Take 5 Brownie Bars

Do you remember back when I was making brownies and candy bars get married and have babies?

That was weird.  And slightly disturbing.

I think maybe I have issues.

I blame the fact that when I was a kid, my mom was addicted to Dallas…and Dynasty…and Falcon Crest…and Knotts Landing.  Seriously, lots of action going on there.  They really needed DVRs or Nick and Nite to be invented because us poor kids had nothing to watch but women with big hair and shoulder pads smoochin it up with every man in town.

And now look at me!!  I’m marrying off brownies…whipping up candy babies…proof that I am a child of the 80′s.

Anyways–the other day I was eating some of the candy that I was supposed to be saving for trick-or-treaters, and as I bit into a mini Take 5 Bar, it hit me.

Brownies and Take 5 bars needed to get married and have babies too!!

See?  It’s like a sickness with me.  Totally Knotts Landings fault.

Just like with my Almond Joy Brownie Bites and my Twix Brownie Bars, I didn’t use any actual candy bars in my recipe.  Instead, I topped a brownie with ingredients from the candy bar and covered it all in chocolate.

And it was a fine idea, if I do say so myself.  Yum Yum.

(click here for printable recipe)

 

INGREDIENTS

 

Small pan of brownies, baked and cooled (I use Ghirardelli Mix because it’s yummy and makes a small batch…I bake it in a 11×7 pan, which I love so much more than 8×8 because it gets them just the right thickness.  If you prefer 8×8 pan, that will work fine too, your brownie layer will just be a bit thicker)

1 cup smooth peanut butter

2 cups salted pretzels, coarsely chopped (I used mini twists, but sticks would probably be fine too)

11 0z bag of caramel bits

2 Tablespoons cream or milk

1 cup salted peanuts, coarsely chopped

16 oz chocolate candy coating or almond bark (I like CandiQuik)

 

Spread top of brownies with peanut butter all the way to the edges.  Sprinkle on pretzels and press down gently to flatten.  In a microwave-safe bowl, heat caramel bits and milk or cream stirring every 20 seconds or so until melted and smooth (should take about 2 minutes total).  Stir peanuts into caramel, and pour evenly over brownies.  Spread with a spatula if needed, but work quickly before it starts to set.

 

Refrigerate brownies for a couple of hours.  Once they’re cold and firm, melt candy coating according to package directions.  Cut brownies into bars/squares of desired size and dip the tops in the melted candy.  Place on wax paper until chocolate is set.

See how easy?  And such a yummy salty/sweet/chocolatey combo.

They’re the perfect treat for that one week out of every four where I want to punch people and eat all the things including a chocolate chip/potato chip sandwich.
I think you know what I’m saying, girls.

If you want to see another candy/brownie hybrid, head over to my friend Shelly’s site Cookies and Cups.  She made some yummy Pretzel Rolo Blondie Bites!!