Peanut-Butter Swirl Brownies Recipe

This Peanut-Butter Swirl Brownies Recipe is a fudgy and decadent recipe, which is made with smooth peanut butter and rich unsweetened chocolate. It’s the ultimate comfort food recipe, ready in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Peanut-Butter Swirl Brownies Recipe Ingredients

For the batter:

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, plus more for pan
• 2 ounces good-quality unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 4 ounces good-quality semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the filling:

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
• ¾ cup smooth peanut butter
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

How To Make Peanut-Butter Swirl Brownies

1. Prep Oven and Melt Chocolate: Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Butter an 8-inch square baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides. Butter the parchment. In a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, melt the butter, unsweetened chocolate, and semisweet chocolate, stirring until smooth. Let it cool slightly.
2. Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In the cooled chocolate mixture, whisk in the granulated sugar, followed by the eggs, one at a time, until the mixture is smooth. Stir in the vanilla. Gently fold the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture until just combined.
3. Make the Peanut Butter Filling: In a medium bowl, stir together the melted butter, confectioners’ sugar, smooth peanut butter, salt, and vanilla until completely smooth.
4. Layer and Swirl: Pour one-third of the brownie batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Drop dollops of the peanut butter filling (about 1 tablespoon each) about 1 inch apart on top of the batter. Drizzle the remaining batter on top, gently spreading it to cover the peanut butter. Drop the remaining filling in dollops on top.
5. Create the Swirl Effect: Take a butter knife and gently swirl the filling into the batter, running the knife lengthwise and crosswise through the layers, with the tip touching the bottom of the pan to create a marbled effect.
6. Bake and Cool: Bake for about 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the brownie (avoiding the peanut butter swirls) comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Let the brownies cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then use the parchment overhang to lift them out onto a wire rack to cool completely before cutting.

Recipe Tips

• How do you know when brownies are done? The toothpick test is key. When a toothpick inserted into a chocolatey part comes out with a few moist crumbs, they are perfectly fudgy. If it’s wet, they need more time. If it’s completely clean, they are likely overbaked.
• What kind of peanut butter is best? Use a standard, smooth commercial peanut butter (like Jif or Skippy). Natural peanut butters can be too oily and may not set up properly in the swirl.
• How to get clean cuts? The most important step is to let the brownies cool completely before slicing. For extra-sharp squares, use a large, sharp knife and wipe the blade clean between each cut.
• Why line the pan with an overhang? The parchment paper “handles” make it incredibly easy to lift the entire slab of brownies out of the pan at once, which is essential for cooling and clean slicing.

What To Serve With Peanut-Butter Swirl Brownies

These rich brownies are a treat on their own, but they are even better with:

• A tall glass of cold milk
• A scoop of vanilla bean or chocolate ice cream
• A drizzle of warm chocolate or caramel sauce

How To Store Peanut-Butter Swirl Brownies

• Room Temperature: Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. For optimal freshness, you can wrap them individually.
• Freeze: These brownies freeze very well. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.

Peanut-Butter Swirl Brownies Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 350-400 kcal
• Fat: 22g
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Protein: 6g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

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