Guest Post: ROLO-ver and Die Good Brownies

Get ready for the good stuff today, folks. I asked my dear friend, Maureen (a.k.a. "Mo" to those of us to know her and, inevitably, love her) to write a post for you today featuring one of her glorious baked goods. As anticipated, the recipe she's sharing today is clutch. So, now I'll turn things over to Mo, literary genius, nurturer of souls, hostess with the mostess, and forever friend.

Last week the Homemaker Extraordinaire asked me if I would guest post here for you at HDHH. I feel so honored to be able to share one of my new favorite recipes.

I don’t know about you all, but I’ve been on a pumpkin kick since Labor Day (the unofficial beginning of all things fall, for me at least). Needless to say, my family and friends have grown weary of my pumpkin goodies, even though I’m sure I never will. So currently, I have a freezer filled with pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin gingersnaps, and more. If you love pumpkin I don’t have to explain myself to you, however, I had to mix it up for their sake. And, luckily for me, just in time, Halloween candy had to be purchased. In typical Maureen fashion, I had to be sure to have enough for every little Batman who came to our door. And, again, typical Maureen, I overbought—by a lot. So, this recipe comes in handy. I think this is a delicious, and not pumpkin, alternative.

When I stumbled across this recipe it was the first time I’d seen brownies made all in one saucepan. I was intrigued. And then sublimely pleased. They are worth the extra effort over boxed brownies, plus you get to use up any leftover candy.

ROLO-ver and Die Good Brownies

(adapted from twopeasandtheirpod.com)

Yield: 24 brownies

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35-40 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter
2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large eggs
3/4 cup cocoa
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chopped Rolo candy
1/3 cup caramel ice cream topping (If you use caramel sauce, microwave it for approximately 30 seconds to make the sauce more pourable).

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Place butter in medium saucepan on the stove. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat and stir in sugar and vanilla extract. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well with spoon after each addition. Add cocoa; stir until well blended. Add flour, baking powder and salt; stir until combined. Stir in chopped Rolo candy. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3. Drizzle caramel evenly over the brownies. Using a toothpick, swirl caramel into brownies. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool brownies completely in pan on a wire rack. Once cool, cut into squares and serve.

First, I found that measuring all of my ingredients and laying them out on the counter before I started cooking was important. Since you have to keep stirring the warm saucepan of sugar and butter, it makes stopping to measure difficult.

I made this recipe once where I chopped the candy pretty small, and it made for a slightly less satisfying find inside the brownie. So this time I only really chopped them in quarters so the Rolo candy packs a bigger punch in each bite.

Next, I melted the butter on the stovetop, then with a wooden spoon stirred in the sugar and vanilla.

I cracked each egg and beat it in, until completely incorporated. After that, add cocoa powder. Incorporating this takes more time than I expected, but be patient.

Then, stir in flour, baking powder and salt.

Add the candy.

Pour into prepared glass pan. Drizzle caramel syrup onto batter. Then, with a toothpick swirl the caramel.

Wait. Inhale. Wait. Drool.

When completely cool, cut into pieces.

Eat one. Then sneak back and have another. After three you will probably roll over and die!

Adaptation: I’m pretty convinced brownies and candy are natural friends. Therefore I have used other candy bars and think you can do it, too. Try Milky Ways, Snickers, Peanut Butter Cups. And if you want, substitute peanut butter for caramel. (Microwave 1/3 cup for about 30 sec so it’s more pourable).