Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

So lately there have been lots of posts for brownies that have peanut butter cups in them.  I, of course, wanted to make them too.  I went out and bought a bag of the Mini Reece's Peanut Butter Cups a few weeks ago, but just finally had a chance to make them.  Its been a busy week with work, and my birthday.  My boyfriend and I took a little vacation/ road trip to Sedona, Az.  It was amazingly beautiful and we had a great time hiking, wine tasting, and eating the local cuisine.  We tired Cactus Fries; they were interesting... But anyway, back to the baking.  I wanted to find a good brownie recipe to add the peanut butter cups too. I think I found the perfect recipe from Alton Brown.  He makes a Cocoa Brownie that is unlike any other brownie I have ever tired.  The texture is different and its super chocolaty.  The method for making these is unique, you use a Kitchen Aid with the whisk attachment and you beat the eggs first.  Kinda different.  And there is brown sugar in these brownies, also unusual.  But all I can say about these is they are AMAZING.  I poured half the batter in the pan, then sprinkled a whole bag of Reece's Minis and 2 handfuls of chocolate chips, then poured on the other half of the batter.  If you don't want to add the peanut butter cups, I would still recommend these as a plain brownie.  YUM!

Me at the top of Doe Mesa, Sedona, Az

Cocoa Brownies with Peanut Butter Cups - Adapted from Food Network-Alton Brown

Yield: 24 Brownie squares

Ingredients:
4 Eggs
1 Cup Sugar, sifted
1 Cup Brown Sugar, sifted - I had a real hard time sifting brown sugar, I would not recommend it!
1 Cup Melted Butter
1 1/4 Cups Cocoa, sifted
2 Teaspoons Vanilla
1/2 Cup Flour, sifted
1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Bag of Mini Reece's Peanut Butter Cups, 8oz

1/2 Cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 300. Butter or grease an 8-inch square pan.
2. In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the eggs at medium speed until fluffy and light yellow. Add both sugars. 
3. Add remaining ingredients, and mix to combine.
4. Pour 1/2 the batter into a greased 8-inch square pan then add a bag of mini peanut butter cups and some chocolate chips.  Add the rest of the batter on top.
5. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Check for doneness with the tried-and-true toothpick method: a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan should come out clean. When it's done, remove to a rack to cool. Resist the temptation to cut into it until it's mostly cool.
6. Enjoy!!