Peanut Butter Brownies Recipe (2024)

Recipe from Joanna Gaines

Adapted by Julia Moskin

Peanut Butter Brownies Recipe (1)

Total Time
45 minutes, plus cooling and freezing
Rating
4(1,678)
Notes
Read community notes

Joanna Gaines of Magnolia Table in Waco, Texas, developed this recipe for a layered treat that combines the best of a brownie, a candy bar and an ice cream sandwich. The fudgy texture of brownies makes a perfect base for peanut butter and a fluffy chocolate topping. You can use a different chocolate frosting or glaze for the top layer, depending on what ingredients you have on hand. —Julia Moskin

Featured in: For Joanna Gaines, Home Is the Heart of a Food and Design Empire

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Ingredients

Yield:24 servings (1 9-by-13-inch baking pan)

    For the Brownies

    • Cooking spray
    • 1cup/225 grams unsalted butter (2 sticks)
    • cup/30 grams unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 2cups/400 grams granulated sugar
    • cups/190 grams all-purpose flour
    • ½teaspoon kosher salt
    • 4large eggs
    • 1teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    For the Topping

    • 1(16-ounce/455 gram) jar creamy peanut butter

    For the Frosting

    • ½cup/115 grams unsalted butter (1 stick)
    • 10large marshmallows (about 65 grams)
    • 4cups/500 grams confectioners’ sugar
    • cup/80 milliliters whole milk
    • ¼cup/25 grams unsweetened cocoa powder

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (24 servings)

427 calories; 23 grams fat; 10 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 52 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 41 grams sugars; 7 grams protein; 61 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Peanut Butter Brownies Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Prepare the brownies: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9-by-13-inch pan lightly with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the two long sides.

  2. Step

    2

    In a small saucepan, heat the butter and cocoa over low heat until the butter melts, about 5 minutes. Whisk to combine then set aside to cool, 5 minutes.

  3. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the granulated sugar, flour and salt. Add the butter mixture and beat on medium speed until well blended, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the eggs one by one, incorporating each before adding the next, then add the vanilla and mix until combined.

  4. Step

    4

    Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared pan. Bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs, 20 to 25 minutes.

  5. Step

    5

    Let the brownies cool completely, about 30 minutes.

  6. Step

    6

    Prepare the topping: Add the peanut butter to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until softened, about 15 seconds. Stir it well to distribute heat evenly then spread it in an even layer on top of the brownies. Freeze the brownies for at least 30 minutes.

  7. Step

    7

    Prepare the frosting: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and marshmallows over medium heat, stirring often, until both are melted and no lumps remain, about 5 minutes. Add the confectioners’ sugar, milk and cocoa, and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes.

  8. Step

    8

    Spread the frosting over the peanut butter layer and freeze for 30 minutes.

  9. Step

    9

    Remove the brownies from the pan: First, cut the brownies away from the pan edge on both short sides, then lift them out using the parchment paper handles. Cut into 24 squares. Keep refrigerated.

Ratings

4

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1,678

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

BB

My mother always added a blob of marshmallow fluff to her chocolate icing and fudge, and now I do. It does something to hugely improve the texture, and if you go easy on the powdered sugar, is not too sweet. I usually eschew weird processed additions, but this one does help a lot.

VT

I have been making this recipe since I found it in the 1992 Southern Living as Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies.Absolutely the best recipe! Only difference is the original recipe calls for a 12 oz jar of chunky peanut butter. It’s a personal preference as both are good. Just don’t overcook the bottom layer. These brownies can be made a week ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Best eaten at room temperature. They also freeze beautifully.

Janet H.

Looked through the 16 comments for useful tips from people who actually made the recipie (isnt that what the notes are supposed to be for?), found two from people that made the recipie. Still no flour at pandemic-streiken grocerystores here, but found brownie mix. Made the brownie section according to the mix, then made the peanut butter layer and forståing as directed in the recipie. Marshmallows did fluff up the frosting nicely. Peanut butter layer easy and salty-good. Wonderful!

