Cookie Dough Peanut Butter Brownies. Right here. Right now.

• — • — •

I have a family thing this weekend. I have to bring something. The problem is, there's travel involved. UGHGH. What to make?? What to do?? I need to make something ahead since I have to work then travel, and SINCE it has to travel, it has to be sturdy--none of this delicate, fancy business. Plus, I work, so it's not like I have all this time—I need something easy peasy. I suppose there's always the option of going to the store and buying something, but yuck. Who wants that?? Gross. I'm cringing just thinking about it.

That's when I remembered something I saw on Bakerella. No, I can't take full credit here. And I think Ms. Bakerella found this through Betty Crocker if I'm not mistaken. Here's the deal. It's a box of brownie mix + a box of chocolate chip cookie mix. You make the brownie mix according to the instructions & pour the batter in a 13x9 pan. Then you make the cookie dough and drop the sweet little blobs right into the unbaked brownie batter. You bake them together, et voila! Chocolate chip cookie dough brownies. Top them with a rich chocolate ganache and you got yourself a winner. I made them about a year ago for a friend's birthday. I assure you, they won the hearts of all who ate them.

BUT THIS TIME. Oh no, this time I did something a little bit different. I made a peanut butter filling. So first it's brownie mix, then I dropped in the peanut butter filling & swirled it for peanut butter marble brownies, THEN dropped in the chocolate chip cookie dough. HEEEECK YEAH, baby.

• — • — •

You then bake according to the instructions. The brownie boxes say 350°. The cookies say 375°. I opt for 350° so nothing cooks too quickly & burns.

• — • — •

Unfortunately, this is going to have to be a two-parter. A cliffhanger! I've coated them in ganache and they're in my fridge, however, photos of a big pan of ganache aren't quite as exciting to stare at, oh no. So this weekend, once I finally rip into these little delicious monsters, I plan to take the finished process photos and post away. I'll also give you the recipe for the peanut butter filling, I promise. Until then, to be continued... ;-)