This awesome recipe for Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies is based on one from Dorie Greenspan. They are dense fudge brownies with a layer of sweetened peanut butter (kind of like the filling of a Reese's cup) and a topping of chocolate ganache.
8-Inch Pan Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies
The original version is baked in a 9x13 inch pan, but I halved it and baked the brownies in an 8-inch square pan. I also increased the ratio of chocolate to butter in the ganache and omitted the nutmeg. I should probably try these with the nutmeg!
As you can tell from the photos, I've been baking these for a long time! Here's an old photo. These days I cut them into smaller squares as in the pictures above.
More Rich Chocolate Recipes
Recipe
Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies
Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies with Salted Peanuts
Ingredients
Brownies
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (84 grams)
- 3 ½ ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (100 grams)
- 1 ½ ounces unsweetened chocolate (42 grams)
- ¾ cup sugar (150 grams)
- ¾ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (65 grams)
- ½ cup roasted salted peanuts coarsely chopped
Filling
- ½ cup chunky peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (28 grams)
- 6 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1/16 teaspoon salt tiny, tiny pinch
- ½ tablespoon whole milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Ganache Icing
- 5 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped (140 grams)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (28 grams)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line an 8-inch baking pan with nonstick foil or frosting.
- Place butter and both chocolates in a 3-quart saucepan. Set over medium-low heat and stir until melted and smooth. Whisk in sugar, vanilla and salt, then add eggs, one at a time, stirring just until mixed. Add flour and stir until blended, then stir in nuts.
- Spread in prepared pan and bake until tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 25 minutes. Place pan on rack and let cool.
- Frosting: Using an electric mixer, beat the peanut butter and the 2 tablespoons of butter in medium bowl to blend. Beat in powdered sugar and salt, then milk and vanilla. Spread frosting over brownies and chill for about an hour to set frosting (this makes spreading the chocolate ganache easier).
- Ganache: Place chocolate and the 2 tablespoons of butter in a small microwave-safe bowl or 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup. Heat on high 30 seconds. Stir and repeat until smooth. Drop ganache all over frosting; spread to cover. Chill until set, about 1 ½ hours.
- Lift the foil or parchment and transfer brownies to work surface; cut into squares. Bring to room temperature; serve.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Catharina says
These brownies are amazing. Everyone I've made them for still talks about them (and wants more).
Anna says
Carol, my first one was in Hollywood.
Kelli, it's hard to go wrong with pb & choc.
Debbi, you can make the Frito brownies and get back to me.
Debbi says
Glad to know it's nice and sunny somewhere in Texas. Mother Nature just piled on another 15 inches of snow this weekend here. Ugh. Makes me feel like baking.
You know - the Frito Brownie could work.......
KelliRR says
Two peanut butter and chocolate recipes in one week? Color me happy!!
carole says
another winner, Anna. Too bad you can'rt do Pillsbury again. BTW, was that your first time at the BO?