Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

Peanut butter and chocolate... a match made in heaven!

Ingredients:
1 pound butter
1 pound plus 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
6 large eggs
3 tablespoons instant coffee granules
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup coarsely chopped peanut butter cups (optional) 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter and flour a 12 by 18 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan.

Melt together the butter, 1 pound of chocolate chips, and unsweetened chocolate.  Allow to cool slightly.  Next, stir eggs, coffee granules, peanut butter, vanilla, and sugar.  Mix the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and allow to cool to room temperature.

In a separate bowl, sift together 1 cup of flour, the baking powder and salt.  Add to the cooled chocolate mixture.  Add the peanut butter cups and remaining chocolate chips to the batter.  Pour into the sheet pan.
 
Bake for 20 - 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool thoroughly and then cut into squares. 

Tips:  If you have time, make these from scratch.  I do think there is quite a big difference between store bought and homemade brownies.  Having said that, if you are lazy, broke, or in a hurry, you can get a box of brownie mix from the store and just add 3/4 cup peanut butter and/or 3/4 cup chopped peanut butter cups to the mix (along with the ingredients called for on the back of the box, of course).  It's a cheat, but it's still good!  Enjoy!