You just can’t beat homemade fudgy brownies with a nice glass of cold milk. With this easy chocolate peanut butter brownies recipe, you’ll have a delicious pan of chewy brownies from scratch in a little over 30 minutes. No brownie mix here!
This delicious recipe uses cocoa powder for fudgy goodness to satisfy any chocolate craving. The gooey brownies are layered with creamy peanut butter filling.
These are pretty much the perfect brownie and a peanut butter lovers dream!
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Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies Recipe Ingredients
These fudgy peanut butter brownies have a chocolate layer and a peanut butter layer. You’ll need some basic pantry ingredients for both.
Ingredients for the Chocolate Brownie Batter Layer
- unsalted butter
- 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 baking legend! It’s a little more expensive, but you use less and get an amazing flavor. If you’re ready to take the plunge, I recommend giving this Nielson-Massey vanilla paste a try.
- all-purpose flour
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- salt
Ingredients for the Peanut Butter Layer
- creamy peanut butter
- Note: Chunky peanut butter or a nut butter substitute such as a cashew butter or almond butter could also be used
- unsalted butter
- granulated sugar
- brown sugar
- large egg
- real vanilla extract or paste
- Note: I recommend Nielson-Massey vanilla.
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- salt
How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
Follow these step-by-step instructions and you’ll be on your way to the best peanut butter brownies you’ve ever made.
Step 1: Preheat Oven
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Line an 8” x 8” pan with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: Prepare Brownie Batter
To make the chocolate mixture, add melted butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla into a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine. A stand mixer can also be used.
Lightly fold in the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder and salt) until just mixed.
PRO TIP: Do not over mix the brownie batter or the brownies will turn out cake-like.
If desired, stir in chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, peanut butter cups or other mix-ins.
Step 3: Prepare Peanut Butter Mixture
To make the peanut butter filling layer, add the peanut butter, melted butter, egg and vanilla to a large bowl and combine well.
Next, stir in the sugar and brown sugar until fully incorporated.
Last, add the flour, baking powder and salt, stirring until just mixed.
If desired, you could also add mix-ins to the peanut butter filling such as chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or chopped peanut butter cup.
Step 4: Add Batter To Prepared Pan
Using a rubber spatula, spread the peanut butter filling layer on the bottom of the pan that is lined with parchment paper.
Top the peanut butter filling layer with the chocolate brownie batter. Spreading the batter for both layers out evenly.
PRO TIP: If desired, you can create a peanut butter swirl effect. Pull a greased butter knife through both batter layers in a figure-8 motion until you see the peanut butter swirled into the chocolate layer.
Step 5: Bake Brownies
Bake brownies for about 22 minutes or until they are fully baked.
Not sure how to tell if your brownies are done? Check out this handy guide: How To Tell When Brownies Are Done.
The brownies will still be soft and gooey, but will finish setting while they cool.
If desired, top with 5-minute homemade chocolate buttercream, more peanut butter chips or any of the other delicious ideas mentioned in the next section.
Allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting. Cut into squares with a sharp knife.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Peanut Butter Brownies Substitutions
Peanut butter and chocolate are a classic combination in brownie recipes. The best part of this simple, but delicious dessert is the variety of ways you can experiment to make them even better.
More Ideas For The Best Peanut Butter Brownies Mix-ins
Candy Bar Mix-Ins
Stir chunks of your favorite candy bar into the batter. Chopped Peanut Butter Cups, Reese’s Pieces, or Butterfingers would really amp up the chocolate and peanut butter flavor even more.
Cookie Mix-ins
Add chunks of Oreo cookies or Nutter Butter cookies to the brownie batter.
Creamy or Crunchy Peanut Butter
For the peanut butter filling layer, you could use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy.
Natural Peanut Butter or Nut Butter
For the more health-conscious, you could use natural peanut butter. You could also try a different type of nut butter like almond butter or cashew butter.
Chocolate Chips and Chunks
Mix dark or milk chocolate chips, or chopped chocolate chunks into the brownie batter for even more fudgy chocolate brownies.
White chocolate chips would be fun too and add a contrasting color. Peanut butter chips would also be a great addition.
Top With Frosting
Try chocolate buttercream or vanilla buttercream frosting on top of the brownies.
Make A Brownie Sundae
Add vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup to the top of a brownie to make a brownie sundae. Put some peanut butter in the microwave for a few seconds to make a quick peanut butter sauce to pour over the top.
Add Chopped Nuts
Add chopped peanuts or walnuts like in our fudgy walnut brownie recipe.
Top With Confectioners Sugar or Cocoa Powder
After the brownies cool, add a light dusting of confectioners sugar (powdered sugar) for a sophisticated look. Or sift unsweetened cocoa powder on top of your homemade brownies for a more subtle look.
Try CBD Brownies
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even add some CBD to your brownies.
We hope you enjoy this delicious recipe for peanut butter and chocolate brownies! We’re confident it will become one of your new favorite brownie recipes!
If you love the recipe as much as we do, please consider sharing to Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook!
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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