Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Here is another great dessert I served on Superbowl Sunday along with the Football Cupcakes. This recipe for Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies is very good. I found it in an Allyou magazine. The brownies are moist with a nice peanut butter flavor. Everyone enjoyed them! The ingredients are:

• 4 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped (I used 4oz. semisweet chocolate chips)
• 20 Tbsp. (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter (do not use all natural)
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
• 5 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with foil; mist foil with cooking spray. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate with 2 sticks butter, stirring until smooth. Pour into a large bowl and let cool to room temperature.
2. In a bowl, using an electric mixer, cream peanut butter, brown sugar, cream cheese and remaining 1/2 stick butter until well combined, about 3 minutes. Beat in 1 egg.
3. Whisk 4 eggs, sugar and vanilla into bowl with melted chocolate; mix well. Stir in flour and salt. Pour batter into baking pan. Spoon reserved peanut-butter mixture on top and use a sharp knife to swirl mixtures together. Bake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 50 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut and serve.

Football Cupcakes

Here is a yummy recipe for Football Cupcakes! I had some family and friends over for the Superbowl game on Sunday and I wanted to make a fun football themed dessert. When I saw this recipe in a Phyllis Hoffman Celebrate magazine I knew that this was the recipe I would make. If you like the chocolate and mint combination than you will like this cupcake! The flavor reminds me of a Thin Mint Girlscout cookie. Leave the football off of the top and you’ve got yourself a great Saint Patrick’s Day treat! The recipe is only for the frosting so use your favorite homemade or boxed Chocolate cake recipe. The ingredients for the Mint Frosting are:

• 1 Cup Butter, softened
• 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 5 cups confectioners’ sugar
• green food coloring
• Grass tip

1. In a large bowl, beat butter, cream cheese, and peppermint extract at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Beat in green food coloring, one drop at a time, until desired color is reached. Use a grass tip to pipe frosting on top of cupcake.