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Peanut Butter Brownie Recipe: Easy Peanut Butter Brownies

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Sep 5, 2022 • 3 min read

Try a spin on a traditional chocolate brownie recipe if you're a peanut butter lover. Discover a peanut butter brownie recipe for flavorful, chewy brownies.

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What Are Peanut Butter Brownies?

Peanut butter brownies are a variation of the standard dessert recipe that features the nut butter as a primary ingredient. Add peanut butter to your homemade brownies to create a chewy, salty, and sweet dessert with a flavor that mimics a classic peanut butter cup.

4 Ways to Add Peanut Butter to Brownies

There are various ways to make these nutty, fudgy brownies. Here are four methods to turn chocolate brownies into chocolate peanut butter brownies:

  1. 1. Add peanut butter chips to the brownies: You can mix peanut butter chips into the brownie batter to create a fudgy texture. To suspend the peanut butter chips in the brownies and prevent them from sinking to the bottom, toss the peanut butter chips with some flour before stirring them into the brownie batter.
  2. 2. Layer a peanut butter filling: To make brownies with a peanut butter center, spread half of the brownie mix in an even layer in a baking dish. Then add dollops of peanut butter, spreading it out as much as possible. Top the peanut butter with the remaining half of the brownie batter and spread it out to cover the peanut butter.
  3. 3. Swirl peanut butter into the brownie batter: Take a scoop of emulsified or natural peanut butter and use a spoon or skewer to swirl dollops of the peanut butter into your brownie batter. Ensure the tip of the skewer touches the bottom of the baking pan, so the peanut butter swirl goes through the batter instead of sitting on top of the brownies.
  4. 4. Top your brownies with a peanut butter frosting: To make a rich topping to complement the moist crumb of the brownies, whip room temperature unsalted butter, creamy peanut butter, powdered sugar, and whole milk together. Let the brownies cool in the baking pan before spreading the frosting on top.

Peanut Butter Brownie Recipe

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2 Ratings | Rate Now

makes

9 brownies

prep time

20 min

total time

45 min

cook time

25 min

Ingredients

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. 2

    Grease an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper.

  3. 3

    In a medium bowl, add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt, then set these dry ingredients aside.

  4. 4

    In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and chocolate chips.

  5. 5

    In a large bowl, mix the chocolate and melted butter with the unsweetened cocoa powder.

  6. 6

    Whisk the brown sugar and granulated sugar with the butter mixture until it’s light and fluffy.

  7. 7

    Whisk the eggs in one at a time.

  8. 8

    Add the vanilla extract.

  9. 9

    With a wooden spoon, mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, and salt) into the wet ingredients.

  10. 10

    Pour the brownie mix into the prepared pan.

  11. 11

    Dollop the peanut butter onto the brownie mix.

  12. 12

    With a toothpick or wooden skewer, swirl the peanut butter into the brownies, touching the skewer to the bottom of the pan and moving it from edge to edge.

  13. 13

    Bake the brownies for 25 minutes or until you can stick a knife or toothpick in the center and it comes out clean.

  14. 14

    Cool the brownies in the pan for 20 minutes, then lift them out of the pan with the parchment paper

  15. 15

    Cut the brownies into 9 equal pieces.

  16. 16

    Serve the brownies immediately or store them in an airtight container.

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