Layered Peanut Butter Brownies

Peanut butter and chocolate are a truly winning combination. With its rich, earthy flavor, peanut butter counterbalances the sweetness of chocolate in the best way possible. Enter peanut butter swirl brownies—the fudgy texture of brownies makes a delectable base for peanut butter filling, made with a hearty amount of cream cheese and creamy nut butter. You’ll love the way these melt in your mouth. And while you can easily freeze these brownies, we’re betting you won’t have many left over. 

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

• Eggs: Eggs provide richness and structure to these brownies.
• Butter: Using butter helps achieve a cakey texture.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla enhances the overall flavor profile of peanut butter swirl brownies.
• Sugar: Sugar helps create a shiny, crusty top and offsets the bitterness of the cocoa powder.
• All-purpose flour: Level off the flour with the back of a knife to ensure you have the exact right amount.
• Baking cocoa: Baking cocoa helps brownies stay tender and velvety.
• Baking powder: Baking powder goes stale after six months, so be sure you have a relatively fresh container in your cabinet.
• Salt: A tiny bit of salt balances the sweetness of this dessert.
• Milk chocolate chips: Chocolate chips add an extra dose of chocolatey flavor.

Filling

• Cream cheese: Regular (not non-fat) cream cheese is best, but dairy-free cream cheese is acceptable to use here if you have a dairy intolerance.
• Creamy peanut butter: Use regular, smooth peanut butter; reduced-fat and natural peanut butter are not recommended.
• Sugar: Sugar sweetens the filling.
• Egg: It’s best to use room-temperature eggs, as they’ll whisk easier.
• Milk: 2% milk adds extra flavor and moisture.

Directions

Step 1: Combine the ingredients and spread them pan

Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, butter and vanilla until smooth. Whisk together the dry ingredients and gradually add to the egg mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips but set aside 1 cup for topping. Spread the remaining batter into a greased 13×9-inch baking pan.

Step 2: Make the filling

Beat the cream cheese, peanut butter and sugar until smooth. Beat the egg and milk on low until combined. Carefully spread over the batter.

Step 3: Prepare to bake

Drop the reserved batter by tablespoonfuls over the filling. Cut through batter with a knife to swirl.

Step 4: Bake

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 to 40 minutes (do not overbake). Cool completely on a wire rack. Chill until serving.

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies Variations

• Add espresso powder: Try adding 1/2 teaspoon of espresso powder during Step 1 (with the other dry ingredients) for a hint of coffee flavor.
• Use nuts: If you prefer your brownies with nuts, feel free to add some to the batter or as a topping.

How to Store Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting up them up into bars (don’t rush the process!). After that, store the brownies in an airtight container or covered with foil at room temperature on the counter for one to two days.  Store them in the refrigerator for up to one week to extend their lifespan beyond that.

Can I store these brownies in the freezer?

Yes, you can freeze brownies. After baking, let the brownies cool completely then wrap the whole sheet pan tightly with plastic wrap. Wrap it again with foil (without cutting them first). Alternatively, you can store individual brownies in a glass or plastic container. Layer them and cover each layer with wax or parchment paper to ensure freshness.

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies Tips

How can I make these brownies more fudgy or cake-like?

Fudgy brownies have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cake-like brownies. To make these brownies more fudgy, the trick is to add more fat, which in this case is butter. A cakelike batch has more flour and relies on baking powder for leavening.

Can I use a brownie mix instead of making the brownies from scratch?

Yes, you can use a boxed or premade brownie mix to replace the dry ingredients. Just be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions for baking in a 13×9-inch pan. However, the peanut butter cream cheese filling is best made from scratch. (For more tips on baking the perfect batch of brownies, check out our guide to baking brownies, and don’t miss the common mistakes everyone makes when baking brownies.)

Can I make these brownies dairy-free?

We recommend finding a different, specifically dairy-free brownie recipe in this case, as this recipe for peanut butter swirl brownies calls for several dairy products.