Jess

The photo looks amazing but the marshmallows are giving me pause. Can anyone say more about the taste and texture of the frosting? Thanks!

Jane Wilstern

This tastes great! I did cut down on the sugar and definitely used the marshmallows - Jess sometimes we just have to throw our preconceived marshmellow worries out the kitchen door! A big hit with the family-

Lauren Paul

These were -- not to put too fine a point on it -- bad. I had two tiny squares after they were done and immediately felt sick. The underlying brownies were dry, crumbly and tasteless. The peanut butter and not-so-chocolatey frosting were terribly rich. I'm sad I wasted the ingredients.

Kate

Regarding marshmallow... I add it to my basic buttercream frosting. We have a family recipe that uses it as a whoopie pie filling, and I pirated it to use on cakes and, especially, cupcakes. It gives a wonderful texture. Being a New Englander, it has to be Marshmallow Fluff. I think the marshmallows in this would add a similar texture boost.

Hilary

This recipe was disappointing- cloyingly sweet and the texture of the brownie was dismaying. If you want a perfect brownie I’d stick with Mark Bittman’s recipe.

Brenda

This looks interesting. Would vegan marshmallows be ok for the frosting? My grandkids are vegetarian and I don't use marshmallows with gelatin.

Jeanette

Made these brownies last night. The balance between the layers are nice. The actual brownies are not super sweet with the 2 cups of sugar but the frosting is very sweet with the 4 cups. Cooked very quickly, 25 minutes was way too long. These brownies have a different chewy, since they are refrigerated. If you’re looking for a fudge-like texture, these are not for you. Just one piece a day for these brownies though! Calories are probably off the charts!

Liz

Jess, it looks like the marshmallows act like a shortcut of a meringue base and create a frosting to hold its shape. I'm game to try the recipe but will cut back on sugar in the brownies. 2 cups seems like a lot when there's just 1 1/2 cups of flour.

Wendy A

I admit I don't have strong feelings about brownies, but I think a lot of the complaints about both the texture of the brownie ("too fudgy") and the sweetness of the frosting are resolved by serving the brownies at room temp. Even refrigerating them congeals the butter in the brownie, making them fudgy, neutralizes the peanut butter flavor & gooeyness, and crystallizes the sugar in the frosting, making it painfully sweet. Try them at room temp.

Lauren Paul

To me, it's the sweetness (the flavor) that is the problem, not so much the actual sugar. If I were you, I would cut back on the sugar as others have done, rather than add something else that tastes sweet.

Pat philipps

The brownie party of this dessert is awful. To cut the sugar, I sprinkled flaky sea salt on both the Brunei’s and the chocolate coating to help with the sugar high.

lisa

@Jess if you’ve ever made Rice Krispie treats, the concept is the same. Melt the marshmallow and butter, add the other icing ingredients and whisk away. Try it! Will not be difficult and will be tasty, no matter what. Let us know how it worked for you.

Deborah

This brownie base is excellent for ice cream sundae w cocoa (chocolate) sauce- 1/2 cup CP 1 cup sugar 1/2. cup water; heat to simmer over med heat until thick smooth and slow bubbling for 10 minutes then add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of vanilla and pinch of salt.

lee D

Ever since the pandemic, these have been in my baking library — good for parties, great to make ahead, always a crowd pleaser.I add 1/4 cup less sugar to the brownies and don’t use heavy sweetened peanut butter. I don’t add salt and I use salted butter — a keeper!

Erinbk

Loved the peanut butter and fudgey topping layer, but the brownies weren’t quite chocolatey enough. I would make again but use a different cakey brownie for the bottom layer. I do think it needs to be a cakey-type brownie rather than a fudgey brownie (which I otherwise prefer) for this particular recipe.

