June 2: Rocky Road Bars

Rocky Road Bars

Ingredients:
1 cup (8 oz) unsalted butter
1 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
4 large eggs, cold
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (4.5 oz) all-purpose flour
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/4 cups toasted and chopped walnuts

1. Preheat the oven to 350 and place a rack in the center. Line a 9 by 13-inch metal pan with nonstick foil.
2. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the cocoa powder until smooth. Add the brown sugar ad stir until blended. Remove from the heat.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs for about 1 minute or until frothy, then whisk in the sugar and the vanilla. Using a large silicone scraper or mixing spoon, stir in the chocolate mixture, followed by the salt and the flour.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the marshmallows, chocolate chips, and walnuts.
5. Return the pan to the oven for 2 minutes, or just until the marshmallows puff up. Let cool completely in the pan, then chill for about 1 hour or until the top is firm. For an even cleaner cut, freeze for about 30 minutes before cutting. To serve, lift from the pan, using the foil as a handle, set on a cutting board, and cut into 24 bars.

Addition of cocoa powder to butter

Thoughts: I feel like I have made these bars before but I think that I made rocky road cookies in the past. There were no issues making these bars except I hate that cocoa powder gets everywhere! I used slightly more chocolate chips so I could cover the pan. I only had pecans so I substituted them for walnuts and only put it on half. I decided to serve them warm so they were gooey. The people at work thought that if I had chilled them, the brownie would've been hard and tough to chew.They were very good in any case.

February 24: Peanut Butter Rocky Road Bars

Peanut Butter Rocky Road Bars

Base
8 tablespoons (4 oz) unsalted butter
3 tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup (3.4 oz) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups mini marshmallows
2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup lightly salted peanuts
Milk or dark chocolate, for melting and drizzling

1. Preheat the oven to 350 and place a rack in the center. Line a 9 inch square pan with nonstick foil.
2. Make the base: In a microwave safe mixing bowl, microwave the butter on high for 30 seconds, or until melted. Stir in the cocoa powder and let the mixture cool. When cool, stir in the sugar, flour, salt and mix with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat with the spoon, and then beat in the vanilla until the mixture is well-blended. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the top appears set. Let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
3. Make the topping: Soften the peanut butter for 8 to 10 seconds on high in the microwave and spread it over the brownies. Sprinkle the marshmallows, chocolate chips and peanuts over the peanut butter layer. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 3 to 4 minutes, or just until the marshmallows puff up. Let cool in the pan. If desired, melt some milk or dark chocolate in the microwave using 50% power. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the rocky road topping. Let cool completely and then chill. When chilled, lift from the pan, set on a cutting board, and cut into 16 squares.

Melted peanut butter is so easy to spread!

I should probably work on my artistry skills!

Thoughts: I broke down and bought a 9 inch square pan for this recipe.  After the cream cheese brownies almost overflowed due to being stuffed into a smaller pan, I decided to buy one.  I really prefer glass pans but it is what Target had and I didn't feel like going somewhere else.  I used semi sweet chocolate chips for the melted chocolate on top.  I put about 1/2 cup worth in a glass measuring cup and waited until it melted and poured it on top. Then I used a knife to spread it out.  We weren't crazy about these bars.  They were very gooey.  Patrick thought that they were pretty gross and I thought that the brownie base was pretty bland.