Pretzel Crust Brownies

Okay, so my best friend came over yesterday and we decided to make these brownies. Since we planned on cooking all day, we figured it would be alright if we took a shortcut on these brownies and use a boxed brownie mix instead of a recipe from scratch.

Either way, the pretzel crust on these is amazing and everyone agreed! I was worried about making these because my mom can't make brownies to save her life. Hers always turn out rock-hard; they could be used as weapons. But mine turned out just like brownies should!




Ingredients:
for the crust:
4 Cups pretzels
¾ Cups unsalted butter (1.5 sticks)
½ Cups sugar

for the brownies:
*you can use a simple boxed mix or your own favorite brownie recipe

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Farenheit.

2. Line a 13x9 inch pan with a foil, letting some of it hang over the edges (this will allow you to lift the brownies out of the pan for easier cutting and presentation).  Be sure to spray the foil with cooking spray or butter and flour.
3. Process the pretzels in a food processor (or crush them in a sealed ziploc bag), until small but not to powder. 

4. Melt the butter.
5. Mix the crushed pretzels, sugar and melted butter in a mixing bowl until combined.  

6. Press the mixture into the baking pan.  Bake for 10 minutes or until the crust has set.

7. Cool the baked pretzel crust in the refrigerator. Maybe put down a layer or two of dish towels under the pan to avoid breaking any glass or melting plastic while in the refrigerator.

8. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees Farenheit.
9. Mix the brownie batter per the box directions or according to your favorite brownie recipe.
10. Carefully, spread the batter over the cooled pretzel crust with a spatula or icing knife.

11. Cook the brownie according to the directions labeled on the box.

12. remove the brownies from the pan by lifting the foil out and set aside to cool.