Why You’ll Fall in Love with These Peanut Butter Brownies!

• Super Chocolatey: Get ready for an intense chocolate experience! These fudgy brownies boast a double dose of rich chocolate flavor, thanks to a thoughtful combination of high-quality cocoa powder and finely chopped dark chocolate. This layering of chocolate ensures every bite is deeply satisfying and truly decadent.
• Perfectly Fudgy Brownies: Say goodbye to dry, cakey brownies! The secret to the incredibly chewy and fudgy texture of these brownies lies in the absence of baking powder or baking soda. This intentional omission prevents the brownies from rising too much, resulting in that dense, moist, and wonderfully gooey consistency that true brownie lovers crave.
• Irresistible Peanut Butter Flavor: The peanut butter isn’t just an afterthought here; it’s a star! These chocolate peanut butter brownies are elegantly swirled with a luscious, creamy peanut butter filling, which permeates the entire batch with its nutty goodness. To elevate the experience even further, they are generously sprinkled with an abundance of chopped miniature peanut butter cups, ensuring a burst of peanut butter in every bite.
• Signature Crackly Top: Achieve that coveted, shiny, crinkly top that is the hallmark of a perfectly baked brownie. Our recipe includes a specific whisking technique for the wet ingredients that helps create this beautiful, delicate crust, adding an appealing visual and textural contrast to the soft interior.
• No Mixer Required, Quick Prep: Forget about dragging out heavy kitchen equipment! This entire brownie recipe comes together with just a whisk and a couple of bowls. The active preparation time is a mere 20 minutes before they even hit the oven, making these fudgy peanut butter brownies an ideal choice for a quick, hassle-free baking project.

Essential Ingredients for Your Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

• Chocolate: These truly fudgy brownies benefit from a luxurious double dose of chocolate. We use both rich cocoa powder and finely chopped dark chocolate to create an unparalleled depth of flavor. Aim for a high-quality dark chocolate (around 60-70% cacao) for the best results.
• All-Purpose Flour: For optimal consistency and texture, this recipe has been meticulously tested exclusively with all-purpose flour. Using a different type of flour may alter the brownie’s fudginess and overall structure.
• Cocoa Powder: To achieve that deep, dark chocolate color and intense flavor, I highly recommend using Dutch-processed cocoa powder. This type of cocoa powder has been treated with an alkali to reduce its acidity, resulting in a smoother, less bitter chocolate taste. If you’re in a pinch, natural cocoa powder can be used, but the color and flavor will be slightly different. To identify Dutch-processed cocoa, simply check the ingredients list for “acidity regulators” or “alkali.”
• Unsalted Butter: I personally love incorporating European-style unsalted butter into my baking. Its higher fat content contributes to a richer, creamier texture in baked goods, enhancing the overall lusciousness of these peanut butter brownies. However, any good quality unsalted butter will work beautifully.
• Neutral Oil: To ensure the chocolate and peanut butter flavors shine, use a neutral-tasting oil. Vegetable oil is my preferred choice for its subtle profile, allowing the other robust flavors to take center stage. Canola oil also works well as a substitute.
• Espresso Powder: This is your secret weapon for intensifying the chocolate flavor! Just a small amount of espresso powder doesn’t add a coffee taste, but rather magically deepens and enriches the chocolate notes, making them even more pronounced and delicious. Don’t skip this ingredient for truly next-level brownies.
• Mini Peanut Butter Cups: For delightful pockets of peanut butter goodness, I use chopped mini peanut butter cups. Their small size integrates perfectly into the brownie batter and topping. If you only have regular-sized peanut butter cups, simply chop them into similarly small pieces to ensure an even distribution throughout the brownies.
• Creamy Peanut Butter: For the smoothest and most consistent peanut butter swirl, I strongly recommend using a creamy, conventional peanut butter. Avoid natural peanut butter that tends to separate with oil on top, as it can lead to a greasy or inconsistent filling texture.
• Eggs & Egg Yolk: Using both whole eggs and an extra egg yolk contributes significantly to the brownies’ fudgy texture and rich flavor. Ensure they are at room temperature, as this helps them emulsify better with the other ingredients, leading to a smoother batter and a more uniform bake.
• Granulated & Light Brown Sugar: The combination of these two sugars creates the perfect balance of sweetness and moisture. Granulated sugar contributes to the crackly top, while light brown sugar adds depth of flavor and ensures a moist, chewy interior.
• Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors, particularly the chocolate and peanut butter, adding a warm, aromatic complexity to the brownies.
• Kosher Salt: Salt is crucial for balancing the sweetness and intensifying the chocolate and peanut butter flavors. Kosher salt, with its larger flakes, disperses nicely. (See notes for substitution if using fine salt).

Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Making Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Creating these divine chocolate peanut butter brownies is simpler than you might think. Follow these straightforward steps to achieve perfectly fudgy results every time:

Step One: Prepare the Wet Ingredients for the Brownie Base. In a spacious medium bowl or a large heat-safe jug, combine your room temperature eggs, extra egg yolk, both granulated and light brown sugars, neutral oil, a touch of espresso powder, and vanilla extract. Whisk this mixture vigorously for at least 1 minute until it becomes noticeably smooth and slightly pale. This crucial step incorporates air and helps to develop that desirable crinkle top on your brownies.

