Indulge in the Ultimate Peanut Butter Brownie Explosion Pie: A Decadent Lehi Mills Recipe
This post is proudly sponsored by Lehi Mills, the official partner for #makingfriendswithpie!
Peanut Butter Brownie Explosion Pie
Prepare your taste buds for an unforgettable journey with our **Peanut Butter Brownie Explosion Pie**! Just as its name suggests, this dessert is a spectacular symphony of flavors and textures, meticulously crafted to deliver pure bliss in every bite. Imagine a rich, crumbly peanut butter cookie crust forming the perfect foundation, cradling a thick, fudgy brownie center. This divine combination is then generously crowned with a fluffy, whipped peanut butter frosting, elegantly drizzled with melted chocolate, and adorned with an assortment of delightful peanut butter candies. It’s not just a pie; it’s an experience, a slice of heaven brought straight to your table! What makes this indulgent creation even more accessible is the use of Lehi Mills’ exceptional Double Fudge Brownie Mix, making it incredibly easy to whip up a gourmet dessert without the fuss.
Discover the Quality of Lehi Mills
For years, Lehi Mills has been a trusted name in my kitchen, a brand synonymous with quality and reliability. Their commitment to superior ingredients shines through in every product, from their renowned flours to their convenient baking mixes. My personal favorite has always been their **Unbleached Turkey Brand Flour**, which consistently delivers outstanding results. This specific blend of hard wheat is milled to perfection, ensuring excellent performance for a variety of baked goods, including white pan breads, hearth rolls, and specialty breads. Its unique composition guarantees superior color, flavor, and texture, elevating even the simplest recipes. To fully unlock the potential of this robust flour, you might find that your dough requires a slightly longer mixing time than you’re typically accustomed to, a small effort that yields truly remarkable results.
But Lehi Mills offers much more than just flour! Their extensive product line caters to every baking need, making homemade treats a joy. You’ll find a delightful array of pancake mixes that promise fluffy breakfasts, waffle mixes for crispy, golden creations, and a selection of muffin and brownie mixes that simplify dessert preparation. It’s this versatility and consistent quality that makes Lehi Mills a staple in so many households.
For this spectacular **Peanut Butter Brownie Explosion Pie**, I specifically chose their **Double Fudge Brownie Mix**, and the outcome was nothing short of perfection. The mix is incredibly user-friendly, allowing you to quickly prepare a rich, intensely chocolatey brownie batter. The result is a brownie layer that is wonderfully fudgy, moist, and deeply satisfying – truly a cut above the rest. I simply followed the straightforward instructions on the box, poured the decadent batter over the prepared peanut butter cookie crust, and baked it to gooey perfection. The ease of use combined with the exceptional flavor of the brownie mix makes this pie a convenient yet luxurious dessert that tastes entirely homemade.
Embracing the #MAKINGFRIENDSWITHPIE Challenge
If you follow my culinary adventures on Instagram, you’re likely aware of the rather bold declaration I made this month: my long-standing dislike for traditional pies. It’s true – the idea of warm fruit in a pastry just doesn’t appeal to me, which naturally translates to a general aversion to most fruit-filled pies. However, I decided to confront this culinary bias head-on by embarking on a personal challenge, aptly named #MakeFriendsWithPie. My goal was clear: to create a pie that would genuinely win me over, one that broke free from the conventional fruit-and-crust mold.
My primary hurdle with pie has always been the texture and temperature of cooked fruit. Therefore, my mission was to craft a pie that was entirely free of fruit and didn’t rely on a traditional, flaky pastry crust. I envisioned something richer, more decadent, and utterly irresistible. This quest for the perfect non-traditional pie is precisely what led to the creation of the magnificent **PEANUT BUTTER BROWNIE EXPLOSION PIE**!
This masterpiece is a meticulously designed dessert, featuring three sensational layers that defy pie norms. It starts with a buttery, sweet, and slightly salty peanut butter cookie crust, which provides a delightful chewiness and robust flavor. Nestled atop this lies a generous layer of that incredibly fudgy brownie, made effortlessly with Lehi Mills’ mix, bringing a deep chocolatey richness. The grand finale is a luscious, whipped peanut butter frosting that adds a creamy, dreamy texture and intensifies the nutty essence. To elevate it further, I adorned the top with mini peanut butter cups and Reeses Pieces, then finished it with a decadent drizzle of melted chocolate, creating an explosion of flavor and texture with every spoonful.
