers by Joanne
It’s the peanuts, Dannii. They give a serious boost!
Mmm, these brownie cookie bars look amazing Mir! I was the same when I was younger, my parents would always stop by a shop and let me get a chocolate bar on the way home from school if we ever needed to make a detour. I never had a particular favourite though, I always wanted to try everything haha! I’ve always had a soft spot for Milky Way’s though (which are the same as 3 Muskateers in the US) yum!
Harriet Emily recently posted…CHERRY BAKEWELL CUPCAKES
Wait, Milky Ways are different in the UK? Here, they’re just like 3 Musketeers but with caramel. Candy in other countries FASCINATES me.
I’ve heard of brookies, but never pake (um, sounds amazing- pie and cake?! yes!) I loooove Baby Ruth bars- in elementary school, my go to piece of trivia was that they aren’t named after Babe Ruth but rather President Grover Cleveland’s daughter. (Yeah, I was a nerd)
Medha @ Whisk & Shout recently posted…{Raw/GF/Vegan} Tropical Ice Cream Sandwiches!
The pake is where it’s at, Medha! It’s cake in a pie crust. I mean, how could you not? And that’s some seriously nerdy trivia. I’m impressed!
Yum, this mashup is awesome, Mir! I have similar memories of my dad letting me pick out candy bars (he also used to bring them home from work, my favorite part of the day when he showed up with a Milky Way!). Great recipe!
Sam @ SugarSpunRun recently posted…Fresh Blender Salsa
Dads are like that, Sam! Letting their daughters pick out the best snacks. No wonder my kids think I’m the bad guy!
These baby ruth brookies are the creme de la creme of mash ups! Sporks and Skorts have got NOTHING on these candy-cookie-brownie delights! 🙂 Seriously, these look incredible- soft, chewy, chocolatey and decadently delicious! <3 LOVE! These are brookies done right! Pinned!! Cheers, girlie!
Thanks, Cheyanne! Though I do LOVE a spork. They’re the best things ever. Thanks for pinning!
YUMMY! These brownie cookie bars look delicious, Mir! Awesome and droolicious bars! 🙂
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen recently posted…Quick And Easy Pineapple Kiwi Honey Yogurt Parfait
You have so much fun with “icious,” Anu! Droolicious is a new good one!
i have never tried these candy bars but they sound delicious. Chocolate, peanut and caramel can never be wrong together. And I am sure what made it even better was baking with them, because the brookies look absolutely delicious!
Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…Peach Crisp for Two
Say WHAT, Manali?! Girl, get to a CVS now and get one. They are GOOD!
Those sound amazing, I love mash-ups too! Although I’ve never actually had a Baby Ruth chocolate bar, but it sounds pretty awesome! 🙂 Also, skorts are definitely amazing for little girls, my daughter is constantly doing cartwheels and handstands, and the skorts are so much better for that!
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. recently posted…Homemade Balsamic Glaze
Skorts are the best, Stacey! An easy solution to an annoying problem. I love them almost as much as Baby Ruth bars, which you have GOT to try!
Never had a brookie, but I know I’m missing out! And I haven’t had a Baby Ruth in a while -shame, I always grab a Kit Kat 🙂 These sound and look amazing Mir! Another great recipe 🙂
Mira recently posted…Salmon With Grilled Zucchini And Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
Kit Kats are good and all, but I am definitely more of a Baby Ruth girl. Thanks, Mira!
Awww, I miss the days when I would run errands with my mom and she would let me pick out a candy bar. I’ve changed back and forth between SO many! These brookies sound amazing! ;-o
Michele @ Alwayzbakin recently posted…Cream Cheese Zucchini Bread with Browned Butter Streusel
Thanks, Michele! It’s nice to see you back. I haven’t seen you in a while!
Just reading a combination of brownie and cookie sounds delicious enough! Seeing those photos of your brookies make me crave for one!
Jasline (Foodie Baker) recently posted…My Mom’s Soy Sauce Braised Pork Belly
It is delicious enough, Jasline! But adding the candy bars can’t hurt!
You know what? Baby Ruth candy bars were a staple of my childhood. My mom loved them and always had them in her stash. I haven’t had one in years and I’ve never baked with one!! Oh, I must change that. These bars are fabulous!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted…Lemon Crumble Cheesecake Bars
Your mom must be awesome if her stash included Baby Ruth bars, Dorothy. I wonder if they’re a product of our childhoods, and whether other candy bars are more on trend now. I never wondered about trendy candy, but now I’m curious!
Brookies are the best. I just made some a few weeks ago, but not with Babe Ruths! I need these in my life. 🙂
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg recently posted…M&M Mini Chocolate Cookies
I do, too! I’m going to have to use them more from now on, Erin!
I am crazy for brookies! What a great idea!
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting recently posted…DIY S’mores Fondue Party
Thanks, Julianne! I’m crazy for them, too.