Attention all peanut butter lovers!
Last week, I shared my favorite chewy brownies recipe. My hungry fiancé and friends asked for them again (they’re that good), so today I bring you chewy fudgy homemade brownies, peanut butter style. They are like eating a peanut butter egg in brownie form.
These brownies will blow your chocolate and peanut butter loving mind.
The idea is quite simple. Make my ultra fudgy homemade brownies. Stuff them with a peanut butter cup filling of sorts and top with… you guessed it… more peanut butter and chocolate. Sip a healthy smoothie as you go and then put on your fat pants. Prepare to overindulge; it’s amazing.
I explain quite a bit of science behind making perfect homemade brownies. Learn all about the chocolate to sugar to flour to egg ratio, and why each ingredient is so important. You can’t really bake my homemade brownies without a little background knowledge. After all, baking is like chemistry. Delicious chemistry.
Let’s discuss the peanut butter filling. It’s basically the same peanut butter filling that I use to make my Chocolate Covered Pretzel Peanut Butter Bites. It’s a very, very thick filling – like a crumbly cookie dough. You’re going to grab chunks of it, flatten them out, and layer on top of brownie batter. It doesn’t have to be pretty. Mine certainly isn’t!
Then, top the peanut butter layer with the rest of the brownie batter. And press a few chocolate and peanut butter chips on top.
Here’s a little visual:
The brownies take about 35-38 minutes, or longer depending on your oven. Sometimes mine take 35 minutes, other times 40. My oven is full of surprises. Just keep your eye on them after 30 minutes; a toothpick inserted in the center should come out with only a few moist crumbs. That’s when you know they are done.
Waiting for the brownies to fully cool will feel like a lifetime.
The brownie layer is fudgy and chewy, while the peanut butter layer is soft and dense. Kevin and I both thought the peanut butter filling was reminiscent of a Reese’s peanut butter cup filling. Readers say the same about these peanut butter cookies and peanut butter filled brownie cookies, too! Yes, these brownies are basically a giant pan of Reese’s cups.
Need I say more?
These insane brownies should really come with a warning label!
Print
Peanut Butter Stuffed Brownies
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Yield: 16-20 brownies
- Category: Brownies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Chewy, fudgy homemade chocolate brownies stuffed with a peanut butter filling and topped with peanut butter and chocolate chips. If you like peanut butter cups, you’ll love these!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (115g) salted butter*
- 8 ounces (228g) coarsely chopped quality semi-sweet chocolate*
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) packed light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons (79g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)
- 2 Tablespoons (10g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Peanut Butter Filling
- 3/4 cup (185g) creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup (120g) confectioners’ sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons (30ml) milk
- 2 Tablespoons each chocolate chips and peanut butter chips
Instructions
- Melt the butter and chopped chocolate in a medium saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes. Or melt in a medium microwave safe bowl in 20 second increments, stirring after each, in the microwave. Remove from the heat, pour into a large mixing bowl, and allow to slightly cool for 10 minutes.
- While the chocolate mixture is cooling, make the peanut butter filling. In a medium bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the peanut butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and milk together on medium-high speed until combined. The mixture will be very thick – like a crumbly cookie dough. Set aside.
- Adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line the bottom and sides of a 9×9 inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhand on all sides. Set aside.
- Whisk the granulated and brown sugars into the cooled chocolate/butter mixture. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking until smooth after each addition. Whisk in the vanilla. Gently fold in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
- Pour/spread half of the brownie batter into the prepared baking pan. Take large chunks of the peanut butter filling and flatten with your hands. Place flat pieces in an even layer on top of the brownie layer, as shown in the photo above. Pour/spread the remaining brownie batter on top. Top with the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Using the back of a spatula, gently press the chips into the brownie batter.
- Bake for 35-36 minutes or until the brownies begin to pull away from the edges of the pan. (The brownies may slightly crack in the center – that’s because air in between the peanut butter layers is trying to escape. That’s normal!) A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with only a few moist crumbs when the brownies are done. All ovens are different, so keep an eye on them after 30 minutes and use the toothpick test to see when yours are finished.
- Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack. Once cooled, lift the foil out of the pan using the overhang on the sides and cut into squares. For neat squares, I use a very sharp knife and wipe it clean with a paper towel after each cut.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: Brownies stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week. You can freeze the brownies for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
- Butter: I love to use salted butter here. If you choose to use unsalted, don’t increase the salt in the recipe. I find that there is no noticeable taste difference between using salted and unsalted butter in this particular recipe.
