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- E.T. inspired this recipe for Reese's Pieces Brownies
- Soft and chewy brownies combine with crunchy Reese's Pieces
- 3 layers of goodness
- Ingredients for rich and chewy brownies
- Chocolate Ganache ingredients
- How to make the simple brownie recipe
- Spoon the chocolate ganache over the cut brownies, then top with Reese's Pieces
- Recipe
- Comments
Wondering what to do with leftover Reese's Pieces from Halloween? These deeply indulgent , rich and chocolatey Reese's Pieces Brownies are calling. But first, let’s talk Halloween movies. Oh maybe I ought to mention my rich and chewy Candy Corn Blondies real quick first.
Ok, Halloween movies. What comes to mind? There is the obvious choice, Halloween. Or, a family friendly option like It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Maybe some of those haunting 80s franchises by Wes Craven or John Carpenter. Or, all Steven King movies ever made? Just don’t say Gremlins because that is a Christmas movie, not a Halloween film. This is not up for discussion. At least we can all agree that these Reese's Pieces Brownies top the charts for halloween desserts, right?
While I enjoy the freakish thrill of The Shining or the whacky one-liners of everyone’s favorite Bio-Exoricist, Beetlejuice, my ultimate Halloween movie has got to be E.T. Think about it. The movie takes place during the spooky season in the 80s leading up to Halloween and peaks on All Hallows Eve. E.T. is an alien, left behind on a strange planet, who befriends a curious kid over mutual love of Reese's Pieces. That is Halloween to the max.
E.T. inspired this recipe for Reese's Pieces Brownies
I recently watched E.T. for the first time in years, and the nostalgia hit me like a bolt of lighting. ET is truly iconic, ageless, creepy, charmingly relatable and gut wrenchingly sad. I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but I felt a tear well up in my eyes when Elliott said, "You must be dead, because I don't know how to feel. I can't feel anything anymore." even though I knew the ending. *Excuse me while I eat my feelings and fill up on these Reese's Pieces Brownies.
We all grew up with ET, but not until now, as adults, we can look back and truly appreciate the emotional layers and deep lessons in friendship that came out of this classic. Best Halloween movie of all time, hands down.
Soft and chewy brownies combine with crunchy Reese's Pieces
When I watched ET, I immediately started craving Reese’s Pieces, wishing I had a bagful to lure in a lovable extra terrestrial to be my new BFF. I found myself heading to CVS to buy an overpriced bags of the vintage-hued peanut butter candies in hard chocolate shells. Instead of eating them by the handful, I made ooey-gooey Reese's Pieces Brownies with chocolate espresso ganache and Reese’s Pieces patterns that line each brownie square like crop circles. Solid move.
3 layers of goodness
Layer 1 - ooey, gooey deep, dark chocolate brownies.
Layer 2 - a rich and creamy chocolate ganache.
Layer 3 - a candy coated peanut buttery grid of Reese's Pieces nostalgia.
This trifecta of rich, chocolatey flavors is the ultimate halloween indulgence. For a day that revolves around indulgence, that's some high praise. But each layer brings a different dimension to the Reese's Pieces Brownies.
Ingredients for rich and chewy brownies
- All purpose flour
- Dark, unsweetened cocoa powder
- Fine sea salt
- Dark chocolate (preferably at least 70% cacao)
- Unsalted butter
- Instant espresso powder
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Eggs
- Pure vanilla extract
Chocolate Ganache ingredients
- Dark chocolate (preferably at least 70% cacao)
- Heavy cream
- Instant espresso powder
- Reese's Pieces!
How to make the simple brownie recipe
These rich and chewy brownies are basic and delicious. The brownie recipe only needs 10 ingredients and they mix up quick. Just whisk together the dry ingredients, melt the chocolate and butter, whisk in the eggs, stir in the vanilla. Finally, fold in the dry ingredients. Pour into a prepared pan and bake the brownies for 30 minutes. So simple!
Spoon the chocolate ganache over the cut brownies, then top with Reese's Pieces
For these Reese's Pieces Brownies, I prefer to cut the brownies first. Then top the individual brownies with the chocolate ganache. This gives each brownie that slow drip, ganache topping look and makes them extra special. To finish, the ganache topped brownies get speckled with a grid of Reese's Pieces for maximum peanut butter candy coverage.
If candy corn is more your jam, let me introduce you to my Candy Corn Blondies. They are a great way to use up all of that extra candy corn you've got around the house. For the ultimate monster mash, I suggest these Candy Corn Blondies and a batch of Reese's Pieces Brownies!
This Halloween I suggest you warm your nostalgic heartlight and bake up a batch of my Reese's Pieces Brownies while you cozy up in a warm red hoodie and watch ET on a crisp, foggy, Autumn night. Halloween just isn’t complete without ET and, as of this year, Reese's Pieces Brownies.
Recipe
Reese's Pieces Brownies
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 24
Description
A rich and indulgent brownie gets all glossed up with ganache and topped with a candy coated, peanut buttery grid of nostalgia in this decadent and delightful recipe for Reese's Pieces Brownies.
Ingredients
BROWNIES
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons dark unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 11 ounces dark chocolate (preferably at least 70% cacao)
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) chopped into 1" cubes
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup dark brown sugar (lightly packed)
- 5 large eggs (at room temperature)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
GANACHE
- 9 ounces dark chocolate (preferably at least 70% cacao)
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
- 15 ounce bag of Reese's Pieces
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F and prep a 9" x 13" pan by coating the bottom and sides with butter.
- Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder and salt in a medium bowl.
- Coarsely chop the chocolate and add it, the butter and instant espresso powder to a large heatproof bowl and set it over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and smooth. Turn off the heat and whisk in the sugars, whisking until they've completely dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Add 3 eggs to the chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Followed by the remaining 2 eggs, whisk until combined.
- Add the vanilla, stirring to combine without overbeating.
- Add the flour mixture and gently fold in using a spatula, until mixture is just combined and there are still some visible flour bits.
- Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake on the center rack for 30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. The brownies are ready when you insert a toothpick into the center and a few moist crumbs still stick to it. For those fudgey, cakey brownies you don’t want to overbake.
- While the brownies cool in the pan, prepare the ganache. Coarsely chop the chocolate and add, along with the instant espresso powder to a medium mixing bowl.
- Put the cream in a small saucepan and warm over medium-high heat until a skin starts to form.
- Immediately pour the hot cream over the chocolate and allow it to sit for 8-10 minutes.
- Stir together until smooth and glossy. If any chunks remain, place the bowl over simmering water briefly and stir until smooth.
- Once the brownies have cooled, gently turn the entire sheet of brownies out onto a flat surface and cut them into a 4x6 grid of squares about 2” each.
- Spoon 1 ½ - 2 teaspoons of the ganache over the top of each brownie square and smooth with the back of the spoon. The ganache should slowly drip down the sides, giving it that half dipped look.
- Carefully top the ganache with a 4x4 grid of Reese’s Pieces, alternating colors.
Notes
These Reese's Pieces Brownies taste best when you're wearing a red hoodie and watching ET on a crisp, foggy night.
Adapted from The Baked Brownie
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
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