V

We had high hopes for this recipe being chocolate peanut butter combo lovers here, but we were sorely disappointed. So disappointed that we threw out the whole batch after each having one bc they weren’t even remotely worth the calories in our opinion. The brownie was a spongey texture that wasn’t sweet enough, and the frosting was way overly sweet. Somehow these two things did not balance each other out. A miss for us.

aga

I cut on sugar. 200g for the brownies, 150g for the frosting as it was already sweet enough. That way I could actually taste cacao :)

Cat Lady

I made this with almond flour and didn't have any marshmallows, so I used the NYT chocolate buttercream recipe. I cut the sugar in the brownies in half and made a half-recipe in an 8x8 pan. I still used the amount of cocoa powder called for in the whole recipe--1/3 cup. They were delicious! Everyone loved them.

Barbara

Everyone who tries these loves them! One friend even called me the next day to see if I had any left over that she could have. :D Chewy brownie layer with a thick, creamy frosting yumminess. Very sweet, though, so I cut them in pretty small pieces. They freeze well too. Just freeze in a single layer and then stacked with parchment in between.

thatsnotmyname

Don’t listen to any of the haters. It’s a gooey, delicious, mess and you deserve it.

Vanessa

I made this for my husband’s birthday a few months ago and it was a big hit, though I could have used more time to chill it. The brownies are extremely rich and a little goes a long way. The only change I made is that I used about 1/3 the amount of confectioners sugar called for in the icing - mostly bc we didn’t have enough but I also didn’t want it to be too sweet. That may have affected the texture & explained why the icing didn’t set as well, but the taste was perfect.

elizabeth in Colorado

Followed the directions exactly and they were a total hit. My kids gave them a 10/10.

Abbey

Waaaaaay too sweet. I even cut some of the sugar in half and it was intolerable. I took them in to work and they did not get eaten.

Ally O

The photo enticed me, but as previously mentioned, this recipe was a letdown. The brownie was fudge-like--or would be considered fudge-like with a higher cocoa content. Due to limited confectioner's sugar, I used half the quantity listed. This meant that my bars were not quite as sweet as everyone else's, and the frosting consistency wasn't quite right. My frosting was more of a glaze. Should I have whipped it in mixer instead of hand whisking? Flavors and layer consistency were disappointing.

Angela

These were ok. I won't make them again. The tip someone else gave about not overcooking the brownie layer is important. The freezer dries out that layer and if it's too done to begin with it becomes much too dry. They are much better at room temp than cold. But the taste is mostly very sweet and very peanut buttery without much chocolate flavor. If I did make again, I'd cut the peanut butter in half and leave the brownie layer very moist. I'd probably skip the second freeze step too.

WhoDey!!!

Not a fan. There are better recipes out there. This recipe sounds similar to my favorite peanut butter brownie from a local bakery, but it didn't come together well. When the brownies are allowed to warm to room temperature, the peanut butter layer is too soft to hold the frosting, and it ends up being a mess. Perhaps the PB needs to have some sugar and butter in it to help firm it up. The brownie is like a dense cake - I am ok with that texture, but it didn't have much going on flavor wise.

AshleyK

The brownies are not too sweet and are a nice foil for the sweeter toppings. I used half of the confectionary sugar and still found the chocolate topping to be cloying. I ended up drizzling the chocolate on top of the peanut butter and found that to be a good solution. Cutting the sweetness with a cream cheese or omitting the marshmallows would potentially be other options to explore if I made this again.

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Peanut Butter Brownies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you use peanut butter instead of eggs in brownie mix? ›

Using Egg Substitute for Brownies: You can pretty much use any of the substitutes listed above like bananas, apple sauce, peanut butter, flax, or chia eggs.

How to make cakey vs fudgy brownies? ›

Fudgy brownies have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cakey ones. So add more fat—in this case, butter and chocolate. A cakey batch has more flour and relies on baking powder for leavening. The amount of sugar and eggs does not change whether you're going fudgy or cakey.

Can I use peanut butter instead of oil in brownies? ›

If you love Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, peanut butter might just be the best vegetable oil substitute for you. For a lighter brownie, just about half as much peanut butter. For a chewy fudgy brownie, use just as much peanut butter as the recipe calls for vegetable oil.