Step Two: Melt the Chocolate and Butter. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the unsalted butter in short intervals until it’s fully liquefied. Immediately add your finely chopped dark chocolate to the hot butter. Let the mixture sit undisturbed for a few minutes to allow the residual heat to melt the chocolate. Then, whisk until it’s perfectly smooth and glossy. If any large chocolate pieces remain, microwave for additional 10-second increments, stirring after each, until completely melted and uniform.

Step Three: Combine Chocolate and Sugar Mixtures. To your melted chocolate and butter mixture, add the cocoa powder. Whisk until it’s thoroughly combined and smooth, ensuring no dry pockets of cocoa remain. Next, pour the previously whisked sugar and egg mixture into the chocolate mixture. Whisk gently but thoroughly until all ingredients are completely incorporated and the batter is homogeneous.

Step Four: Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Peanut Butter Cups. Sift the all-purpose flour and kosher salt into the chocolate batter. Using a spatula, gently fold these dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Be careful not to overmix; stop folding as soon as you no longer see streaks of flour. Overmixing can lead to tougher brownies. Finally, gently stir in the majority of your chopped mini peanut butter cups, reserving a small handful to sprinkle on top later for an extra pop of color and flavor.

Step Five: Prepare the Peanut Butter Swirl Filling. In a separate small, microwave-safe bowl, melt the creamy peanut butter in the microwave for approximately 15-20 seconds, or until it’s warm and easily stirrable. Once melted, add the confectioners’ sugar, a dash of vanilla extract, and a pinch of kosher salt. Stir all these ingredients together until you achieve a smooth, pourable peanut butter filling.

Step Six: Assemble, Swirl, and Bake. Pour the rich brownie batter evenly into your prepared 8×8 inch baking pan (greased and lined with parchment paper). Dollop spoonfuls of the peanut butter mixture over the top of the brownie batter. Now, using a butter knife or a skewer, gently swirl the peanut butter through the chocolate batter to create beautiful marbled patterns. Be mindful not to overswirl, as you want distinct streaks of peanut butter! Finally, sprinkle your reserved chopped peanut butter cups over the swirled top. Bake in an oven preheated to 350°Fahrenheit (175°Celsius) for 25-30 minutes. The brownies are ready when the top has a lovely crackled appearance and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, but not wet batter. Allow them to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before attempting to remove and cut them for the cleanest slices.

Expert Tips & Tricks for Perfect Fudgy Brownies

Achieving bakery-quality fudgy brownies with that perfect peanut butter swirl is easy with these insider tips:

• Avoid Overbaking at All Costs: This is perhaps the most critical rule for achieving truly fudgy brownies! Overbaking is the arch-nemesis of a chewy, gooey texture, inevitably leading to dry, crumbly results. Keep a close eye on your oven; it’s always better to slightly underbake these brownies. They will continue to “set” and firm up in the hot pan even after you’ve removed them from the oven, resulting in that desirable moist and dense interior. Look for a crackly top and a toothpick with a few moist crumbs, not wet batter.
• Master the Swirl – Don’t Overdo It: When it comes to adding that beautiful peanut butter swirl, less is often more. After dolloping the melted peanut butter mixture onto your brownie batter, use a butter knife or a skewer to gently create swirls. Make just a few elegant passes through the batter. Swirling too much will cause the peanut butter to fully incorporate into the chocolate, and you’ll lose those distinct, eye-catching peanut butter ribbons that make these brownies so appealing.
• Patience is a Virtue: Cool Completely: We know the anticipation is almost unbearable when the aroma of fresh chocolate peanut butter brownies fills your kitchen! However, resisting the urge to cut into them while they’re still warm is paramount. Allowing the brownies to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack not only ensures they firm up properly for that signature fudgy texture but also makes them significantly easier to cut into clean, perfect squares. Warm brownies tend to be too soft and crumbly to slice neatly.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Always ensure your eggs and egg yolk are at room temperature. This helps them incorporate more easily and evenly into the batter, preventing curdling and contributing to a smoother, more uniform texture in the final brownie.
• Don’t Skimp on Quality Chocolate: Since chocolate is a star ingredient, using a good quality dark chocolate (around 60-70% cocoa solids) and a Dutch-processed cocoa powder will make a noticeable difference in the depth and richness of your brownies.

Recipe FAQs for Peanut Butter Brownies

If you’ve had the pleasure of making this incredible recipe, please don’t hesitate to leave a ⭐️ rating and a thoughtful review below! I absolutely adore seeing your culinary creations, so remember to tag me on Instagram @alpineella so I can admire what you’ve baked! You can also stay connected and discover more delicious recipes by following along on Pinterest, Facebook, and TikTok!

Brownies with Peanut Butter Cups: Fudgy & Irresistible

Ella Gilbert

Nutrition