Peanut Butter Brownies

Made with two rich, fudgy chocolate brownie layers and a luscious, creamy peanut butter filling in the center, these peanut butter brownies are a flavor combo made in heaven! Whether baking for a gathering with friends or treating yourself to a crave-worthy dessert at home, keeping your hands off these mind-blowing treats will be almost impossible!

Best Peanut Butter Brownies Recipe

These easy, fudgy peanut butter brownies mix traditional chocolate brownies with creamy peanut butter conveniently packed in the center. The result is the perfect harmony of decadent chocolate and peanut flavor in every bite. Plus, it has that classic, crackly brownie surface we all know and love. 

Unlike other recipes, I skip the baking powder to ensure your brownies come out wonderfully gooey and irresistibly fudgy (which, in my opinion, are exactly how brownies are meant to be). Plus, I do everything possible to make this recipe for peanut butter brownies easy and fun. You'll find detailed, step-by-step instructions and expert tips that are easy to follow, even for beginners. I even provide plenty of variations to make this recipe your own.

The best part is that you can quickly whip these peanut butter brownies up on a whim. Most of the ingredients are essential household pantry staples or items you can find at your neighborhood grocery store!

Katalin's Take On How To Best Incorporate Peanut Butter With Brownies

When it comes to adding creamy, nutty peanut butter to already irresistible fudge brownies, there's only one trick that will make its flavor stand out while keeping a beautifully clean layer: freezing it.

While swirling peanut butter into brownie batter may sound like the most obvious choice, unfortunately, it dulls the peanut flavor. Instead, when you freeze a solid layer of peanut butter and place it between two brownie batter layers, you're guaranteed to get that peanut butter flavor in every single bite that you otherwise wouldn't get with the peanut butter swirl. It also creates a picture-perfect layer once they're cooled and ready to slice and serve!

Prepare The Peanut Butter Layer & Freeze

Start by taking a brownie pan the same size you'll use for baking and line it with parchment paper.

Next, spread the peanut butter evenly across the pan and pop it into the freezer for about an hour.

Prepare the Brownie Batter

Before starting the brownie mix, ensure your eggs are at room temperature so they easily blend into the batter. To do so, stick them in a bowl of warm water for 5-10 minutes.

Once the peanut butter layer is fully frozen, preheat the oven to 175°C / 350°F (without the fan). Lightly grease the inside of a 9-inch (23 cm) brownie pan with a small amount of oil, then line the bottom and sides with parchment paper.

Melt the chocolate and the butter (unsalted butter only) gently in a bowl set over simmering water over low-medium heat. Alternatively, you can use a microwave. However, you will need to stir the chocolate frequently so that it does not burn. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the chocolate down the sides of the bowl as necessary to prevent it from scorching. 

In a separate large bowl, use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to whip the eggs with both the granulated and brown sugar until the mixture turns pale and fluffy (about 5–7 minutes).

Then, with the mixer on low speed, slowly add the melted butter and chocolate mixture to the egg-sugar mixture.

Sift the dry ingredients (all purpose flour, salt, and unsweetened cocoa powder) into the wet mixture and carefully fold everything together with a rubber spatula, taking care not to overmix. Do not skip the salt, as it is essential for balancing the sweetness!

Once thoroughly combined, pour half of the brownie batter into the prepared pan and smooth it out with an offset spatula. 

Place the frozen peanut butter over the top of the batter, then spread the remaining brownie batter evenly on top, making sure that the peanut butter layer doesn't blend with the brownie layer (which is why freezing is so important)!

Assemble & Bake

Place the brownie pan in the preheated oven and bake at 175°C / 350°F for approximately 45 minutes. You'll know they're done when the edges appear set and baked while the center looks slightly gooey (but not undercooked). Avoid overbaking, as the brownies will continue to firm up as they cool.

Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before slicing and serving.

Storing & Freezing

If you have leftovers, keep them fresh by storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. 

If you prefer to freeze them for longer storage, wait until they cool completely to room temperature, then tightly wrap them in plastic or parchment paper and cover them with aluminum foil (this will help prevent freezer burn). Then, place the wrapped brownies in a sealed freezer bag and freeze for up to three months.

See my guide on storing brownies for more tips on preserving their freshness after baking.

Flavor Variations

While these chewy peanut butter brownies are irresistible as-is, you can make them even more special and delicious with the following customizations:

Swap out the peanut butter for a Nutella layer, as I do in my Nutella brownies recipe. Or, for a warm fall flavor, use pumpkin puree as I do in my pumpkin brownies.

Instead of the traditional chocolate brownie layer, try this recipe with my white chocolate brownies.

For even more nuttiness, throw in peanut butter chips, similar to my triple chocolate brownie recipe. Or, you can use chocolate chips or caramel or butterscotch chips for an extra fudgy flavor. To get even more creative, try a combination of the above!

You can also add to the nutty flavor by mixing in crunchy crushed nuts. Try mixing in almonds, hazelnuts, macadamia, or pecans, like in my pecan brownies recipe.

For a delicious finish that pairs wonderfully with the chocolate and peanut butter flavors, sprinkle a bit of sea salt on top!

Ingredient Substitutions

To make your peanut butter brownies gluten-free, see my flour guide for various alternatives. To make them vegan-friendly, you can use my dairy-free brownie recipe and try one of the options in my egg substitution guide. If you want to avoid butter, try one of these butter substitutes.

Remember that when substituting ingredients, you might need to adjust other quantities to maintain the ideal taste and texture. Always refer closely to the recommended substitution guides and suggested amounts for the best outcome!

Expert Tips For Making Peanut Butter Brownies

1. To avoid overly sweet brownies, use unsweetened peanut butter, which will provide the perfect balance of sweetness alongside the fudge. Likewise, I recommend using unsweetened cocoa powder.
2. Always use the highest quality ingredients you can find for the best taste in texture. I recommend 82% European-style butter, high-quality semi sweet chocolate chips such as Callebaut or Lindt, and 100% Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
3. Avoid reducing the amount of sugar you use in the brownie batter, as it will make a difference to the texture and take away from the crackly surface.
4. If you like super fudgy, gooey brownies, you can decrease the baking time and slightly underbake the brownies.
5. For perfect, intact slices, run your knife under hot water to keep the chocolate from sticking to the knife.

What Equipment To Use

For the best results, use a digital scale to weigh your ingredients rather than relying on measuring cups. A digital oven thermometer is also a must-have tool to confirm an accurate baking temperature.

An electric hand mixer is necessary for whipping the wet ingredients, and you will need a rubber spatula to gently fold in the dry ingredients without overmixing. 

For baking, you will need a 9-inch (23 cm) square baking pan along with an offset spatula to spread the batter evenly in the pan.

Try Some Of My Brownie Recipes

If you loved these gooey peanut butter brownies, you will also fall in love with my other irresistible brownie recipes:

• Slutty Brownies
• Cheesecake Brownies
• Tiramisu Brownies
• Biscoff Brownies
• Raspberry Brownies
• Pecan Brownies

For even more decadent desserts, including cookies, cakes, and more, check out this roundup of the Top 40+ Best Chocolate Desserts to satisfy your chocolate craving.

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