Homemade desserts are the best! These tasty chocolate peanut butter brownies are made from scratch. This easy recipe uses cocoa powder for a rich chocolate base and is layered with a decadent peanut butter swirl.
These chocolate peanut butter brownies are great on their own. The beauty of this simple dessert is the variety of ways you can experiment to make them even better. Here are just a few ideas:
- Stir chunks of your favorite candy bar into the batter. Reese’s Pieces, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or Butterfingers would be great.
- Add chunks of Oreo cookies or Nutter Butter cookies to the batter.
- Mix dark, milk or white chocolate chips in the batter.
- Top with chocolate buttercream or vanilla buttercream frosting.
- Add vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup to the top of a brownie to make a brownie sundae.
- Add chopped nuts like in our fudgy walnut brownie recipe.

Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies Recipe Ingredients
Ingredients for the Chocolate Brownie Layer
- unsalted butter, melted
- granulated sugar
- large eggs
- vanilla extract or paste
- Yes, imitation vanilla will work. And yes, real vanilla extract will work too. But real vanilla bean paste will make you a champion. It’s a little more expensive, but you use less and get an amazing flavor. If you’re ready to take the plunge, give one of these brands a try: Nielson-Massey or Cambie Confections.
- all-purpose flour
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- salt
Ingredients for the Peanut Butter Layer
- creamy peanut butter
- unsalted butter, melted
- granulated sugar
- packed brown sugar
- large egg
- real vanilla extract or paste. I recommend Nielson-Massey or Cambie Confections.
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- salt
How To Make Layered Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
Step 1:
Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8” x 8” pan with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2:
Mix all the ingredients for the chocolate layer in a large mixing bowl, adding in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt last.
Lightly fold in the flour and cocoa powder until just mixed. (Do not over mix or the brownies will turn out cake-like).
Step 3:
Mix the ingredients for the peanut butter brownie layer, again saving the flour, baking powder and salt for last and stirring until just mixed.
Step 4:
Spread peanut butter brownie layer on the bottom of the pan and top it with the chocolate brownie layer, spreading the batter for both layers out evenly.
Step 5:
Bake for 22 minutes. Brownies will still be soft and gooey, but will finish setting while they cool. If desired, top with 5-minute homemade chocolate buttercream. Enjoy!
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YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY:
Classic Fudgy Walnut Brownies With Frosting
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Tasty Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies From Scratch

This delicious chocolate peanut butter brownies recipe uses cocoa powder for a rich chocolate base and is layered with a decadent peanut butter swirl.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Peanut Butter Layer
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon real vanilla extract
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8” x 8” pan with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Mix all the ingredients for the chocolate layer in a large mixing bowl, adding in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt last. Lightly fold in the flour and cocoa powder until just mixed. (Do not over mix or the brownies will turn out cake-like).
- Mix the ingredients for the peanut butter brownie layer, again saving the flour, baking powder and salt for last and stirring until just mixed.
- Spread peanut butter brownie layer on the bottom of the pan and top it with the chocolate brownie layer, spreading the batter for both layers out evenly.
- Bake for 22 minutes. Brownies will still be soft and gooey, but will finish setting while they cool. Enjoy!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
9Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 398Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 183mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 2gSugar: 35gProtein: 7g