Peanut Butter Cup Brownies Recipe: The Ultimate Fudgy, Nutty Treat 🍫🥜

If you're craving the perfect mashup of rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter, these Peanut Butter Cup Brownies are your new obsession. Imagine ultra-fudgy brownies with a hidden peanut butter cup center, topped with a glossy swirl of melted chocolate and crushed candy. They're indulgent, nostalgic, and dangerously easy to make.

Whether you're baking for a party, gifting a batch, or just treating yourself, this recipe delivers bakery-level results with simple pantry ingredients. Let’s dive into what makes these brownies irresistible—and how you can master them at home.

❤️ Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

• Double the decadence: Fudgy brownie base + peanut butter cup center = dessert magic.

• Easy to make: No mixer required, just one bowl and a whisk.

• Customizable: Add toppings, switch up the candy, or go gluten-free.

• Crowd-pleasing: Perfect for bake sales, birthdays, or late-night cravings.

🧰 Baking Tools You’ll Need

Before you preheat the oven, gather these essentials:

• 8x8-inch square baking pan

• Mixing bowls (medium and large)

• Whisk

• Rubber spatula

• Measuring cups and spoons

• Offset spatula (for smooth layering)

• Wire cooling rack

• Parchment paper

🛒 Ingredients (with Brand Recommendations)

Here’s everything you need for rich, gooey peanut butter cup brownies:

Brownie Base:

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter – Land O'Lakes or Kerrygold

• ¾ cup granulated sugar – Domino or C&H

• ½ cup light brown sugar – Imperial Sugar

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• 1 tsp vanilla extract – Nielsen-Massey or McCormick

• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder – Ghirardelli or Hershey’s Special Dark

• ½ cup all-purpose flour – King Arthur or Gold Medal

• ¼ tsp salt

Peanut Butter Cup Layer:

• 12 mini peanut butter cups – Reese’s or Trader Joe’s

• ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter – Skippy or Jif

Topping (Optional but recommended):

• ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips – Guittard or Nestlé Toll House

• 2 tbsp heavy cream

• Crushed peanut butter cups or chopped peanuts for garnish

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions (with Time Breakdown)

⏱ Total Time: 45 minutes

• Prep: 15 min

• Bake: 25 min

• Cool: 5 min

Step 1: Preheat & Prep

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy lifting.

Step 2: Make the Brownie Batter

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Remove from heat and whisk in both sugars until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla, whisking until glossy.

Sift in cocoa powder, flour, and salt. Stir gently with a spatula until just combined—don’t overmix!

Step 3: Layer & Add Peanut Butter Cups

Pour half the brownie batter into the pan and spread evenly. Press mini peanut butter cups into the batter, spacing them evenly. Dollop peanut butter over each cup.

Top with remaining brownie batter and smooth the surface with an offset spatula.

Step 4: Bake

Bake for 25–28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the edge comes out with moist crumbs. The center should be slightly gooey.

Step 5: Cool & Top

Let brownies cool in the pan for 5–10 minutes. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips with heavy cream in the microwave (30 seconds, stir, repeat until smooth). Drizzle over brownies and sprinkle with crushed candy.

🧠 Expert Baking Tips

• Room temp eggs = better emulsification and fudgier texture.

• Don’t overbake: The center should look slightly underdone—carryover heat will finish the job.

• Use parchment sling: Makes lifting and slicing clean and easy.

• Chill before slicing: For perfect squares, refrigerate for 30 minutes after cooling.

🎨 Creative Variations

Want to remix your brownies? Try these twists:

1. Salted Pretzel Crunch

Add a layer of crushed pretzels between the peanut butter cups and top batter. Finish with flaky sea salt.

2. Nutella Swirl

Swap peanut butter for Nutella and swirl into the top layer before baking.

3. Gluten-Free Version

Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend like Bob’s Red Mill. The texture stays fudgy and rich.

🌟 What Makes These Brownies Unique?

Unlike standard peanut butter brownies, this recipe hides whole peanut butter cups inside each square—creating a gooey, candy-filled surprise. The layered structure gives you a triple hit of chocolate, peanut butter, and texture in every bite. Plus, the optional ganache topping adds a bakery-style finish that’s hard to resist.

🥡 Storage & Serving Suggestions

• Storage: Keep brownies in an airtight container at room temp for 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.

• Freezing: Wrap individual squares in plastic and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

• Serving: Warm slightly before serving for melty peanut butter goodness. Pair with cold milk or vanilla ice cream.

🔚 Final Thoughts

These Peanut Butter Cup Brownies are the kind of dessert that stops people mid-bite and makes them say, “Wait…what’s in this?” They’re rich, nostalgic, and just quirky enough to stand out from the crowd.

⚠️ Affiliate Disclaimer

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love and use in our own kitchen.