Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies are a dessert dream come true! If you love chocolate and peanut butter, you are going to love this irresistible treat. Thick, fudgy brownies are filled with peanut butter cups and peanut butter chips, then finished off with a decadent and delicious swirl of peanut butter filling.
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
Chocolate & Peanut Butter – If you are a peanut butter and chocolate fan, you are going to absolutely love these brownies.
Easy From Scratch – If you’ve never made homemade brownies from scratch, you are in for a treat! They are quick and easy to make.
Box Mix Option – If you don’t want to go the homemade route, that’s okay, there’s a box mix option as well.
A Little Or A Lot – You can use as few or as many peanut butter cups and peanut butter chips as you like. While measurements are provided, feel free to measure with your heart!
Peanut Butter Swirl – The peanut butter swirl filling is delish! It tastes similar to the peanut butter filling in Buckeye balls.
The only thing better than a rich, thick, chewy homemade brownie, is that same brownie, with a peanut butter overload! That’s exactly what we are making today. I’ve taken my popular Easy Homemade Brownie Recipe and filled it to the brim with peanut butter goodness.
If you love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Buckeyes, Peanut Butter Balls or Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies, and you are a brownie fan, then you are about to meet your Brownie BFF. Grab some peanut butter and get ready for the best ever Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Cocoa Powder – Make sure to get unsweetened cocoa powder. You can use Dutch process or natural cocoa powder, and dark cocoa powder is a great option in this recipe.
- Peanut Butter – Use a creamy peanut butter in this recipe. While I love a good natural peanut butter, honestly the run of the mill Jif and Skippy type of peanut butters work best in this recipe. The natural variety can be a bit too thick.
- Flour – All-purpose flour is the way to go here. Measure it by giving it a stir, then spooning it into the measuring cup, and level it off.
- Eggs – The eggs should be at room temperature, as you’ll be adding them to a warm chocolate mixture, and nobody wants to scramble eggs in their brownies.
- Peanut Butter Cups – Full size peanut butter cups will work in this recipe, but the mini peanut butter cups will save you from unwrapping all that candy. Reese’s Minis are great, but if you have a Trader Joe’s nearby, their dark chocolate peanut butter cups are divine. If desired, these can be left out.
- Peanut Butter Chips – You can usually find peanut butter chips next to chocolate chips. If you want, you can replace the peanut butter chips with semi-sweet chocolate chips. You’ll still have lots of peanut butter flavor, but with more of a chocolate punch. If desired, these can be left out.
How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
Reminder, this is the discussion portion of the post, the full printable recipe is found at the bottom of the page.
Brownie Portion
- Combine butter, sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a large bowl, preferably glass, and place bowl over a pan of water that is just barely simmering. Stir occasionally until butter is melted and mixture is combined.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes. You do not want the mixture too hot when you add the eggs, or you’ll end up cooking the eggs. Make sure to avoid that unfortunate situation.
- After mixture has cooled slightly, add the vanilla and mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat vigorously until very well mixed.
- In a separate bowl combine flour and baking powder, and stir to combine.
- Add the flour mixture to batter, and mix very well by hand to combine. While we are often told not to over mix brownies, this batter needs to be stirred vigorously. Stirring about 40 strokes is a good guide. The batter will start to take on a shiny appearance.
- Add in chopped peanut butter chips and peanut butter cups and stir to combine. Don’t over mix, just fold in.
Peanut Butter Filling Swirl
- In a separate bowl combine melted butter, powdered sugar, peanut butter, salt and vanilla extract. Stir until well combined and smooth. Drop spoonfuls dollops of peanut butter filling onto the brownie batter and swirl with a knife. Visually I find that the brownies look best when you don’t over swirl, allowing some brownies and peanut butter to both show.
- If desired, top with additional chopped peanut butter cups, then bake. While this is not necessary, boy it makes the brownies look even more delicious.
Recipe Tips and Advice
Storage – If you find yourself with any leftovers, store in an airtight container for 3-4 days. If brownies are already cut, make sure to tightly wrap each brownie in plastic wrap, otherwise they’ll dry out quickly. You can also freeze for up to two months.
Variations – You can absolutely swap the peanut butter chips for semi-sweet chocolate chips. Feel free to use dark chocolate or even white chocolate peanut butter cups. With all the fun flavored peanut butters out there, you could even switch up the peanut butter.
Box Brownie Shortcut
If you want to take a shortcut, you can use a box brownie mix. I suggest using a brownie mix that is made for a 13×9 inch pan, but still making it in an 8×8 or 9×9 inch square pan. One way to make the box brownie mix taste better is to replace the water with coffee. It won’t give your brownies a coffee flavor, it just deepens the chocolate flavor. After making the brownie batter, follow the directions as listed below.
More Recipes To Try
If you love brownies, here are some recipes you’ll want to check out!
- Oreo Brownies
- Snickers Brownies
- Brookie Recipe
- Pecan Pie Brownies
- Andes Mint Brownies
- Cosmic Brownies
- Slutty Brownies
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Love!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
Equipment
- 1 8×8 inch baking pan a 9×9 can also be used, though bake time may be reduced.
Ingredients
Brownies
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch process)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup peanut butter cups (chopped )
- 1 cup peanut butter chips (chocolate chips could also be used)
Peanut Butter Swirl
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Brownies
- Position your oven rack in the center of your oven. Preheat oven to 325ºF
- Line a 8-inch square pan with parchment paper. Spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray.
- Combine butter, sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a large bowl, preferably glass, and place bowl over a pan of water that is just barely simmering. Stir occasionally until butter is melted and mixture is combined.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes. You do not want the mixture too hot when you add the eggs.
- After mixture has cooled slightly, add vanilla and mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat vigorously until very well mixed.
- In a separate bowl combine flour and baking powder, and stir to combine.
- Add flour mixture to batter, and mix very well to combine. While we are often told not to over mix brownies, this batter needs to be stirred vigorously. Stirring about 40 strokes with a spoon is a good guide.
- Add in peanut butter chips and peanut butter cups and stir to combine.
Peanut Butter Swirl
- In a separate bowl combine melted butter, powdered sugar, peanut butter, salt and vanilla extract. Stir until well combined and smooth. Drop dollops of peanut butter filling onto the brownie batter and swirl with a knife.
- If desired, top with additional chopped peanut butter cups.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a tester comes out with some moist crumbs attached. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Meet Christi, Love From The Oven
I’m Christi I love sharing easy & delicious recipes that your family & friends will love. I’m a mom, baker, cookbook author and lover of sprinkles.
Great!
These are in the oven right now! Excited to try them out! Look so delicious.
I think these look so yummy. I am going to try to make them for sure! Can’t wait!!!