Take it outside…
So the In-Laws have left and I have been doing my best to get back into the swing of things. Not easy to do. I love having people visit but hate having my routine get all thrown out of whack. And it is extra out of whack since there is no hockey right now so I am not score keeping at night. Though that means more baking time. 
Thought I would be nice to the husband and make him something with peanut butter and chocolate since I haven’t really done much with his favorite flavor combo in awhile. This is about as rich as it looks in the photo. Now, in the real recipe, you don’t want to use as much mousse as I did in the photo…it was just for photographic purpose. If you used that much it would be a little too much in my opinion.
I did have a slightly amusing moment while out getting the Peanut Butter Cups. I stopped off on way home to the Starbucks to get my afternoon Refresh Tea. While standing in line I notice that the barista and what appears to be her boyfriend arguing. Which then turned into a shouting match, in which he called her a whore.
I really wanted to point out the the guy, that though she may be a slut, she is most likely not a whore, as I doubt she was getting paid for putting out.
But since the guy looked a little unstable, I felt it best to keep my mouth shut this time around.
Sadly, the took the rest of the argument outside. However, I don’t feel that she will be having her job there anymore. Perhaps I should offer them both a piece of the torte to make two very unhappy people get in a better mood.
Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Torte
6 brownie rounds (recipe follows)
peanut butter cream cheese mousse (recipe follows)
lots and lots of peanut butter cup pieces (I chopped up about 15 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups)
chocolate ganache (recipe follows)
Brownie Rounds
7 TBSP unsalted butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
½ tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup cocoa powder ( I used Green and Blacks)
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
½ semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 325F.
Butter and flour Six 4 ½ -inch Diameter Spring Form Pans. Set aside.
Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together butter and sugar, about 2 minutes.
Add in egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Beat another minute.
Pour in cocoa, flour, baking powder and salt. Mix on low speed until fully incorporated.
Fold in chocolate chips until completely distributed throughout the brownie batter.
Using measuring cups, pour a heaping 1/3 of a cup into each of the 6 prepared pans. If there is any batter left over, try to as evenly as possible, add to the prepared pans.
Bake for 20-23 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool.
Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Mousse
½ cup whipping cream, chilled
5 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/3 cup plus 2 TBSP powdered sugar
1/3 cup peanut butter (I used Jif…duh)
Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk the whipped cream on high until stiff peaks form.
Place into a bowl and set aside.
Add the cream cheese and peanut butter and whisk on medium speed, until fully incorporated. Add powdered sugar and mix until combined.
Add whipped cream back into bowl and whisk on medium high until peanut butter mixture and whipped cream are fully incorporated and the texture is light and fluffy.
Place into a medium sized bowl and set in fridge while brownies fully cool. At least 30 minutes.
Chocolate Ganache
4 ½ ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped finely
½ cup heavy whipping cream
Place chocolate in a medium bowl.
In a small saucepan bring cream to a boil. Once the boil starts, pour over chocolate.
Let sit 5 minutes.
Whisk until mixture is smooth and glossy.
To Assemble the Torte:
Remove brownie from spring form pans. If still too warm, place in freezer for about 10 minutes.
Place one brownie circle on a plate. Add about a 1/8 cup of peanut butter mousse (I added much more to mine and actually doubled the recipe…but for photo reasons only. That much filling would be too much).
Scatter a handful of peanut butter cups.
Place another brownie round on top of the that. Then add another 1/8 cup peanut butter mousse. Then peanut butter cups.
Place third and final brownie round on top of second layer. Add a ¼ cup for the top layer of peanut butter mousse. And more peanut butter cups.
Pour ½ the ganache over the top of the torte. It might take some peanut butter cup pieces with it down the side. Just add more on top, you know you wanted to anyway.
Repeat and make a second torte. You should have two total. You can share…but why would you? 
113 Responses
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September 11th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Read thepart about nto using soo much mousse in real life…and thought I read pornographic instead of photographic…maybe that relates to the latter part of the post…or to the fact that these are true food porn photos.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Holy Mary, Mother of God! That looks amazing!
I agree about the food porn. Sign me up
September 11th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
That looks so yummy! I can’t wait to try it – my husband and I both love chocolate and peanut butter. Thanks for sharing!
September 11th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
yum…love pb and chocolate. this looks amazingly decadent!
September 11th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
“[I] hate having my routine get all thrown out of whack.”
Story of my life, hahaha.
Yikes!! Well thank goodness you weren’t in the “line of fire” or anything with the arguing couple – don’t get involved, my dear, haha
Stop it with that dessert – it’s TOO good-looking!!
