Go Back
Stack of three peanut brownies on a plate.
Print

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies (ORIGINAL RECIPE)

Fudgy brownies filled with peanut butter cups and topped with a peanut butter swirl.
Course Desserts
Cuisine Dessert
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 362kcal
Author Allison - Celebrating Sweets

Ingredients

  • ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup powdered sugar
  • ¾ teaspoon salt** see note
  • 1 cup all purpose flour*
  • ½ teaspoon espresso powder or instant coffee optional
  • ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 3 large eggs
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • ⅔ cup chopped peanut butter cups
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter not natural**

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9 pan with foil, leaving a couple inches of overhang on two sides (this will allow you to lift the whole tray of brownies out of the pan for easy removal). Butter or spray it.
  • In a large bowl combine cocoa powder, sugars, salt, flour, espresso powder, and chocolate chips. Whisk until combined. Add eggs, oil, and water and stir with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon until combined. Fold in peanut butter cups (the batter will be thick).
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Drop dollops of peanut butter on the top of the brownies, and use a knife to swirl it around. 
  • Bake for about 30 minutes. The brownies are done when the top is dry and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out without raw batter on it (there may be some fudgy crumbs on the toothpick - that's OK). Be careful not to over bake. Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Cool completely.

Video

Notes

*To properly measure flour, fluff the flour with your measuring cup, scoop a heaping portion, then level it off with the back of a knife.
**Use a commercial brand of peanut butter that is fully combined/emulsified. I do not recommend using a "natural - no stir" peanut butter with oil separation. If your peanut butter is salted, you can reduce the amount of salt to ½ teaspoon.

Nutrition

Calories: 362kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 215mg | Potassium: 211mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 2mg