Snickers Cheesecake Brownies

The past week has been crazy:  Caleb has been wrapping things up at work, I worked on finding a place to live, we've been trying to get rid of our place here, the house is a maze of boxes, and we're moving in three days!  Last week I had had enough of the craziness and just needed to bake something. This recipe has been stashed in my to-make file for three very specific reasons:  Snickers. Cheesecake.  Brownies.  

Snickers Cheesecake Brownies

for the brownies:
8 Tbsp unsalted butter
4 oz unsweetened chocolate
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour

Place butter and chocolate in a double boiler or a bowl over simmering water.  Stir frequently until mixture is melted.  Remove chocolate mixture from heat and stir in sugar, vanilla and salt.  Add the eggs one at a time, stirring until each is incorporated before adding the next.  Stir in flour and beat with a wooden spoon until mixture is glossy, about 1 minute.

Pour batter into a greased 8x8 baking dish and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until the brownie starts to pull away from the pan.  While brownies are baking prepare an ice bath.  Fill a pan with ice cubes and water 3/4 inch deep.  When the brownies are done baking, remove the pan from the oven and place it in the water bath.  Allow brownies to cool completely in water bath.

for the snickers cheesecake layer:
1 egg
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp confectioners' sugar
8 Snickers (fun size 4.62 oz), chopped

Add all ingredients except Snickers in a bowl and mix to combine.  Pour on top of cooled brownie and bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until set.  Cool to warm then press chopped Snickers into cheesecake layer.  Cool completely before serving.  Store in refrigerator.

source:  recipe from bakers royale, originally from Alice Medrich

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Peanut Butter Snickers Cookies

I have this weird thing where I like knowing people's favorites.  Probably because I have a favorite everything (soda, ice cream, pair of jeans, month, cushion on the couch) so I assume others do too.  I learned shortly after Caleb and I started dating that HE HAS NO FAVORITES.  This drives me crazy!  We finally figured out Caleb has one favorite.  Snickers bars are his favorite candy bar.  That is it.  I have one favorite of my husband's to work with.  So when I found this recipe, I just had to make these cookies.  After a couple of rough days at work last week, I wanted to have these coming out of the oven as Caleb got home from work.  Those with a peanut allergy stay away - there's Snickers AND peanut butter!

Peanut Butter Snickers Cookies
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 regular-sized Snickers bars, chopped
3/4 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk)

In medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and the peanut butter together until fluffy.  Add the sugars and beat until smooth.  Add the egg and mix until combined.  Add the milk and the vanilla extract and mix again.  Add the flour mixture and beat until flour disappears.  Stir in the chopped Snickers bars and chocolate chips.

Drop by heaping tablespoons onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper.  Gently flatten each cookie ball with the palm of your hand.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-11 minutes, or until cookies are slightly brown on the edges.

Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 5-10 minutes, then remove to a rack to cool completely.  Store in airtight container at room temperature.

source:  recipe from browneyed baker