September 11th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
*faints in dreamy sugar shock*
September 11th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
HOLY SMOKES! This is amazing! Wow! I wish they had Reece’s here in Australia…the Aussies don’t go for peanut butter and chocolate
September 11th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Ha too funny, I thought it read “pornographic” as well!
I just finished eating a batch of something similiar to this but in bite size form that I made earlier this week and now I want it in cake form too!!! Is there such a thing as too much peanut butter mousse?!?
September 11th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
I’ll be making this. One when it gets cooler and two when I can make sure it won’t send hubby into a diabetic coma. It’s worth that though!!!
September 11th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Good Lord, woman! That torte is obscene. In a good way.
September 11th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Oh, my. I just keep going back to look at that picture. *drools*
I’ve never been a really big hockey fan, but I would totally sit through a whole game if that torte was with me.
September 11th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
I think I just gained at least 5 lbs from looking at the photo of that torte! And, yes, I think it would be totally worth it!
September 11th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Terrific! I’m drooling!
Cheers,
Rosa
September 11th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
ummmm excuse me while I catch my breath. Ok…now.. WOW! This is just over the top!!
September 11th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Seriously, sometimes I just want to lick my computer screen. Your stuff looks that good.
September 11th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
You know, if witnessing that little “spat” at Starbucks inspired this, I want to go hire two people to argue right outside your kitchen window
September 11th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Oh. My. God. YUMMMM.
September 11th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Good lord. This is just about the most fabulous thing I have ever seen.
September 11th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
I want that. And so does the 30-week fetus in my belly. We might share with my husband and the other two kids. Maybe.
September 11th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
oh sweet Jeevus!
September 11th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
That looks killer!
~ingrid
September 11th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Wow! This looks amazing!!! You always make such delicious looking nummies.
September 11th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
You’re killing me. I felt my thighs expand as I continued reading through your post. Chocolate? Peanut butter? 7 TBSP butter? Cream cheese? It’s posts like this that make me wish I was your neighbor. Or personal dishwasher. Or both! I plan on making this. Soon!
September 11th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
That is just decadence on a plate! I love the combo of chocolate and peanut butter too.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
First of all, that torte: yes, please. You can go ahead and ship one to Virginia where I will be waiting to devour it.
Second of all, don’t your thoroughly enjoy a little drama occasionally on public outings? Sounds like you had a good one.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
That looks wicked good!
September 11th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
[...] As always though, if you are looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth, you know where to go. [...]
September 11th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I finally decided to write a comment on your blog. I just wanted to say good job. I really enjoy reading your posts…
Thanks.. Dude
September 11th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
It looks so decadent! But that’s what we like in desserts isn’t it ;o) I could just eat a slice now, before dinner….who needs dinner when you can have cake
September 11th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Here I am winding down for the day and now I have the urge to cook that yummy piece of heaven. I guess I REALLY just have the urge to eat some!
Wow, devine decadence! And about that arguement-too funny the thought in our heads that we socially refrain from participating in although we REALLY want to add our two cents. I watched this today, thought you’d get a kick out of it! Lucy at her finest!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wp3m1vg06Q
September 12th, 2009 at 2:14 am
This looks SO good. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing!
September 12th, 2009 at 2:20 am
Damn, that looks terribly wonderfully good! That really is food porn! But i dont buy the part about too much mousse,i say more the better! In South Africa we dont get the joys of peanut butter and chocolate, although when i was in the US i scoffed so many peanut butter cups i felt ill.
September 12th, 2009 at 3:14 am
Yet another reason Not to get up at 5am to do yoga. All I want to do is stare at the screen. :>
September 12th, 2009 at 4:03 am
Woah mamma! That is one fierce lookin dessert – yes please!
September 12th, 2009 at 4:04 am
Oh my gosh, this is the perfect chocolate/peanut butter lover’s dream dessert. A-ma-zing!
September 12th, 2009 at 5:40 am
Now this a dessert that my husband and boys would be impressed by – a tower of peanut butter chocolate delight!
September 12th, 2009 at 5:51 am
oh my. what a sloppy yet solid and marvelous piece of work. i can tell just by looking at this cake that it’d make my knees weak. bravo, peabody!
September 12th, 2009 at 6:30 am
Oh my goodness! This looks so delicious! Just yesterday I had something that was similar to this but they also included a chocolate mousse and caramel on top. I was thinking that I would love to recreate it. I am so happy to find your recipe for the Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Mousse. I will definitely have to give it a try.
September 12th, 2009 at 7:18 am
you make some outraging stuff….. love it!