Let me assure you, this pie is an absolute game-changer! It exceeded every expectation, delivering an experience that is profoundly rich, exquisitely decadent, and bursting with incredible flavor. Of all the attempts made during my #MakingFriendsWithPie challenge, this **Peanut Butter Brownie Explosion Pie** stands out as the ultimate triumph, proving that pie can indeed be a beloved dessert, even for a former skeptic like me!
Do I Love Pie Now? Redefining My Relationship with Dessert
After crafting and thoroughly enjoying this **Peanut Butter Brownie Explosion Pie**, the burning question remains: have I finally fallen in love with pie? My honest answer is a nuanced one. I am undeniably a huge fan of *this* particular peanut butter brownie creation, precisely because it beautifully sidesteps many of the elements I typically associate with traditional “pie.” It’s more akin to a sophisticated dessert bar or a gourmet confection than a classic fruit pie. With its chewy peanut butter cookie base, dense and fudgy brownie layer, and a cloud of creamy peanut butter frosting, it offers an entirely different, arguably superior, dessert experience in my humble opinion!
The beauty of this pie lies in its unique composition, blending beloved elements of cookies, brownies, and decadent frosting into one harmonious “explosion.” It’s been an absolute delight to challenge my preconceptions about what a pie can be, and the #MakingFriendsWithPie challenge has opened my eyes to a world of innovative dessert possibilities. While I may not be reaching for a slice of apple pie anytime soon, I’m certainly eager to explore more non-traditional, equally indulgent “pies” that offer a similar level of rich flavor and exciting textures. This challenge has been a delicious journey of discovery, and I’m having way too much fun with it!
Explore More Delightful Pie Recipes
If this Peanut Butter Brownie Explosion Pie has sparked your interest in exploring the vast world of delicious pies, traditional or otherwise, check out some of my other favorite recipes:
- Easy Pecan Pie
- Lemonade Ice Cream Pie
- Nutella Hand Pies
- Sour Cream Lemon Pie
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Peanut Butter Brownie Explosion Pie
20 minutes
50 minutes
10 minutes (Cooling)
1 hour 20 minutes
Ingredients
For the Peanut Butter Crust
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
For the Brownie Layer
- 1 box Lehi Mills Double Fudge Brownie Mix
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
For the Peanut Butter Frosting
- 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Additional Toppings
- Recess Pieces (Reese’s Pieces)
- Mini Recess Cups (Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups)
- Melted Chocolate for drizzle
Instructions
Preheat Oven to 350°F (175°C)
For the Peanut Butter Crust
- In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter and mix well until fully combined and smooth.
- Beat in the room temperature egg and vanilla extract, mixing until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Lower the mixer speed to low. Gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Mix until the ingredients are just combined and a soft cookie dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.
- Press the cookie dough evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a standard pie dish. You can use your fingers or the back of a spoon, patting it gently. For a decorative edge, you can fold some dough onto the rim of the pie dish. Ensure the crust is evenly spread.
For the Brownie Layer
- In a separate mixing bowl, prepare the Lehi Mills Double Fudge Brownie Mix according to package directions, typically by mixing the brownie mix, 1/2 cup water, and 1/3 cup vegetable oil until just combined.
- Carefully pour the brownie batter over the prepared peanut butter cookie crust in the pie dish, spreading it gently to create an even layer.
Baking the Pie
- Cover the pie dish loosely with aluminum foil to prevent the edges of the peanut butter crust from browning too quickly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until the brownie layer is set. A toothpick inserted into the center of the brownie should come out with moist crumbs, not wet batter.
- Remove the pie from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. It’s crucial for the pie to be fully cool before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
For the Peanut Butter Frosting
- With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the 5 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter on medium speed until creamy and pale, about 2 minutes.
- Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/3 cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to the bowl with the mixer running on low speed.
- Once combined, increase the mixer to high speed and beat for 3 full minutes until the frosting is light, fluffy, and smooth.
- If the frosting seems too thin, gradually add up to 1/4 cup more powdered sugar (one tablespoon at a time) until the desired consistency is achieved. If it’s too thick, add another tablespoon of heavy cream.
Assembly and Enjoyment!
- Once the pie is completely cooled, spread the prepared whipped peanut butter frosting generously over the brownie layer.
- Drizzle melted chocolate over the frosting in a decorative pattern.
- Arrange Recess Pieces and Mini Recess Cups over the top of the pie for an extra festive and flavorful touch.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy this incredible Peanut Butter Brownie Explosion Pie!