Chocolate-toffee chunks, salty pretzels, and crunchy peanuts packed into thick and fudgy, chewy brownies with crackly tops.
Reserving some of the candy and pretzel pieces to sprinkle over the batter right before baking, lets them peek out of the top.
Everything brownies really do have something for everyone. Sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy, gooey goodness in every bite makes them the go to snack for any occasion. (Or no occasion at all!)
The crackly top comes from a recipe I've been obsessed with perfecting, and my Crinkle Top Brownies have gone through quite the evolution. They're perfect now, and you can get the recipe here.
How to make them
You're going to love this: this is a one bowl batter. No mixing in this bowl, adding it to that; just dump the ingredients in, mix and done. Whisk up the wet ingredients with the sugar first and continue until it lightens in color. That's what's going to help with the flaky tops.
Then fold the dry ingredients in, and only until it just comes together. Over mixing can make the brownies come out cake like instead of fudge like.
Sprinkle in the candy, pretzels and peanuts and fold it again-just til combined. Use a chocolate toffee bar like Symphony with Toffee and Almonds or Ghirardelli Toffee Interlude (or something similar). If you reserve a handful of each, you can top the batter with it before baking it, so you get some "peeking" out.
Tip: When sprinkling extra pieces over the top, visualizing where your cut lines are going to be, and avoiding those lines, will allow for a nicer cut later since you wont be having to smash through any pieces.
Don't over cook them
When it comes to baking them, don't over do it. It's better for them to be under done than over done.
They are a thick brownie, so they need to bake for approximately 30 minutes, but check them at 25. If you have to keep them in longer than 30 minutes, check them at 3 minute intervals so that you can pull them out in time.
The middle might seem underdone (not raw batter), but it will set as they cool.
A good way to test is with a toothpick. Insert it into the middle, but also off center in between the edge and the middle. The toothpick inserted into the middle should pull out with very moist, wet crumbs but not batter. The outer edge will have dryer crumbs, but still moist.
Don't forget it will continue to set as it cools.
Wait to cut them
I know, that's always the hardest part. But if you wait until they've cooled down, they'll cut easier.
You can still create nice cuts when they're warm, just not hot. Use a sharp, non-serrated knife. Serrated knives don't work well to cut warm brownies.
How to store them
As with just about any brownie, these store great on the counter, so long as they're covered well. Keeping them covered will keep them moist and fudgy.
Make Everything Brownies for potlucks, work gatherings, or gifts. You might consider making a double batch, and keeping some on you're own counter, because they're completely irresistible!
Love brownies? Try delicious Crinkle Top Brownies.
Everything Brownies
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup water
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3-4 oz chocolate toffee bar like Symphony with Toffee Bits or Ghirardelli with Toffee Bits cut into pieces
- 1 cup salted mini pretzel twists broken into pieces
- ½ cup roasted salted peanuts roughly chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Whisk the eggs, oil, sugar, water, and vanilla extract for 5 minutes.
- Add the cocoa powder, flour and salt and fold gently until just combined.
- Add the chocolate toffee bar pieces, pretzels and peanuts, reserving a small handful to sprinkle on the top, and fold until just combined.
- Scrape batter into a greased or parchment paper lined 9x9 inch baking pan, and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle the reserved pieces over the top of the batter.
- Bake for 30 minutes, checking at 25 until edges are set, and toothpick inserted in center comes out with wet crumbs.
- Cool before cutting.
Notes
- Use a chocolate bar that has toffee bits in it (like Symphony), rather than chocolate covered toffee (like Heath or Skor).
- Do not over mix batter; and don't use a whisk once you've added the flour, just fold it until combined.
- The center may seem slightly underdone when you take it out, use a toothpick to determine if it's still batter, or if it's moist crumbs that stick to it.
- It's far better to under cook the brownies than over cook them.
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