- Chocolate: I typically use Baker’s, Ghirardelli, or Trader Joes chocolate.
Keywords: chocolate peanut butter brownies, peanut butter stuffed brownies
Hey! Can you clarify the butter quantity? The # of cups and corresponding grams don’t align…
Hi Liz, Use 1/2 cup (one stick) of butter. Enjoy!
Absolutely amazing! The recipe is perfect as is. My oven runs slightly cool, and these were perfection in 35 minutes. FUDGY goodness. Hubby couldn’t resist cutting them before cooling . Thanks for another winner!
★★★★★
Can you use sugar substitute and sugar free chips and get the same results
I need to know if they are really thick using the smaller pan or would it be better to use a 9×13 or 9×12 pan
Hi Linda, a 9×9 pan is best for this recipe as written (the thickness of the brownies in the pictures is from baking in a 9×9 pan). If you use a 9×13 pan, we recommend doubling the recipe. They’ll be about the same thickness, if not a bit thicker.
Wow!!! Made these yesterday – I’m in peanut butter chocolate heaven! They are rich and delicious! Adding this recipe to my list of “Make at least once a month”!
I just saw you can double the recipe and use a 9×13 pan – now I’m in big trouble!!
Thanks to everyone at Sally’s!! You rock!
★★★★★
Looks yummy! But a nine inch pan won’t cut it with the brownie monsters in my family. Does the recipe double ok? Thanks!
Hi Marilynn! You can double the recipe for a 9×13 pan. While yielding a larger amount, the brownies will also be taller. When baking a larger batch, we find the texture and taste is not compromised. Enjoy!
Oh my! Rich, decadent, bursting with peanut butter and chocolate flavor. Very easy to make and turns out beautifully with w very bake. Do yourself a favor and double the batch. You won’t be sorry.
★★★★★
I wanted to confirm what it meant when you mention to out the rack on the lower third? Do you mean the lowest rack? Or second last one? Please specify for me. Thank you !
Hi Raman, it depends on how the racks in your oven are set up. You want the oven rack to be in the lower third section of your oven. Towards the bottom, but not the very bottom. Hope this helps!
I followed the instruction to a T (Jif regular peanut butter) and also found my filling to be too creamy at first, much like others who have commented. I had to add about 1/2 cup more of powdered sugar to get it to the crumbly consistency. Other than that, they turned out beautifully!
★★★★
It seemed like these would be too sweet for me as is, so I reduced the sugar in the filling to 3/4th cup (and left out the milk to compensate) and used bittersweet instead of semi sweet chocolate for the brownies. It was delicious and baked very well. I think even 1/2 c powder sugar would be enough for the filling, if I make them again.
★★★★★
Made these last night. They came out perfect. So delicious. Your directions were spot on. I checked them at 30 minutes and they needed more time. It took 40 minutes total in my oven. I used parchment paper instead of foil. This recipe is now written on a card in my recipe box; which means it’s a keeper. Thank you!
★★★★★
My kids really enjoyed these. The peanut butter part of the recipe is incorrect. I don’t see how you can get a crumble mix with the listed ingredients. I used regular Jif creamy peanut butter. We added more confectioners sugar to make the peanut butter mixture more crumbly before baking. It was very creamy and in no way crumbly before this. If I would have read the comments first I would have tried leaving out the milk. We love this blog!! Thanks for great recipes!!
★★★
Texture was perfect however didn’t not find them sweet. Perhaps because I use natural peanut butter. We don’t typically like overalls sweet, but these were almost tasteless.
None of us cared to actually ahve a piece each…including my kids.
★★
These are awesome! Followed the recipe 100%. Came out moist, delicious and just what I needed for a pick me up. Thanks!!!
★★★★★
Would give this zero stars if I could. I put this recipe in for 90 minutes and it was still raw. 30 of those were at 425. A supreme waste of time and effort.
★★
I made these today for a family get together. They were done in 30 minutes, perfectly baked and yummy!!
★★★★★
Sally,
Just wanted to share with you that I made this great recipe for my cafe, and the public (and my oldest friend) could not stop raving (or eating) these wonderful brownies. It took great restraint to not tell customers that this was my recipe, as most of what I produced were my own creations.
Our from-scratch breakfast/cafe/ bakery was named best in Connecticut last year by Taste of Home Magazine, and your brownies helped us achvieve that award. Thanks!
