My sister Laura was driving me home from the airport the other night when she suddenly felt like she couldn’t see the road very well. And that’s when we realized…no headlights. NO LIGHTS!!
Moments later we had a sisterly-bonding moment when we realized that we had both assumed all the flashing lights were the result of a bumpy road. You know when there is a bump in the road and the headlights of the oncoming cars flash at you?
Yeah, no. We’re just idiots who can’t even tell when people are trying to flash us to warn us that HELLO, we have no lights on. They would be even more enraged if they found out our reasoning. “This idiot doesn’t even have their lights on when it’s pitch black outside, and when I flash them they think it’s a BUMPY ROAD??”
Lest you think me rude for cutting Laura no slack, let me set you straight: I’ve been pulled over 2 times in my entire life. BOTH times were because I had no lights on in the middle of the night. What is it with me?
The first time was like 2 weeks after I got my license when I was 16. I was driving myself home from a church activity and the guy pulls me over. “So where are you coming from?” Church. “You been drinking?” Horrified. NO! I’m Mormon, I don’t do that! “Why aren’t your lights on?” There were street lamps…?
The other time was a few years later in college. My boyfriend had just broken up with me so I was crying and my face was all red and gross and I’m hysterical and the cop’s like, “You been drinking?” and I’m like No, I’m Mormon! But he wasn’t buying it, I had to watch his pen as he waved it in my face.
I honestly don’t blame him. I probably looked like a total meth-head driving around in the middle of the night with no lights on and that frenzied look in my eye. Drugs and 10-minutes-post-breakup look pretty much the same, right?
I never liked Snickers very much until I was in the Dominican Republic one summer for an internship and for some reason decided to buy one from a beach shop. It was not air conditioned and so the Snickers was completely melted. It was amazing. I realized that I loved Snickers, but only when they are warm enough that you need a fork to eat it.
Enter these Snickers Brownie Bars. You can eat them melty if you want, without being that freak who is microwaving their Snickers bar and eating it with a fork. (Seinfeld, anyone?) Oh, and did I mention the brownie layer? Umm, yeah. The nougat layer is just marshmallow creme mixed with peanut butter, and it is awesome. I’m trying figure out what else I can put it on now. Apples? Sandwiches? My finger? Yes.
Do you guys give up? Or are you thirsty for more?
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Snickers Brownie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 18-oz box brownie mix, plus ingredients on back of box
- 1 7-oz jar marshmallow crème
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 11-oz package vanilla caramels, about 40
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1 cup dry roasted peanuts, or less to taste, roughly chopped
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare your brownie mix according to package directions. (You could use a homemade recipe too, as long as it fits in a 9x13 pan.)
- Line a 9x13 inch pan with foil. Spray with nonstick spray. Spread the brownie batter into the pan, then bake according to package directions, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool the brownies for at least an hour or two.
- With a mixer or by hand, combine the marshmallow creme and the peanut butter. Spread this over the cooled brownies. I found it easiest to use my hands for this step.
- In a microwave safe bowl, add the unwrapped caramels and the cream. Microwave for 1 minute, then stir. Microwave in 20 second intervals until the caramel is smooth.
- Drizzle the caramel evenly over the nougat layer, then quickly spread it with a rubber spatula. Move fast before it starts to harden.
- Press the chopped nuts into the caramel with your hands.
- Sprinkle the bars evenly with about 1 cup of chocolate chips. Turn on your broiler and put the bars directly under the heat on the highest rack for a couple minutes. DO NOT walk away. You have to sit and watch it. Once the chocolate chips look melted, take the pan out and spread the chocolate with a rubber spatula. If they are not melted enough, just pop it back under the broiler for another minute. (You could totally just melt the chocolate in the microwave and spread it. This is my lazy self trying to save one more dish to wash.)
- Let the chocolate cool. You can put it in the fridge or freezer to speed this up.
- Lift the foil from the pan to cut the bars. Store the bars at room temperature. Serve with milk :)
Notes
Nutrition
Start out with a basic brownie mix. Bake it up just like normal. Add chocolate chips if that’s your thing.
Grab some marshmallow creme. Here’s my tip: remove all the foil from the lid, put it in the microwave for 15-30 seconds until it starts to puff up like that, then use a spatula to get it out. You will never go back.
Mix that up with some peanut butter, and don’t bother getting a new spatula because if you end up with a little marshmallow creme in your peanut butter jar…well I just don’t see how that could be a bad thing.
Spread the “nougat” layer on top of the brownies. I used my fingers.
Then melt up your caramel and spread that over the top. Spread it fast! Drizzle it all over the pan, not in one shot like this. Whatever you do, DON’T stop to take a picture.
Chop up some peanuts and press them into the caramel. I used maybe 3/4 cup, you can use however much looks good.
Add a cup of chocolate chips on top and broil it for a couple minutes until they are spreadable. Use more chocolate chips if you want, this only makes a thin layer that is kind of a pain to spread, but I didn’t want a thick layer. Don’t walk away from the broiler! Really. Let cool, then EAT!
I really like it when you make what I consider a “complicated” dessert. Because then my lazy and slothful self won’t make it (even though it looks so. dang. delicious.) and I won’t gain an additional dress size.
I will come to your house and make this for you Ami. I will bring you new dresses. Or maybe a Richard Simmons exercise video. It will be worth it.
I’m pretty sure I’ve died and gone to heaven. These are the best things I’ve seen in MONTHS. MONTHS! So gooey. So chocolatey. I want them now. Like right now please.
And I can’t believe you’ve only been pulled over twice in your whole life! I feel like I get pulled over for everything! One time, I even got pulled over on a totally empty highway, going 73 in a 70 and was reprimanded as if I was in some sort of drag race going 100mph. The car is not my friend.