September 12th, 2009 at 7:38 am
You always tell the funniest stories and wow I bet that cake really would have made them feel better!
I loved your post about your MIL never trying brioche- crazy! I’m glad you could enlighten her!
September 12th, 2009 at 8:21 am
The ultimate cure for PMS, on a plate.
September 12th, 2009 at 8:32 am
OH MY GOODNESS – this dessert looks like heaven on earth!!!!!
September 12th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Love reading the little anecdotes…ha ha ha!!That dessert is a tower of goodness. How yum can yum be? WOW!!
September 12th, 2009 at 9:21 am
I’m delurking to say OH MY GOD WOMAN.
I nearly fell out of my chair when that picture showed up on my bloglines.
September 12th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Oh my God, that looks absolutely ridiculous…in a great, great way.
September 12th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Pardon my caps, but OMG THAT LOOKS SO GOOD I WISH I HAD A BITE PLEASE COME HERE AND MAKE ME DESSERT!
September 12th, 2009 at 10:03 am
That looks incredible!
September 12th, 2009 at 11:32 am
You are cruel to me–the viewer. But how sweet of you to make your hubby a treat!
Yay for company coming–and going!
September 12th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
YUMMMMMMMMMMMMM I want this in my belly
September 12th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
this is AMAZING! Love the layers!
September 12th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Wow… Your creation is amazing. This is so going on my “to make” list!
September 12th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Ho-ly CRAP that looks rich!
September 12th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
This looks heavenly! I’ve got to make this!
September 12th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Wow!!! That looks amazing.. Please excuse me while I go wipe the drool off of my computer!
September 12th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
I usually need an excuse to bake things so I don’t just have stuff in the house (b/c I would eat it all), but I don’t think I need an excuse for this. I think I will just make it and eat it all.
September 12th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
That looks crazy rich! Hmm, both you and your hubby have excellent taste … pb and chocolate is definitely a natural combination and I love the Refresh tea too! Interesting entertainment at your Starbucks though.
September 12th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
sweet charlotte woman!
you do realize that I am eating Cheez Its right now? Cheez It’s!! Can I also say nice job in slicing this. How you did it so neatly I’ll never know…or will I? LOL
I love my afternoon green tea at Starbucks too. What is refresh tea? Sounds good.
September 12th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
There are some desserts where one dessert would suffice. This is one. And that’s a GOOD thing because it would last FOREVER.
Unless you live in my house.
September 12th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Seriously Peabody? This is the dessert to end them all. This would literally be my entire death row MEAL. Good God woman, this is divine.
September 12th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Why oh why does all the good stuff have to be so fatting? This is just wicked!
September 12th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Actually, I’m thinking that if the couple had been fortunate enough to have had a plate of this wonderfulness, they’d have launched at each other! Quite the divine mess ; ) Bib please?
September 12th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Are you kidding me? That is ridiculous…and I mean that in the best possible way. I can’t wait to make this for someone’s birthday and watch their eyes light up.
September 12th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Oh my what a dessert! Perfect for sharing…or not:)
September 12th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Now if you could just deep-fry it…
September 12th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Words can’t describe how amazing your cake looks, seriously!
September 13th, 2009 at 3:21 am
Wowee – that looks amazing!!!! A winning combination of flavours.
September 13th, 2009 at 5:20 am
OMG! This is spectacular! And I’m drooling over your perfect photos!
September 13th, 2009 at 6:14 am
How much of that did your husband devour in one sitting?
The pb mousse looks like it has many possibilities in other applications (well not as hair gel, but you know what I mean).
September 13th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Wow. That looks fabulous. I love Reese’s. And brownies. I’m actually kind of glad it’s on my computer screen and not in my kitchen where I would be tempted to eat it all. =)
September 13th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
oh this torte will surely made them forget what they were quarelling about. Looks so rich and delicious. Chocolate and peanut butter are my favourites too.
September 13th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Oh. My. Gosh! This looks incredible. Chocolate and peanut butter is my #1 weakness.
September 13th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
This looks so delicious! I’m really looking forward to making this.
September 13th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Oh, yes, you do love your husband. I’m weak in the knees just looking at this. Wow.
September 13th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
man, Peabody, I slow-motion scrolled down that first picture. Needless to mention there was a lot of drooling involved. I think i heard harp music too. Yikes~
September 13th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Hi Peabody! I just made this… OH MY GOD!!! It was soooo good. Thanks again for the recipe, and for the tip about using less mousse.
