Earlier this week my friend Jeannette sent me a text saying she was having one of those days, the kind that can’t be over fast enough, and asked if I wanted to bake when she got home. She lives in Texas and I’m up in RI, but we do this a lot – choosing a recipe to make together and then texting about our experiences as we go. I swear, she always finds the best recipes! So, even though it was about 8 million degrees out on this particular day, I was more than happy to turn on the oven and bake with her. That’s what virtual friends do, right? π
The title of the recipe doesn’t exactly give away everything that’s going on in these brownies so let me give you a rundown. Instead of using cocoa powder or unsweetened chocolate for the base as brownies typically do, white chocolate is substituted. Peanut butter is stirred into the base as well, and then chocolate chips are mixed in and sprinkled on the top before baking. These are pretty much a peanut butter and chocolate lover’s dream!
I happen to love white chocolate but I know it has its haters. If you’re one of them, I think you’ll probably still really enjoy these brownies. They don’t taste like white chocolate, it just lends sweetness and richness. They’re super chewy, in the best possible way, and they bake up with that elusive and highly desirable thin crackly crust on top. I let the brownies sit overnight before cutting into them, but once I did, all bets were off. They’re easily one of the most irresistible things I’ve baked in a while!
I’ve tried to make white chocolate brownies about 10 times before and it’s been an epic fail each and every time. I couldn’t figure out why until I made this recipe. The key is that you really don’t want to let the white chocolate get too hot – it scorches and separates and there’s no saving it once that happens. You shouldn’t have any problems if you follow the instructions below, and once you get past melting the white chocolate, this recipe is a cinch. And the brownies are so good they’re totally worth heating up your kitchen on a hot summer day!
Black and White Peanut Butter Brownies
adapted from King Arthur Flour (via une Gamine dans la Cuisine)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 oz white chocolate, finely chopped
3/4 cup (5 1/4 oz) granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/4 cups (5 1/4 oz) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9×9-inch pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on opposite sides to lift the brownies out afterward. Spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
Add the butter to a heatproof bowl and set over a pan of simmering water. When the butter is almost completely melted, remove the bowl and add the white chocolate. (Do not return the bowl to the double boiler.) Stir to soften and melt the white chocolate. The goal here is to melt the white chocolate without letting it get too hot, or it’ll separate and scorch. If you chopped it finely, it should melt easily in the hot butter. Add the sugar and whisk until incorporated. Stir in the vanilla and salt, then let the mixture cool until lukewarm.
Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking to incorporate. Stir in the peanut butter until the batter is smooth, then add the flour and baking powder and use a rubber spatula to fold it in. Mix in about 3/4 of the chocolate chips.
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, spreading in an even layer. Sprinkle the reserved chocolate chips over the top. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the brownies are light golden brown on top and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Remove the pan to a wire rack, and allow the brownies to cool completely before lifting them out and cutting into squares for serving.
I LOVE white chocolate and have always wanted to make a white chocolate brownie. I love that you two bake together despite the miles in between. Such a great idea.
PB and white chocolate are one of my favorite combinations! these brownies look incredible tracey! π
I saw the picture of these you posted yesterday on twitter and couldn’t wait for the recipe! These look sooo yummy!
Oh my goshhhh, you know I’ve been waiting for these since you Instagrammed the photo! They’re even better than I imagined–and I will definitely be trying this out. Hopefully not scorching my white chocolate! π
Love that cake plate and I am with the others – couldn’t wait to see these after you shared in Instagram. Amazing looking brownies. Love the flavors!
I’m a HUGE white chocolate fan so you know I’m on board! π
Yum! I’ve been waiting for this recipe since I saw it on Instagram/Twitter yesterday. Can’t wait to try these!!
Tracey, I’m so glad that you liked these little gems! It took me forever to figure out how to handle white chocolate too. It’s so finicky! π
Beautifully done. I kinda want to revisit the recipe now!
These sound delish. I love PB, white choc, and am a sucker for super chewy bar-cookies like these. And I love that you and your friend do impromptu baking projects. That is fun!
These sound awesome! Love the addition of white chocolate!
those sound so delicious! i love the pb/white chocolate combo! yum!
Yum, these look amazing!!
I have also tried to do white chocolate brownies many times with no luck so I’m definitely giving these a try! I would take white chocolate over milk or dark any day!
Adorable! Nothing like taking on a cooking project to save the day. I love the idea of combining the white chocolate and chocolate chips AND peanut butter. Triple yum.
I’m one of the white chocolate haters (it makes my stomach hurt) but these look so delicious and puffy, and you had me at the part about the crinkly crusty bit. I love that part of the brownie.
These look really delicious, plus I bet you could pair it with ice cream and then you can cool yourself down in the process π
aw, what a fun idea to do with a virtual friend π sounds like you guys are really close and it’s great to share the same interests! these look delicious and i love how perfectly cut they are! yum!
Aww I’m so glad you loved these. They are seriously SO dangerous. I didn’t even think about this until you said something, but every white choc brownie I’ve tried has been less-than-wow and these worked and I LOVED them. These will be my go-to for chocolate haters.
Thank you for baking with me on my blargh day. I’ll likely call you up on Thursday to do the same. End of month PLUS inventory count? ugh x 10.
Kinda wishing I had one of these left for myself π
These sound/look amazing!
I am a PB and Chocolate fiend – can’t wait to try these, they look perfect!
I love the combination of peanut butter and white chocolate. I’m definitely trying these soon!
These look so good!!! amazing! π
Mmm what a treat! Love the look of these bad boys.
These sound awesome! I haven’t tried a brownie with white chocolate, but I’ve been wanting to do a blondie. Not sure if these qualify, but based on your’s and Jeanette’s success with these, I will have to give them a try. That’s so cool you guys bake together via text. π
Pinning this recipe for sure! I’ve been dying to try the white chocolate + peanut butter combination for months now.
Just made these and could hardly wait until it was cool enough to cut. I enjoyed a square with a big glass of milk. I love the chewy texture and light peanut butter flavor. I had to use milk chocolate chips because I was of semi-sweet. Next time will use semi sweet as the milk was a little too sweet for me. Is it bad if I go eat another one!? Don’t tell.
I thought the texture was more like cookies than brownies. They were moist with a subtle peanut butter flavor and soft and chewy. That being said I believe the addition of peanut butter qualifies this as a breakfast food and I had a few for breakfast last week. Thanks for making and sharing them!
Yipeee!!!! These Black and White Peanut Butter Brownies just showed up on my doorstep. Perfect timing for an afternoon snack. They are delicious and combine two of my favorite flavors. Thank you so much for contributing to the on-line bake sale. I am quite lucky to have gotten these and the little sugar high that came with. Thanks! – Madeleine