When did I start baking? I can trace it back to my junior year of college.
I’ll get into why in a minute, but I was pretty much hooked from the start. What could be more amazing than dreaming of a dessert and then creating it? Sure, back then I needed recipes (I was very reliant on them), Â but it was still a lot of fun to cook in my crappy dorm kitchen.
These brownies are the first ones I ever baked from scratch, and the first baked good I ever added my own spin to. I used to call them “candy bar brownies” because they are very much like that. Rich, fudgy brownies are filled with peanut butter and milk chocolate chips, with a thick layer of the same on top. They’re crazy addictive!
When I was in college, I had a boyfriend who was sort of local to the area. He’d invite me to his mom’s house on weekends, and I always wanted to bring a hostess gift of some kind. The problem? I didn’t have much money, and whatever money I did have I would spend on veggie burgers to make it through the week.
That’s when I started learning how to bake. I went to the college bookstore and bought a Pillsbury baking book (still one of my favorites) in the reduced-price bin. If I couldn’t bring expensive chocolates or bottles of wine (um, wasn’t 21 yet) as a present, I could at least bring baked goods.
At first, it was something of a struggle. I had no mixer, didn’t know what any of the directions meant (creaming? straining? whaaat?), and didn’t own more than one or two pans. Luckily, these brownies fit into the one kind of pan I did have: the ever-useful 9 x 13.
One day, I was in the baking aisle at the only grocery store I could walk to, and I found a box of Baker’s unsweetened chocolate. On the back was a recipe for one-bowl brownies, and there was no mixer needed. I could just melt the butter and chocolate in a microwave, mix stuff together, and be done with it. Instantly, that became my go-to brownie recipe of the 90s.
When Reese’s peanut butter chips burst onto the baking scene, I found them at the grocery store, too. They got a lot of use in my kitchen then, and they still do. I think they always will!
These brownies are full of both milk chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. When the brownies come out of the oven, I sprinkle the same mixture over the top, let it melt, and spread the chocolate over the surface. When it hardens, it’s like a brownie and candy bar in one!
I might not be in college anymore (not by a long shot), but I can still enjoy these brownies to the utmost. I hope you do, too!
Ingredients
Instructions
Some recipes are more special than others, and there are always reasons behind that. Food ties in strongly to childhood and nostalgia, and that’s why these bars strike a particularly deep chord within me.
Along with Entenmann’s chocolate frosted donuts. Man, do I yearn for those on an almost daily basis. But we’ll get into that one another day!
Last week, I wrote about food blogging and its attendant challenges. Well, one of the biggest ones came up just a few days ago.
I was reading one of my favorite blogs for peanut butter desserts, Averie Cooks. I’m sure you’re familiar with Averie, but if not, she’s a peanut butter goddess. I own her cookbook, Peanut Butter Comfort, and I like to sit around and drool at her pictures.
Anyway, last Friday she posted these Tagalong bars. And as soon as I saw them, I slapped myself on the head and cursed. Because you see, I had a very similar bar cooling on my kitchen counter.
Now that I’m on board with July 4th being around the corner, my kitchen has changed color. We’re looking very patriotic these days. I blame the sprinkles and M & Ms.
About two months ago, I spied patriotic M & Ms at Target. So I bought them, hid them from Kenny, and forgot about them. Until today. If you want a bar that’s as close as possible to white to set off the glory of these holiday-themed M & Ms, this white chocolate base is perfect. It has the consistency of a brownie but it’s made with white chocolate. Holy stars and stripes forever!
Ah Mir, you just zapped me back to my own days of cooking in my college apartment kitchen. One year we decided to cook Thanksgiving dinner (why? we were all going home for Thanksgiving in a week – crazy kids!)…we should have made these delectable brownies instead! Happy Monday! 🙂
Kate @ Framed Cooks recently posted…Torn Egg Salad
I can’t argue with TWO Thanksgiving dinners. That sounds brilliant!
These brownies are perfect! Tried and true recipes are the best 🙂 I love that you made these in college – the best I could do back in those days were muffin mixes (even though I started baking in high school!)
Megan – The Emotional Baker recently posted…Banana Cashew Butter Yeast Bread
I love this recipe because tried and true is definitely my happy place!