Why are my brownies tough and chewy? ›

The molasses content in brown sugar is what is responsible for chewy yet soft brownies. If you don't want chewy brownies, completely keep brown sugar out of the picture. If you do want chewy brownies and it's not mentioned in your recipe, add 3-4 tbsp of brown sugar in the end for beautifully chewy brownies!

How much peanut butter to replace an egg? ›

Nut butter

Nut butter like peanut, cashew, or almond butter can also be used to substitute eggs in most recipes. To replace one egg, use 3 tbsp (60 g) of nut butter. This may affect the flavor of your finished product, and it's best used in brownies, pancakes, and cookies.

What can I substitute for 1 egg in brownie mix? ›

The best egg substitutes for brownies are yogurt, condensed milk, silken tofu, applesauce, ground flaxseeds or chia seeds (1 tablespoon per egg), banana, cornstarch or arrowroot powder (1 tablespoon per egg), aquafaba (1 tablespoon per egg), commercial egg replacer (2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons of water to replace one ...

Why did my box brownies turn out like cake? ›

The aeration agent or leavening agent as it's often called helps trap air in the batter structure and hence results in the cakey brownie style.

What happens if I add more milk to brownies? ›

Milk. Most brownie mixes call for water. While water does the job, you can add some extra flavor and moisture by mixing some of that water with something richer, like milk. If you want to swap it out completely, be prepared for a more chewy and fudge-like brownie from the extra fat.

Does cocoa powder matter in brownies? ›

And the reason wasn't just because we figured more people keep a container of cocoa powder than a stack of chocolate bars on hand. As compared to those made with just chocolate or a combination of the two, cocoa brownies are reliably superior in terms of texture and flavor.

Can I use milk instead of water in brownie mix? ›

One change is to use milk or heavy cream instead of water. This change will make brownies more moist and gooey since milk is more fatty and flavorful than water. A second change is to use butter instead of oil. For similar reasons to using milk, butter adds a rich and more decadent quality to the batter.

Can you use applesauce instead of oil in brownies? ›

- When substituting applesauce for oil in baking, the ratio is typically 1:1. So if the recipe calls for 1/4 cup of oil, use 1/4 cup of applesauce.

What does olive oil do to brownies? ›

It makes them richer, adds a fudge-like texture, and enhances the flavor of the chocolate. In addition, it's an incredible preservative, so the brownies stay moist for longer! Olive oil has been gaining popularity in recent years as a substitute for butter and other vegetable oils in baked goods.

Is melted butter or softened butter better for brownies? ›

If you want a fudgy chocolate brownie, use melted butter. For cakey brownies, beating softened butter and sugar together to create air pockets will make your brownies lighter and cakier.

What happens if you put too many eggs in brownies? ›

They give brownies a lighter, drier, and more cake-like texture. If you prefer this over the chewy variety, then go ahead and crack in that additional egg. On the other hand, too many eggs will yield brownies that are hard, heavy, and tough.

Can you overmix brownies? ›

Overmixing the ingredients can cause brownies to turn out tough or for a thin crust to form on top. Mix wet and dry ingredients just long enough to blend them, taking special care not to overbeat after the eggs are added.

Can you eat brownie batter if you don't add eggs? ›

Is it ok to eat raw brownie batter? Traditional brownie recipes have raw eggs and raw flour in them, so they are not technically safe to eat. This brownie batter is eggless and the flour is heat treated, so it is safe to eat!

What does peanut butter replace in baking? ›

Peanut butter can be substituted for butter

Let's say that you're making brownies or a cake and, right when you reach to grab a stick of butter, you find that it's all gone. But, in the cabinet next to the butter dish, is an inconspicuous jar of JIF Peanut Butter.

What can I substitute for egg in brownie mix Reddit? ›

Applesauce or flax eggs would probably both be ok.

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