Get ready for the BEST Peanut Butter Brownies! Fudgy brownies filled with peanut butter cups, peanut butter chips, and topped with a peanut butter swirl. Rich, decadent, over-the-top brownies that you are going to love.
This is what dreams are made of. Do you see that peanut butter swirl? Those chunks of peanut butter cups? That fudgy goodness? So much to love.
I decided that it was time to give my Peanut Butter Brownie recipe a little facelift. I made a few small tweaks and these Peanut Butter Brownies are even better than ever! I used my Homemade Brownies as the base and added tons of peanut buttery goodness.
Why you’ll love this recipe
Flavor: Loads of chocolate and peanut butter in every bite.
Texture: Chewy edges and fudgy centers with little pockets of melty chocolate and peanut butter.
Freezer friendly: Leftovers can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Basic ingredients: Most of these ingredients are pantry staples. You can also choose between peanut butter cups, peanut butter chips, or both for stirring into the brownie batter.
Perfectly sized: This recipe makes an 8×8 pan of brownies. You can serve anywhere from 9-12 depending on how large you cut them.
Tips for making peanut butter brownies
- Line the pan with foil for easy removal. Once the brownies have cooled, you can lift the whole batch right out of the pan using the foil.
- Adding chocolate chips into the batter guarantees a fudgy texture.
- Use a commercial brand of peanut butter that is fully combined/emulsified. I do not recommend using a “natural” peanut butter with oil separation.
- When swirling the peanut butter into the brownie batter, less is more. Thicker, more noticeable swirls come from less swirling. Drag a sharp knife through in a figure-8 motion.
- Do not overbake them. I can’t stress this enough! If you insert a toothpick into the center it should have moist fudgy crumbs on it, but no batter. As soon as that happens, pull them out. Since all ovens bake differently, set your timer for earlier than the recipe calls for and keep checking them until they’re done.
Serving and storage
Serving: You can serve these brownies warm or at room temperature. They are best served within 3 days of being made. I like to reheat them a little in the microwave before eating.
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or cool room temperature for 3 days. Leftovers can also be frozen for up to 2 months.
Recipe updated March 2021. If you prefer my original recipe, it can be found HERE.
Recipe
Peanut Butter Brownies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and still warm
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips
- ⅔ cup (total) peanut butter chips or chopped peanut butter cups, or a combination of both
- ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter, preferably not natural/separated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 baking pan with foil or parchment paper. Lightly grease the foil/parchment.
- In a medium bowl combine cocoa powder, powdered sugar, flour, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl combine butter and granulated sugar, whisk briefly, then allow the mixture to sit at room temp for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, whisk the mixture vigorously for about 30 seconds. Add eggs, water, and vanilla extract. Whisk until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to stir the mixture until it is glossy and well combined. Remove ⅓ cup of brownie batter and set it aside.
- Add chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and peanut butter cups to the remaining batter and stir gently. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer.
- Using two spoons, dollop small portions of the peanut butter and the reserved brownie batter all over the top. Use the tip of a sharp knife to swirl the brownie batter and peanut butter together*. Don’t swirl too deep; you are mostly just making visible swirls in the top layer.
- Bake for 28-33 minutes. The brownies should be underbaked just slightly, but not jiggle in the center. If you insert a toothpick into the center it should come out with moist fudgy crumbs, but no thin, raw batter. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Laura
I followed all directions except using a 9in round pan and I checked at 45 minutes and the middle was still raw and the edges burnt.
Celebrating Sweets
Hi, Laura. The pan size was the problem. A 9inch round pan is around 20% smaller than a 9×9 square baking pan (which is the recommended pan size). Using a smaller pan would require an increased bake time which would cause the middle to take longer to bake through. Sorry you had trouble.
https://www.joyofbaking.com/PanSizes.html
Kasey
These brownies are absolutely fantastic! I love baking and wanted a good peanut butter brownie and this is a keeper for sure! I love all of the ingredients-love adding the instant coffee and powdered sugar! I used an 8×8 pan and it did take longer to bake but that was no issue whatsoever. I am going to make this recipe again without the peanutbutter and just add more chocolate chips (just to be able to have different versions!) I’m in love!!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Tricia
I made these for my best friends birthday, I just substituted gluten free flour (because I’m allergic to wheat). Even gluten free these were AMAZING! We both could not stop eating them. I made them in an 8 x 8 pan so they had to cook a little longer. I just kept checking on them, no big deal.
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
ashley
can u make these in a 9 by 13 inch pan?
Allison
I haven’t tried it. If you do you’ll need to double the recipe.
Lindsay
I doubled it and it was perfect!
Allison
Perfect! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Morgan
Exactly the recipe I needed! My husband loves chocolate and peanut butter and I really wanted to make him something special for his birthday this year. I’m so glad I found this recipe. It was easy to follow and turned out delicious!! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe with us!
Allison
Thanks for the kind review. I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Erica N Carpenter
Absolutely delicious, I love brownies and I love peanut butter the combination is outstanding.
Jill Baird
There’s so much to love in these peanut butter brownies! The big chunks of chocolate peanut butter, fudgy goodness. These are going on the fav list for sure!
Christina
Peanut Butter and chocolate. What could be better
Sara
Hi. I did the recipe last night and it was so chewyyyyyyy like crazy omg🤤 pb flavours were amazing! Thank you so much!!! I scooped the remaining batter in a cookie form seperately, they turned out amazingly chewy too, flat but with beautiful cracks on top with crispy edges. My sister rated the brownies a solid 10 even tho she doesn’t like peanut butter at all. I was surprised. While I was making it she kept saying “naah you’re ruining it with pb don’t add it”, however after she tasted it she loved it! And it shocked me lol.
One thing I was wondering about, the recipe lacked baking powder (?) I added a little just to be on the safe side lol. Also I know it’s completely unrelated to your recipe but do you think you can help me with getting a balanced ratio that will get the cookie form to be less flat while keeping the chewiness?
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe 😋.
Allison
Correct, no baking powder. It’s not necessary. You can try this recipe for brownie cookies and maybe swirl in a little peanut butter and some peanut butter chips? You can play around with it.
I’m glad you enjoyed them. Thanks for stopping by!
Sara
Totally worth the expensive ingredients I bought with my pocket money.
Barbara
I have never ever posted a review, but I have to for these brownies. They are so easy and yet so unbelievably delicious! They may be the best brownies I have ever made and I have made a LOT of brownies over the years. You need to try them!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