Peanut Butter Chunk Chocolate Brownies

Take your homemade brownie game to a whole new level with these rich, chocolatey, double peanut butter brownies. Chunks of peanut butter are added to the brownie batter before baking, and then the brownie batter is finished with a peanut butter swirl on top for a marbled effect. Each bite into a brownie square is chocolate-peanut butter heaven!

Hi hi! Just popping in to share this recipe for Peanut Butter Brownies! I am still working on a huge homemade brownie recipe collection, and keep finding fun things to add to it!

This peanut butter brownies recipe is another twist on my classic fudgy brownie recipe - this time I added a whole bunch of peanut butter. The result is a super rich chocolate brownie, filled with chunks of peanut butter, and finished with a peanut butter swirl.

I love adding peanut butter to recipes - especially in the case of these brownies, it adds a super nice twist while being a really really easy variation.

How to make Peanut Butter Brownies

These peanut butter brownies are a great make ahead dessert - they need some time to cool down before serving to allow the peanut butter to set, however I don't blame you if you just grab a spoon and go for it. They are particularly good with ice cream. This recipe makes about 16 brownie squares, which are great for freezing for later, but will also keep for a week in the fridge.

The baking part however is super easy:

1. Make the brownie mixture. This is a scaled down version of my classic brownie recipe, with peanut butter chunks added.
2. Add the peanut butter. The peanut butter is added in two additions in this recipe - peanut butter chunks added to the brownie go in first, on top of the brownie batter in the pan. They will sink down slightly as they bake.
3. Cover over the peanut butter chunks. Use an offset spatula or something similar to cover over the pieces of peanut butter. This gives you a fairly smooth surface to do your peanut butter swirl.
4. Add the peanut butter swirl. The easiest way to do this is to dollop warmed peanut butter over the surface of the brownie, then swirl with a knife or a toothpick.
5. Bake. Bake the brownie until the edges are set and the inside is no longer gooey.
6. Cool. Leave the brownie to cool completely before removing from the pan and slicing. I like to chill it down too before I do this so that it cuts neatly.

How to add Peanut Butter to Brownies

I tried a few different ways to add peanut butter to this brownie recipe when I was testing - the first was to just add a swirl of peanut butter on the top. However I wanted a super intense peanut butter flavor rather than just a swirl.

The next test was to try freezing blobs of peanut butter and incorporating them into the dough. This turned out to be way more effort than was needed.

I then tried heating the peanut butter slightly and placing it into a piping bag and injecting blobs of it into the brownie batter. This worked ok, but was still too much effort and if the peanut butter was too runny, then it went everywhere and made a massive mess.

Finally, I worked out the best way - use room temperature peanut butter, and pipe it in or dollop it on with a spoon. I actually ended up putting it in a piping bag and using kitchen scissors to cut off chunks. It worked great!

For the peanut butter swirl, I just warmed up a little bit of peanut butter in the microwave and then dolloped it on top of the batter before swirling. If you don't have a microwave you could place it into a heatproof bowl and warm it over a pan of simmering water until it is runny.

What kind of peanut butter is best for peanut butter brownies?

I prefer a creamy peanut butter for peanut butter brownies, but you can really use whatever you like here - if you want to use a crunchy variety then go ahead!

I used a non-natural variety of peanut butter - so one that does not get oil separation within the jar, as I find that this version is easiest to deal with. I have not tried making it with natural peanut butter, but you are welcome to try.

Here are all my top tips on how to cut brownies cleanly:

• Wait until they are cool. Even better, give them a wee spin in the fridge before you cut them.
• Use a nice, sharp chef's knife. This is important. If you want, you can run it under hot water and dry it before you cut it, so you have a hot, dry knife
• Wipe the blade between cuts. This is important for things like brownies which are fudgy. A clean blade will give you the best chance at a super clean cut on a brownie.
• If it all gets wonky and messy, don't worry. They will still taste good. I've been all set to shoot a recipe and cut my brownies wonky and had a meltdown - i've been there I promise. We still ate them.

How to tell when brownies are done

The best way to tell when brownies are done is to check if they are set. Baked brownies will be set around the edges, and if you insert a knife or skewer into the centre (not into a piece of peanut butter), it should come out with a few moist crumbs attached.

With that being said, you are best to under bake your brownies rather than over bake them if you can. I like to chill mine down before cutting into them which makes them even fudgier.

For all my best tips and tricks on how to get a perfect crinkly top on brownies, check out my post: Fudgy Homemade Brownies

Can Brownies be made ahead of time?

Yes, this peanut butter brownie recipe is the perfect make ahead dessert. In fact, I prefer to make my brownies ahead of time in order to give them time to properly cool before slicing them.

If you want extra fudgy brownies, once cool, lightly cover the baking pan in plastic wrap and chill for a few hours or up to overnight. Cold brownies are my favourite.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tools and equipment do you use?
You can find a full list of the tools and equipment I use on my products page

How do you store Peanut Butter Brownies?

Store peanut butter brownies in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge. They will keep a few days at room temperature and up to a week in the fridge.

Can you freeze Peanut Butter Brownies?

Yes, brownie recipes freeze well. Place them into an airtight container in the freezer. They will freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge or at room temperature before eating.

Can I add chocolate chips?
You can do whatever you like here. Add some nuts or some chocolate chips - whatever takes your fancy.

For more Brownie Recipes, check out:

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