Rich and fudgy brownies are stuffed with a layer of peanut butter filling – these peanut butter brownies are like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in brownie form!
Today is a very important day – it is TheBetterHalf’s Birthday! As the biggest chocolate peanut butter lover of all time (I’m pretty sure he thinks he was the first person to like the delicious flavor combo), I of course had to make him something choco pb. And since I already made a chocolate peanut butter cake for Chez CateyLou’s birthday, I made TheBetterHalf Peanut Butter Brownies! Fudgy chocolate brownies with a thick peanut butter layer sandwiched right in the middle – if that doesn’t scream Birthday Treat, I don’t know what does!
TheBetterHalf and I are almost exactly 6 months apart. My half-birthday was yesterday. He thinks that half-birthdays are not a thing, but in my family they are! I bought myself some flowers and ate a peanut butter brownie to celebrate 🙂
But anyway, for 6 months of the year I am older than him and he looooves to point out that fact. I told him that once I turn 30, he’s not allowed to joke about me being old anymore. And I turn the big 3-0 on my next birthday – so you know what that means – now he can officially never make fun of me for being old again!! Ha – we’ll see if that actually happens…
So about these peanut butter brownies – they are pretty much a chocolate peanut butter lovers dream dessert. They are literally like a giant Reese’s PB Cup! The brownie is a standard super fudgy brownie. And then the middle layer is tons of peanut butter mixed with confectioner’s sugar! Peanut butter chips and chocolate chips are “icing on the cake” – they look pretty and and add a little extra flavor and texture.
These are SO good. As I was editing the pictures last night, I kept getting up to eat another little piece. Just a tiny sliver. Ok then another. And suddenly a whole (giant) brownie was gone! Dangerous. Sorry TheBetterHalf – I ate most of your birthday treat!
Don’t feel too sorry for him though – we’re going to Carbone tonight for dinner to celebrate! He wrote about our meal in this post, and we loved it so much that we’re going back. Can’t wait to celebrate with my favorite!
Rich and fudgy brownies are stuffed with a layer of peanut butter filling - these peanut butter brownies are like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup in brownie form!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter
- 8 ounces (228g) coarsely chopped semi-sweet chocolate
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons (80g) all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons (16g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (185g) creamy peanut butter (I use JIF)
- 1 cup (120g) confectioners' sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons (30ml) milk
- 2 Tablespoons chocolate chips
- 2 Tablespoons peanut butter chips
Instructions
- Place the butter and chopped chocolate in a medium saucepan and melt on medium-low heat. Make sure to stir constantly so that it doesn't burn. Once it is melted, immediately pour into a large mixing bowl and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the peanut butter filling. Combine the peanut butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and milk in a medium mixing bowl and beat with a handheld mixer on medium-high speed until well combined. The mixture will be thick and slightly crumbly.
- Adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x9 inch square baking pan with two large strips of aluminum foil, leaving the edges hanging over the sides. This will create a sling to remove the cooled brownies. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.
- Add the sugars to the cooled chocolate/butter mixture and whisk until well combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, and whisk well after each addition, then whisk in the vanilla.
- In a small bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder and salt.
- Add the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture and gently stir until just combined.
- Pour half of the brownie batter into the prepared baking pan. Using your hands, grab large pieces of the peanut butter filling and flatten into squares. Place them in an even layer over the brownie layer. Try to cover all of the brownie layer. Pour the remaining batter over the peanut butter filling and spread evenly. Sprinkle the top with the chips.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the brownies are set in the center and begin to pull away from the edges of the pan.
- Cool the brownies in the pan set on a wire rack until completely cooled. Then use the foil overhang to lift the brownies out of the pan. Cut into squares with a very sharp knife.
Notes
Recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction
We don’t mess around when it comes to birthdays around here!
Like my Birthday Brownie Pudding
Or Chez CateyLou’s birthday cake – Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting!
But if you want to keep things lighter, try these Skinny Peanut Butter Brownies. Still birthday-worthy good!
Love those birthday candles…happy birthday to your man. 🙂 Love love love peanut butter brownies and these look absolutely delicious!
These brownies look so great! Your husband is lucky he gets to eat these on his birthday, haha. I love that peanut butter layer and I’m trying to imagine biting into one of these. 🙂 I absolutely love those shots with the happy birthday candles!
These look amazing Cate! I love chocolate and peanut butter. Reese’s might be my favorite candy to get on Halloween. I bet I will love these brownies!
And happy half birthday yesterday to you! I’m about 3 months older than my husband, and I always feel like a grandma for the few months when he’s technically a year younger. Hope your mister has a great birthday! He’s sure to enjoy these brownies you made him : )
Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to YOU! Your brownie look delicious 🙂
Michael
cheesecake: http://michaelswoodcraft.wordpress.com/2014/05/24/delicious-cheesecake/
These look delicious! I need to make them one day. Reese’s are my favorite candy so obviously I LOVE peanut butter and chocolate together. Keep up the good work!!
Cate, these look beyond decadent! What a perfect way to celebrate. Um, half birthdays are totally a thing 🙂 Happy half birthday! And of course, happy birthday to TheBetterHalf as well!
HAPPY BIRTHDAYYY to your better half!!! My brothers and my birthdays are on each other’s half birthdays (I was 2.5 years old, to the day, when he was born) so I get the half birthday thang 😛
I. LOOOOVE THESE BROWNIES! Giant pb cup in brownie form??? YESSSSSS!
These brownies look amazing!!
Lucky birthday boy!! My boy is also a choco pb addict and would LOVE LOVE LOVE these!
Wow, these look like a seriously indulgent birthday treat! What a lucky husband you have 😉 Happy birthday to him and happy half-bday to you!
Oh my goodness! I CANNOT handle how good these look! I would have finished the whole pan while editing 🙂
These look awesome!! Brownies plus peanut butter sound amazing!
Thanks, Kathleen!