Is there something most other women can do that you absolutely can’t?
For me, it’s doing anything hairstyle-related.
I can tell you how to dye your hair, how to get the most vibrant color for your buck, what dyes to use, and so forth. I’ve bleached my hair more times than I can remember and I have as many dye-stained clothes and towels as a salon does. But when it comes to styling hair?
Haaaaallllllppppp me. I am pathetic.
Even my ponytails look like a four year old did it with her eyeballs closed. They’re lumpy, uneven and there’s always a tress hanging out in the back somewhere. Don’t even ask me to do a chignon or a simple sock bun — manipulating hair into those shapes may as well be brain surgery.
Thank gawwwd my hair is naturally pretty straight because I can barely work our decrepit, $10 hair straightener to flatten out the few rogue waves.
And curling irons? Puhlease. It’s more like a morbid race to see how fast Hayley will burn herself.
Back in high school, I tried curling my adorable bubblegum-pink colored hair and ended up scalding my neck really badly with the curling iron. It was at a place on my neck where the weirdly lip-shaped, perfectly-pink-shaded burn could potentially be seen as a hickie. Trying to convince my suspicious parents that this large, red thing on my neck was, in fact, a product of my poor curling iron-wielding skills and not a horndog teenage boy was a feat in itself.
So with all this said, you’d think I’d avoid curling irons, flat irons and wands like my life depended on it. So tell me WHY I decided to show up to ULTA one day and buy myself a curling wand? Because I’m impetuous. And because I figured, I’m 23 and don’t know how to curl my hair, so by purchasing a $50 hair wand, it must mean I will now know how to curl my hair. #girllogic
But, despite the fact that wands are seemingly harder to use than curling irons, despite the fact that curling wands require a single glove a la Michael Jackson to help with the curling process, despite the fact that I know as much about styling hair as a Goldendoodle does, I somehow managed to curl my hair… and it looked good.
So now I’m on this kick of but first, lemme curl my hair before I do anything. It’s kind of obnoxious, really, but sooo worth it. Those little, loose, tousled waves I’ve always ached over are now on my head. And I’ve only burned myself twice since I purchased it! That’s not to say I won’t have a huge hickie-like mark on my forehead next time, but at least my hair will look pretty if my face is mangled. Priorities.
Anyways, another obsession as of late has to be these Fudgy Peanut Butter Cookie Brookies. I’m increasingly becoming more and more interested in peanut butter (a couple years ago, I couldn’t have cared less about the stuff. Now, I’m practically eating it daily!), and I know that Reese’s and any chocolate/peanut butter combo is an instant win for most people, so these bars were a no-brainer. Plus, have you ever had a brookie? It’s a combination of a cookie and a brownie and it is as irresistibly mouthwatering as it sounds! These fudgy, gooey bars are absolutely no exception.
And trust me, anyone can successfully eat one… or five 🙂
- 1 box fudge brownie mix, plus ingredients on back of box
- ¾ cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 pkg Reese's Mini Peanut Butter Cups
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Liberally grease a 13x9" baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar with the paddle attachment until creamy. Beat in the peanut butter to combine. Add in the egg and vanilla extract. Lastly, beat in the flour, cornstarch and baking soda until a soft dough comes together.
- Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan and top with the entire package of miniature Reese's PB cups; set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, prepare the fudge brownie mix according to package directions. Pour the brownie batter on top of the peanut butter cookie layer. Bake for approx. 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, or with moist chocolate crumbs. Allow the brookies to cool completely before cutting into squares.
I mean, do you see how fudgy these bad boys are?! These are a fudge-lovers dream come true for sure! What I love about these brookies (besides the obvious) is that they manage to stay super moist with a tender crumb throughout the entire baking process. Sometimes the cookie part of the brookie can dry out while it waits for the brownie layer to finish baking, but this recipe ensures everyone gets baked without drying out. The result is a super fudgy, super chewy, tender crumbed brookie bar that tastes like a gigantic peanut butter cup. You won’t be able to stop at one!
And if you’re feeling extra naughty, sauce it up with some vanilla ice cream and hot fudge. I won’t judge you 🙂
Have a fantastical day!!
xo, Hayley
How to Philosophize with Cake says
Wow. A brookie?! Where has this been in my life! With peanut butter, and you have my dream dessert right there. 🙂
Tieghan says
These look insanely fudgy. Like whoa!! So awesome!
Zainab says
These are totally making me drool before breakfast!!! So freaking amazing. And puhplease help me with make up. I can never get how to do it right.
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
LOL I’m not gunna lie, I’m totally impressed! Curling wands scare me to death. Its hot rollers or a standard curling iron or nothing around here.
And these pb brookies made my heart stop when I saw the pic! So chewy and fudgy and I need them right now!
