Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies are so good! If you’re a peanut butter + chocolate lover like me, you’ll love the layer of brownie, swirl of peanut butter, and then a peanut butter frosting. Easy, from scratch, and perfect for a craving!

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Peanut Butter & Chocolate Desserts

I haven’t added to my chocolate + peanut butter collection in awhile, but there was a time that that was nearly all I posted. There were peanut butter balls, chocolate peanut butter eclair dessert, chocolate peanut butter buckeye cookies, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies…and many more.

I’m pretty sure brownie tops my list of favorite dessert and adding a peanut butter swirl makes them even better.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

These brownies are made with everyday ingredients. The only thing you might not have on hand are the peanut butter chips but any market (or even Target) should have them in the baking aisle, usually right next to the chocolate chips.

For the brownies:

• Butter – I use salted.
• Sugar – granulated white sugar.
• Eggs – two large eggs.
• Vanilla Extract – I know vanilla is pricey is expensive right now, but opt for real vanilla if you can. Imitation isn’t the same. I buy it in bulk at Sam’s or Costco or you can make your own.
• Cocoa Powder – unsweetened cocoa powder.
• Flour – all purpose white flour.
• Salt Baking Powder – for lift.
• Peanut Butter Chips
• Peanut Butter – I use creamy. Crunchy would switch up the texture if that’s what you’re into.
• Chocolate Chips – optional, but encouraged.

For the peanut butter frosting:

To make the peanut butter frosting, you’ll need: sugar, milk, shortening, butter, salt, vanilla, and peanut butter. I don’t always have shortening on hand, if you don’t either, you can use all butter.

TOOLS FOUND ON AMAZON TO HELP YOU:

• Mixing Bowls – my favorite with the grippy bottom.
• Silicone Spatulas – I have far too many but they always come in handy!
• Hand Mixer – I use my hand mixer way more than my stand mixer.
• 8×8 Baking Dish – I love that this one comes with a lid for storing leftovers.

HOW TO MAKE THEM

STEP ONE: Beat together the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Then add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat until combined.

STEP TWO: In another mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture until combined. Then stir in the peanut butter chips.

STEP THREE: Pour the batter into a greased 8×8 baking dish. Microwave the peanut butter to thin in then pour it over the batter and use a butter knife or skewer to gently swirl. Bake for 25 minutes at 350. Allow to cool while you’re making the frosting.

STEP FOUR: Make the frosting by combining the sugar, milk, butter, shortening, and salt to a saucepan and heating to a boil. Allow to boil for 2-3 minutes untouched. Remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter and vanilla.

STEP FIVE: Pour the frosting over the cooled brownies and scatter remaining chocolate chips over the top. Once they get melty, gently swirl them into the frosting with a butter knife or skewer. Let set for about 2 hours before slicing & serving!

MORE PEANUT BUTTER + CHOCOLATE RECIPES:

Peanut Butter Brownie Bites
Peanut Butter Cookie Cups with Chocolate Ganache
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies
Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Oreo Bon Bons

MORE BROWNIE RECIPES

Peanut Butter Brookies
Coconut Oil Dark Chocolate Brownies
Better Than Box Mix Brownies
Easy Chocolate Brownies

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Melissa Williams | Persnickety Plates

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies are so good! If you're a peanut butter + chocolate lover like me, you'll love the layer of brownie, swirl of peanut butter, and then a peanut butter frosting. Easy, from scratch, and perfect for a craving!

4.16 from 20 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Chill Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 50 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 9 servings

Calories 683 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

For the Brownies

• ½ cup butter melted
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup cocoa powder
• ½ cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup peanut butter chips
• ½ cup chocolate chips
• ½ cup peanut butter

For the Peanut Butter Frosting

• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• ½ cup milk
• 2 Tablespoons shortening
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon salt optional
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ½ cup peanut butter
• ½ cup chocolate chips optional

Instructions

 

To make the brownies

• Preheat oven to 350F & grease an 8×8 baking dish and set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until combined.
• Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat until combined.
• In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, flour, salt and baking powder.
• Beat the flour mixture into the sugar mixture and then add the peanut butter chips & chocolate chips.
• Pour the brownie batter into your prepared casserole dish.
• Add the peanut butter to a microwave safe bowl and heat for 15 seconds to thin it, then spoon over top of the brownies.
• Use a butter knife to swirl the peanut butter throughout the brownie batter.
• Bake for 25-28 minutes, until the edges of the brownies are crisp and start to pull away from the pan and an inserted toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs and no wet batter.
• Allow the brownies to cool completely before frosting.

While the brownies are cooling, prepare your peanut butter frosting.

• In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the sugar, milk, butter, shortening and salt.
• Stir constantly until the mixture reaches a boil, then allow to boil for 2-3 minutes without stirring.
• Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla and peanut butter.
• Pour the frosting over the brownies and then scatter remaining chocolate chips over the hot frosting.
• Allow the chocolate chips to melt slightly for about a minute, and then use a butter knife to swirl the chocolate chips into the frosting.
• Let set for 2 hours or overnight before cutting and serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 683kcalCarbohydrates: 79gProtein: 14gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 822mgPotassium: 320mgFiber: 4gSugar: 67gVitamin A: 475IUCalcium: 60mgIron: 2mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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