Justin Koelsch
The Faraway Cafe
★★★★★
I recently discovered these as I wanted to bake my husband his favourite peanut butter chocolate combo for Valentines Day – and they are sensational! I did not need to change a thing in the recipe, though my cooking time required was only 20mins … I am now making them a third time. Sally – your site is a godsend!
★★★★★
I made these this morning and when I was preparing the peanut butter filling, my mixture was not the least bit crumbly. It was like very thick and sticky peanut butter, definitely not manageable by hand. I compared your recipe with your recipe for chocolate covered PB pretzel bites (since you referred to them being almost the same) and noticed there was also brown sugar in the mixture. So I added some brown sugar and the mixture became at least thick enough to hand lay it in the pan. Not sure how it will turn out. What did I do or read wrong?
What type of peanut butter were you using? For baking a thick, non-natural creamy peanut butter is preferred. Natural style peanut butters usually contain too much oil. I recommend Jif or Skippy.
Something in your recipe is wrong in the peanut butter filling. I bake a lot and tried to make these today. It’s impossible to get a crumbly mix with the listed ingredients. I did NOT use natural peanut either
Hi Smith, the 1 cup of confectioners’ sugar helps to create a crumbly dough out of the peanut butter. Is yours too creamy? If so, you can try reducing the milk.
I’m making these a second time now. The best brownie I’ve ever tasted. These brownies could win a contest. Thanks Sally for this recipe and all your other delicious recipes!
These look amazing! They’re inspiring me to try a version using this hazelnut spread I found, its similar to Nutella but no chocolate, just hazelnut it’s delicious I’ve only found it in my shoprite, it’s their store brand. I have no idea what its comparable to. I’m so afraid to try it though, just in case it melts into the brownie, rather than making a layer like the gorgeous layer in yours! Any thoughts?!
Hi Erika! The Nutella should work just fine since you’ll mix it with a couple other ingredients for the “stuffing” layer. It will likely melt a little bit (the peanut butter layer usually does), but you’ll still notice a distinct layer.
My daughter wanted to bake something up the other day, so she found this recipe on pinterest and we set out to make them! We did not have any bakers semi-sweet chocolate, so used milk chocolate chips instead without any issue (I’m sure the flavor would have been brighter with the semi-sweet). Turned out super tasty and fudgy! YUM! Thanks for a great recipe!
OMG! If I could’ve gotten my son and husband to stop stealing pieces while they were cooling I probably would have had three or four more brownies 🙂 My peanut butter layer was uneven so I was skeptical about how they’d turn out, but they are perfect – delicious and look amazing. I am bringing them to a NYE party tonight and I’m sure they will be a hit. Thank you for the recipe!
I was so excited to try this recipe, but sadly it was an epic fail. I only had an 8 x 8 pan and cooked them for at least an hour but they still weren’t done. Then the aluminum foil kept sticking. Normally, your recipes are pure gold, but this one ended up going directly in the trash for me.
I strongly suggest a larger pan if you ever want to try them again. Thanks for reporting back!
So, basically, you didn’t follow the instructions, yet post “the recipe” as an epic failure? Since so many others love it, followed the directions and deemed it successful, clearly the failure was due to user error, “YOURS.”
do you spray the foil with non stick spray?
I do not.
i made them and they’re incredible!
As a real peanutbutter chocolate lover, i think i will use 1 full cup of peanutbutter for the filling next time, so the layer will be a bit thicker.
And Sally was right: 30 minutes and they were ready. I may take them out 1 minute earlier next time, so the brownies will be a little fudgier.
Thanks Sally!
Just took these to a potluck birthday party and they were the hit of the night. Fantastic recipe. For those of you with oven/burning concerns, get to know your oven! I live in Hong Kong, where the kitchens are tiny. I bake in a little 14″x18″ oven, which means everything burns on the edges, bottom, and top if I use a recipe’s suggested temps and times. Sooo, I adapted. You can too. I bake things at a lower temp than suggested and I cover with foil or move the rack to the middle partway through baking. These brownies turned out great. If I can be successful baking these in my oven, you can definitely make them work in the states – just figure out your oven.
I have made these twice, for a company picnic and for my husband’s work. Each time they were gobbled up! Thank you for posting such a great recipe, these are delicious!
Hello! I made these last night for a baking competition at an event I was at today and they ended up winning. Thanks for a delicious recipe. I used crunchy peanut butter and the texture was great as it gave a little bite amongst the fudgy goodness.
I’ll be making these again and I’m also going to have a go at trying a Nutella version.