September 13th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Yum – chocolate and peanut butter 2 of my favorite food groups
September 13th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
a) The torte looks delicious.
b) You are a very thoughtful wife to make such an amazing dessert to satisfy your husband’s pb/chocolate love.
c) Is it wrong that sometimes I wish people wouldn’t take those kinds of arguments outside simply for the sake of my own personal enjoyment?
September 14th, 2009 at 12:13 am
What a decadently rich and delicious dessert, I say this all the time, but I really mean it when I say I must make this recipe asap!
September 14th, 2009 at 7:05 am
I hate when my routine gets out of whack too, makes me really grouchy! Although, I think a slice of this torte would make it all better. Looks delish!
September 14th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Yum. That looks amazing!
I love it when people argue in public. It’s like a little show for me. I’m such a voyeur.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:01 am
That looks so decadent! Enough to put anyone in a good mood.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:17 am
I don’t think it’s possible for your pictures to get any more drool-worthy, but they do! WOW, this looks amazing!
September 14th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Holy cats- that looks amazing. I wish I could still eat peanut butter and tree nuts. Wonder how that would be if I substituted another (non-lethal-to-me) candy… maybe peppermint patties…
September 14th, 2009 at 11:33 am
What a lucky boy your husband is…
September 14th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Goodness, that torte looks positively dangerous…as in, there is the danger I’d consume it in full…wow!!!
September 14th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
This looks unbelievable! Wow!
September 14th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Wow…that looks achingly rich. Though, right now, the peanut butter cups look pretty awesome and tempting!
September 14th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Oh wow. My husband is recovering from food poisoning but as soon as he is better I’m making this for him. I think this would be heaven on earth for him!
September 14th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
I thought I was full from dinner. Then I saw this picture. Now, not so full!
September 14th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Wow Pea! How can dessert get any better than that!!
September 14th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Sounds like your Starbucks is far more interesting than mine.
I could die for this cake!
September 14th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
[...] Too good to resist: Â Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Torte [...]
September 14th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
The headlining picture in this post is exactly while I love your food. I’m not a commenter usually, but sweet jumpin’ jeebus that’s gorgeous. Are there struts in that thing? How the hell does it support itself? Must be all that decadence.
September 14th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Lord have mercy! That is one fantastically rich looking cake. I would love a slice with a tall glass of ice cold milk.
September 15th, 2009 at 8:08 am
This looks like what I imagine I’ll be eating a lot of in Heaven, only in much larger quantities
You amaze me with the richness and droolworthy photos every time. Thanks for sticking with the blogging!
September 15th, 2009 at 8:21 am
chocolate and peanut butter together… what more do you need?
September 15th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
That picture is beautiful – I can’t wait to make it!
September 15th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Mousse??????
oh!my!god! I just got wayyyyy too excited.
September 15th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
This looks amazingly delicious.
September 15th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
This looks amazing. Can’t wait to make this for my chocolate-peanut butter obsessed husband!
September 15th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Oh this looks amazing! I love chocolate and peanut butter…yum:)
September 17th, 2009 at 9:15 am
When you post photos like this it makes me worried that you might leave us! I would so horribly miss your lucious photos and wonderfuly, horrible (for my figure) ideas!
September 17th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
That looks absolutely sinfully delicious!
September 20th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
oh my… I may have to make this!!!
September 20th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
I think I have died in gone to heaven… this looks so yummy!
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:40 am
I sent this to my husband demanding that we make this for the next birthday, and all he said was,
“Sugar. Induced. Coma.”
So true, and I can’t wait!
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Peabody, where have you been all my life!
September 30th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
This is just amazing….I have no other words.
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:01 pm
[...] as much as I do it seems. His love of the combination inspired his lovely wife to create the Peanut Butter Brownie Torte. I made it yesterday. It tasted as good as her photo [...]
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:46 am
[...] http://www.culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody.com/2009/09/11/take-it-outside/ [...]
October 8th, 2009 at 10:37 am
[...] http://www.culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody.com/2009/09/11/take-it-outside/ [...]
October 12th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
I just made this for my dad’s 56th birthday dinner. It was a hit! I did everything the same, except I put the brownie batter in two 9″ round cake pans that were lined with tin foil (so I could pull them out easily and then peel away the foil). Worked like a charm. Exceedingly rich, but oh-so-impressively good! Thanks for this recipe.
February 8th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Thank-you for posting this! I am pregnant and craving sweet things (boy!) and this was PERFECT. I made the brownies in a square pan, then cut one out and plopped the peanut butter mousse on top with a drizzle of hot fudge and OH MY! This is going to become a regular addition to my daily indulgences.