Thanks Nicole!! I think some people are cursed to be cop-attractors. My husband is one of them :)
Ohhhhhhhh. Words can’t even. Yum. Oh my gosh. Such enticing photos. Pinning and making these ASAP!
Thanks Erin! I kinda felt the same thing when I ate them. :)
Um, you and I?? We need to be neighbors. These bars look absolutely insane. I am most definitely pinning these ’cause I NEED to save this recipe!
For REAL Kathi. I’ll bring the Snickers brownies, you bring the salted caramel cookies that I’m still dreaming about. It will be wholesome and fresh and perfectly appropriate.
I didn’t have the issues of turning my lights on…but turning them off. First day at school with my car I totally left the lights on and had to call for a jump. Embarrassing! Loving these brownies… Totally craving chocolate goodness.
That’s the worst Laura! My brother inherited his parent’s 1992 Honda and killed it 6 times in the first year he had it. 6 times!!!!
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG these are so glorious. These are the be all and end all of decadent desserts. Hot damn. Screw a fork. Next time you microwave a Snickers bar, just snip a small hole at one end of the wrapper and slurp it out. Perfection. I have to admit, I’m one of those judgmental hags who gripe when I see drivers at night w/o headlights on. The next time, I’ll be more understanding because it might be someone who a) just broke up with their boyfriend and is crying themselves into a meth-head-looking state or b) is a lady who makes a killer Snickers brownie bar! Those ladies deserve nothing but respect!
Snickers Go-gurts Nancy! Snick-gurts? Either this is really funny or it’s getting late because I am laughing my butt off right now about this. I’m totally doing the snip next time.
Oh, and yes Nancy, spare all the horrible drivers of the world your dagger glares, just for me. Imagine they are all on the way to the hospital or at LEAST texting their significant other who is in the ER :) I am a TERRIBLE driver. I just drive around getting in people’s way, muttering sorrysorrysorrysorry don’t hate me!
Dude! You should convince Mom to make these and mail them to me haha.
Mom, you hear that? This is a test. If you don’t see this and respond accordingly, you fail as a supportive med-student mom AND as a read-every-post-and-comment blog-mom.
:)
Are these delicious? Yes. Is our mom the best? Yes!!
Yes and yes!! Way to go mom :)
I’m probably going to dream about these. I want to go eat a big spoonful of peanut butter right now, but I know it’ll do nothing to satisfy the craving! These look seriously unreal. Pinning!!
That’s a good idea! I’m about to go get a big spoonful of peanut butter myself…Thanks Rachel!
Oh YEAH. Brian would love me forever if I made these. I mean, hopefully he’ll love me forever anyways, but just to be sure, let’s add some caramel+peanut butter+marshmallow+chocolate amazingness. You know what might be good? Just using crunchy peanut butter instead of adding the peanuts on top of the peanut butter. Not like these are hard to make, but you know, just to make it one less step to shoving some of this in my mouth,
okay, this is why I need you Sarah. Because you take all the stupidity out of my life. Haha. The original recipe called for unchopped peanuts, so I suppose that’s why they did that (also, I suppose they wanted the traditional Snickers layering). But yes, save yourself a step, do it. And tell me about it.
You are my soul mate. Seriously. Just a few months ago, I got a call from my husband from his hockey game telling me he needed me to come pick him up and take him to the ER because he had broken an ankle. In my worry/frenzied state, I drove almost the entire way there (including freeways) with NO LIGHTS. I don’t even know if people were flashing. I even remember thinking how hard it was to find the dial for the radio because it was so dark (DUH!!). Second, as soon as you mentioned eating candy bars with a fork, I thought SEINFELD. And then you thought Seinfeld. And then I realized we’re soul mates. The end.
That ALWAYS happens to me!! As the cop turns his lights on to pull me over my first thought is always, oh, THAT must have been why I couldn’t find the AC button. Did your husband seriously break his ankle?? That totally sucks. At least he was doing something awesome like playing hockey. If I ever break my ankle it will be something stupid, like tripping over my kid’s toy truck or something.
And yes, we ARE soul mates. Dare I say…Seinfeld soul mates? Too bad you live across the country otherwise we could have a marathon.
I’m so happy right now. I love my peanut butter m&ms melty too! So good! This story cracks me up so hard. I can totally picture it which is the best part. :) Makes me miss both of you nerds!
Okay Misty, Hilary just mentioned putting M&M’s in the micro the other day. Why would you guys keep something like that from me?? :)
Haha with me it was more growing up in California and, oh crap I left my pb m&ms in the car! Warm peanut m&ms are amazing as well. Just so you know.
Looks about perfect! But, the only way I’ll eat a snickers is if its been in the freezer for five hundred years. No wonder I have TMJ issues, lol!
That’s EXACTLY how my mom is Chels, lol! She puts cookies and brownies in the freezer right after they come out of the oven. I will pray for your jaw :)
Gah, these look so good. Like, ridiculous good. Like, too-good-to-be-true good. Oh my, I need to have one!
Haha, thanks Jennie! It’s like you need one exclamation per layer, right? :)
I’ve only been pulled over twice too! But both times were for speeding. Whoops! Worse? I got a ticket. Both times. And I was 17. And both tickets were only 2 weeks apart! I was grounded for like the entire summer. Awful. Hasn’t happened since, so I definitely learned my lesson.
These brownies look amazing! So gooey and melty. Yum!
That is the worst Natalie!! I’ve never gotten a ticket, but I was pulled over just the other night for speeding. I got off with a warning (probably because I had my lights on and the cop thought, ‘well this girl’s got her lights on, so her head must be screwed on straight”…yeah) That must have been the worst summer ever. What are the odds that you would get pulled over twice??
These look yummy! And I love all my chocolate candy bars melty.
Yes Diane! So glad I’m not the only one!!