Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies: These homemade fudgy brownies are covered with not one but two layers of icing (a peanut butter layer and a chocolate layer)! This is the ultimate treat for peanut butter lovers and chocolate lovers!

So many love these no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars and this peanut butter pie, so I knew you’d also love these delicious brownies!

What you’ll love about these

What’s NOT to love about these chocolate peanut butter brownies with cocoa powder? These chewy brownies are moist and fudgy, the peanut butter layer is creamy and perfectly sweet, and it’s topped with more chocolate! This is the perfect dessert for chocolate lovers and peanut butter lovers (the Reese’s pieces/peanut butter cup fans in the crowd will LOVE this one).

If you don’t have time to make these fudgy homemade brownies from scratch, check out the substitutions and variations section of this post below for a time-saving tip!

Jump to:

• What you’ll love about these
• Ingredients for peanut butter chocolate brownies
• How to make this gooey peanut butter brownie
• Substitutions & Variations
• Storage
• Expert Tips and FAQs
• Related Recipes
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

Ingredients for peanut butter chocolate brownies

Although there are a few more ingredients in these easy chocolate peanut butter brownies than traditional brownies, none of them are fancy or hard to find and it’s SOOOO worth it.

You will be able to get everything you need at your local grocery store (and if you are looking for a way to simplify this recipe, check out the substitutions and variations section of this blog post)!

Fudgy Brownie Base Layer

• 2 cups granulated sugar 
• 1 cup salted butter melted
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt

Peanut Butter Layer

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup salted butter softened
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons milk or cream

Chocolate Layer

• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup butter sliced into 1 tablespoon pieces
• 1 tablespoon milk

See the printable recipe card below for quantities and step-by-step instructions.

How to make this gooey peanut butter brownie

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark, nonstick pan). Grease bottom of 13×9-inch pan. 

Brownie Directions

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl and using a hand held mixer, combine the sugar, melted butter, cocoa powder, and vanilla; mix well. 

3. Add the large eggs and beat well. 

4. Add in flour and salt; mix until just combined. 

5. Spread evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.

Peanut Butter Layer Directions

6. In a medium bowl, beat powdered sugar, butter, peanut butter, and milk with an electric mixer on medium speed, scraping occasionally. Do this for about 2 minutes or until smooth and fluffy.

7. Spread filling in an even layer over top of the brownies. 

Chocolate Layer Directions

8. Place chocolate chips and sliced butter into a medium microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on high for 30 seconds and then stir. 

9. Keep microwaving in 30 second increments until the chocolate chips are completely melted. If the chocolate seems too buttery at first, keep stirring until it’s smooth and well combined. 
10. Cool for 10 minutes. 
11. Add the 1 tablespoon of milk to the chocolate and mix well. Consistency should be easily spreadable.

12. Spread over the peanut butter filling. 

13. Cover and refrigerate for about 30 minutes or until chocolate is set. 
14. Cut into squares and serve with a glass of milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Substitutions & Variations

If you need to make some changes to this recipe, here are a few suggestions I have for substitutions and variations!

• Looking for a more fudgy brownie? Substitute brown sugar instead of the white sugar! This will affect the texture of the brownies a bit and will make them a bit softer, more moist and extra fudgy.
• Chunky peanut butter – If you like nuts in your brownies, you can use chunky peanut butter instead of creamy! I wouldn’t recommend using natural peanut butter though as it is a bit too soft for this recipe.
• Switch chocolates – Instead of using semi-sweet chocolate chips for the chocolate layer, try using white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or even peanut butter chips!
• Need to make this recipe faster? Instead of making your brownies from scratch, you can use 1 family sized box mix of fudge brownies. Prepare the brownies as directed on the box and let them cool completely before moving on to the next step.
• Cut it in half – If you don’t need to make a full 9×13 pan of brownies, you can cut this recipe in half and make it in an 8×8 pan instead! Bake your square baking pan of brownies for 25 – 30 minutes.

Storage

Store your chocolate peanut butter brownies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Can you freeze brownies?

Normally, this is an absolute yes!(Frozen brownies are delicious, even straight out of the freezer)

I haven’t tried freezing these peanut butter brownies, but I do think that they would freeze very nicely! If it were me, I would slice the chilled brownie and then wrap each piece in plastic wrap and put them in an airtight freezer bag to freeze. They should keep this way for 1-3 months!

Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a review below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!

Related Recipes

If you liked this peanut butter brownie recipe, then you should definitely try our peanut butter banana brownies (trust us, banana in brownies is so good) and our quick & easy brownie mix cookies!