My idea of baking in college was toasting a bagel! But luckily, I found my passion for baking and cooking after college. The the looks of these brownies, Mir! Yum!
I got very domestic in college. Now I’m over it! 🙂
All I really remember preparing for myself and others in college was tuna! Hhahaha – I wish I knew you then – although you would have been in pre-school at the time… these are a treat and a half!! Pinned!
annie@ciaochowbambina.com recently posted…Soul Snacks {Food Edition}
I couldn’t bake in preschool. But yeah, I got my baking on early!
I definitely didn’t bake things like this in my college dorm! It wasn’t until I got an apartment that I really started getting into it… These look seriously delicious 🙂
Maybe it was having a college apartment. I had to do something with that kitchen!
Well it was totally sweet of you to want to bring your boyfriend’s mother a gift when she had you over! You need to come over to my house one of these days, Mir…. and don’t forget to bring me some baked goods. hahahaha. I KID! Anyways, I love hearing how you got your start baking! I’m still a fan of easy peasy, one bowl recipes that can fit into that trusted 9×13 pan!! Love these brownies! They look totally rich and off the charts delicious! Plus I’m a HUGE fan of Reeses peanut butter chips! Gimme gimme gimme (just in a white chocolate version of course) lol. Cheers, sweets!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Ham & Pear Sandwich {with Arugula & Manchego}
Whenever I visit someone, I try to bring baking. It’s become a habit now!
Wow you were a super-aware 19 or 20 year old. I never would have thought to bring a hostess gift. I’m just classy like that. haha! But who could say no to these brownies?? They look amazing!!
I felt like I had to bring something for her because she fed me a lot, which was nice. 🙂
They definitely look very fudgy, yum! first recipes are always special 🙂
Manali@CookWithManali recently posted…Tofu Tikka Masala
They sure are! I’ll always love these!
Mir, I loved reading about how you started baking! what a great story! you spent all your money on veggie burgers in college? I ate stromboli’s like there was no tomorrow. . this is why I was heftier back then 🙂 LOVE these brownies! the perfect sweet treat!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Zucchini Carrot Muffins
I ate veggie burgers because they were nutritious and affordable. Every now and then, somebody would treat me to pizza. And oh please. I’m sure you’ve always been as gorgeous as you are now!
Haha…what a fun story! I’m totally imagining you rocking out baking these brownies in your college dormroom…all while wearing a neon windbreaker. (It was the 90’s after all!) Admit it. You had a neon windbreaker. I know I did. Heck, I kinda wish I still had it. 🙂 These brownies sound amazing, and I could definitely go for one or four right about now. Yum!
David @ Spiced recently posted…Sausage and Egg Breakfast Braid
Oh my gosh. I SO miss my neon windbreaker!! That thing was ROCKIN’.
Mir, you are on a brownie roll! These look like they most definitely could be crazy addictive! Your college boyfriend’s mom must have LOVED you – taking baked goodies trumps wine or any other sort of gift – at least in my books! I so love how you made the most of what you had to come up with some stellar brownies – now please tell me you sold a gazillion of these to your college mates and got to eat the deluxe version of veggie burgers for the rest of your time there? 🙂
Shashi at RunninSrilankan recently posted…Tahini-Free, Hummus Dips!
Oh man! I shoulda sold them. Why didn’t I do that?!
I started baking with brownies too. My hat is off to you for baking in a college dorm. I tried that for a couple bake sales and it was challenging to say the least! These sound amazing!
Amanda recently posted…Rice Pudding
Brownies are the place to start! And yeah, it was tough in that tiny kitchen!
Brownies are my weakness, I can never have just one and these College Dorm Brownies would destroy my diet. lol They look delicious
They’re my weakness too, so I just give in. Thanks, Mary!
I never lived in a dorm…or with roommates. I think I was cheated out of an integral part of life!! These brownies…good anywhere, OMG!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted…Salted Caramel Mocha Cheesecake Dip
Aw man! Dorm life is beautifully sketchy. No A/C, communal bathrooms…kind of like camp. But that’s okay. I’m sure you’ll be fine without that experience!