Judit & Corina @ Wine Dine daily says
These look utterly tempting!!! Mm… we could devour a few right now 🙂
Elizabeth @ Confessions of a Baking Queen says
DAYUUUUUUUUUM GINA! These brookies look off the hook!! I bet you look so puuuuurty with your curled hair, I love the wand- I don’t even use the glove LOL!! But I am so impatient I hardly ever curl my hair!! Cuz lezzzz be honest curl my hair or sit on the sofa eating these brookies watching RHOC?!?!?!
Kelly @ Hidden Fruits And Veggies says
Brookies! What an adult thing to call them. I normally go with slutty brownies 😉 but these treats definitely look like classy, fudgy ladies that I’d like to inhale pronto! I have the same problem with hair, only I’m so afraid of burning myself I keep the curling iron super far away and it makes my hair point in crazy directions! It’s a sexy look.
Sarah @ Running On Brie says
What?! A package of Reeses peanut butter cups? I’m totally sold. These look unbelievable!
Emily @ Life on Food says
My hair is straight as can be and there is nothing you can do with it. My ponytails always end up badly too. I would take bad hair for a good baker any day though. Priorities!!
Kathleen R. says
I’m about ready to drool. These look incredible. I need to make them now!!
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking says
Hayley, I have NO clue how to curl my hair either! Whenever I wanted it curled for high school dances, I begged my mom to do it. (That way, I wouldn’t accidentally burn myself either!) I don’t own a curling iron or a straightener… Only a blow-dryer, and I almost refuse to use that because I’m so lazy. Thank goodness no one cares about how my ponytail looks when I’m exercising — that’s basically the only time I wear it up! (Or to bake, but then it’s just me and my kitchen.) If you bring your wand to Miami, will you teach me?? 😉 And these incredible chocolate peanut butter oh so amazing bars are totally right up my alley. Pass the whole plate and a carton of ice cream please!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
I AM SO JEALOUS!!! I mean….yes..I’m jealous because you made and ate these amazingly gooey fudgy bars that I’m like dyingggg over but..
mostly because you can curl your hair!!! I NEED TO GET ON YOUR LEVEL!
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting says
You know I love me some brookies! See you in Miami!!
Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures says
Super fudgey! Yum! I can’t use a curling iron to save my life either!
Meriem @ Culinary Couture says
Hooray on your successful use of a curling wand! I’m good with straighteners but curling wands just confuse me. And they come in all shapes and sizes which doesnt help. Ah well, brookies > curling wands so I will go on right ahead and make some of these babies.
[email protected] says
Drool…. 🙂
Amazing combo 🙂
I am the exact same, I can’t do any hairstyles 🙁
Kayla says
Hi! I tried this dessert last night, and it came out horribly scorched on the bottom while undercooked on top/in the middle. I used a chef-grade glass pan, liberally greased the bottom, cooked for 32 min at 350, and the cookie part is so dry and crumbly and dark! Any special tip for consistency in this dessert? The top 2/3 are delicious! 🙂
Renee @ Awesome on $20 says
I was kind of a dirty hippy in high school, so I missed out on the phase where you’re supposed to learn to do your hair. I’d have the craziest hair in the world if I could eat one of these brownies.
Melissa says
So….I made these little pieces of heaven for the teachers at school today. They absolutely had a fit over them….not a single crumb left. I loved the dough for the cookies…it came out great and now I’m thinking of all kinds of other things just to do with that, too. Thank you for another amazing recipe!
Tina says
Like Kayla, my cookie dried out. Where did I go wrong? The rest was delicious and if I can get the cookie right I’d love to try again. Help!
Annelize says
Wow….wish we could get the i gredients here in South Africa:(
thedomesticrebel says
Oh no, Annelize! What don’t you have available in S. Africa? Maybe I can help you figure out substitutions!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I totally used to want my hair to have some sort of natural curl or wave to it but now I’m thankful every day that it’s SUPER straight 🙂 I don’t have time to mess with it! These cookie brookies are the bomb dot com girl! Pinned and shared on FB!
Courtney says
Do you think I can do this w/o the cornstarch?
thedomesticrebel says
Courtney – sure. The cornstarch exists in the recipe to make these fluffier and add height, but without it you should be fine.
Carrots says
This was disappointing!! It looked so delicious and I love brownies and Reese’s so I was so excited to try this recipe. Unfortunately, the cookie bottom was dry and hard and not very flavorful, The brownie was good, but melted all the Reese’s cups so you couldn’t taste them. My husband and boys said not to make it again. Good idea, but the recipe needs work.
thedomesticrebel says
I’m so sorry you found this recipe disappointing, Carrots! I’ll definitely take a closer look at the recipe to see if I can make any improvements. Thanks for your feedback!