Pretzel Crusted Fudge Topped Brownies: GYCO

I’ve had this recipe brewing in my mind for quite some time, but never had quite the right time to make them.

Then two things happened at once.

First, Julie from White Lights on Wednesday & Jen from Four Marrs One Venus announced that this month’s Get Your Chef On (GYCO) challenge was chocolate (cheers and applause!)  I seriously love all things chocolate and was so glad for an excuse to finally create the recipe that’s been on my mind for months!

And second, we were having some company and I always like to have treats on hand when we have company.

And also, it’s been way to long since I played up the salty-sweet combination.  And this recipe takes it to the n^th degree!  It is awesome!  There is a salty-sweet, slightly caramelized pretzel layer, followed by brownies, and topped with fudge.

I’d say that you only need one, but let’s get real.  Once you start in on these things, you are not stopping until the pan is empty!

Pretzel Crusted Fudge Topped Brownies

An Amy’s Cooking Adventures Original Recipe

Pretzel Crust

3 cups small pretzels

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter

½ cup powdered sugar

Brownie Layer

1 family size box brownie mix, prepared according to box instructions

-or-

Your favorite from scratch brownies, prepared

Fudge Topping

12 oz semi sweet chocolate chips

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

2 tbsp butter

1 tsp vanilla extract 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Pulse the pretzels in a food processor until they are broken down into a coarse crumb.  Stir in the powdered sugar, followed by the butter and stir until evenly coated.  Press the pretzel mixture evenly into a 9x13 in cake pan and bake for 4 minutes.

Meanwhile, in the same bowl, mix up the brownies.  Pour the brownie batter over the pretzel crust and bake for 18 minutes or until just slightly underdone.

While the brownies bake, combine the chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and butter in a microwave safe bowl or a double boiler.  Melt until smooth, then stir in the vanilla.

Pour the fudge mixture over the brownies and bake for another 10-12 minutes or until the fudge sets.

Cool brownies completely before slicing.