Buckeye Brownies

Typically, these brownies are celebratory brownies.  I bake them when we have friends over to watch "the big game."  Well, this year, I fear, will not hold a lot of celebrating for our beloved Buckeyes.  It is, sadly, a year of rebuilding, of transitioning, of reevaluating. 

So, this season.  These brownies are for drowning our sorrows.  These are definitely worthy of falling "off the wagon" for.  These brownies are so over-the-top, they border tipping over the edge into the candy category.  Prepare yourself for such an indulgence.  You won't regret it and best of all, there's no hang-over the next morning!  Just don't wear your skinny jeans anytime soon...

Buckeye Brownies
Here's What You Need:
1 1/2 cups butter, divided
3/4 cup cocoa, divided
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 jar (18 oz) peanut butter
1/3 cup milk
10 marshmallows (regular size)
2 cups powdered sugar

Here's What You Do:
In a saucepan, melt 1 cup butter.  Stir in 1/2 cup cocoa until smooth.  Remove from the heat.  In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs, sugar and vanilla.  Beat for 1 minute.  Combine the flour and salt and gradually add it to the egg mixture.  Beat in the cocoa mixture.  Pour batter into a greased 15 inch x 10 inch x 1 inch jelly roll pan.  Bake for 18 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Cool on wire rack.

Meanwhile, place the peanut butter in the microwave-safe bowl.  Heat in the microwave on 50% power for 2 minutes, stirring once.  Stir until the pnb is blended.  Spread over the warm brownies after they come out of the oven.  Lick the spatula.  You can't let warm pnb go to waste.  Not to be confused with going to Your Waist!  Refrigerate for 45 minutes or until the pnb is set.

Put the remaining cocoa in a heavy saucepan.  Stir in the milk until smooth.  Now add the marshmallows and remaining butter.  Cook and stir over medium heat until the butter and marshmallows are melted and the mixture is smooth.  Remove from the heat.  Gradually stir in the powdered sugar.  By now you are going to be feeling like this was a bad idea.  All the smells and the sneaky licks of the spoon keep telling you that you are going to be consuming a lot of calories in the very near future.  After you've talked yourself off the ledge, spread the chocolate mixture over the pnb layer on the brownies.  Refrigerate for at least another 30 minutes.  It's okay if you go ahead and cut a little corner piece out for yourself.  I'll give you permission.

Cut into squares.  Small. Squares.  You'll get about 4 dozen allowing you plenty to share and still make a pig of yourself!  Now, here's where I try to share my recipe source with you.  Someone from my Mom's church brought a pan of these to their church bake sale several years ago.  Mom talked about these perfectly beautiful brownies and how nicely they presented for the bake sale.  When she told me there was chocolate and peanut butter, I stopped her right then and there and told her she MUST get me the recipe.  She did and the copy that was given to me was taken from a cookbook and the title wasn't with it.  Furthermore, the name of the brownies was something else.  Something generic like, "Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies."  Being who I am and where I live and where my allegiance lies, I renamed them "Buckeye Brownies" and they've been a repeat offended in my recipe box ever since.  Go Bucks!  Win or lose, we still love you!