Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies
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These Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies are fudgy and rich in chocolate with a layer of beautifully marbled peanut butter on the top.
Peanut butter and chocolate are always a delicious combination, but they are more extra especially paired together in this tempting Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies recipe. In addition, dollops of peanut butter at the top of the brownies create a beautiful marble effect so that your guest will get impressed.
Imagine the combo of sweet chocolaty fudgy brownies and salty peanut butter is having fireworks in your mouth. This is how I feel when I took the first bite. These Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies are so rich and decadent with a gooey peanut butter layer on top.
After a savory meal, all I crave is an indulgent dessert. And this recipe makes just that. After eating the sweets, I crave something savory again. I go back from sweet and salty a lot, and this dessert is perfect for those who love the contrast of sweets and salty in one combo.
Tips for Making Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies
1. Use high quality chocolate
For super-rich and decadent brownies, use real chocolate and cocoa powder. At least, I suggest a dutch cocoa powder for a deeper and smoother chocolate flavor. If you want extra rich chocolate brownies, you can use 70% bittersweet chocolate chunks.
2. Use commercial peanut butter
I recommend using commercial peanut butter, such as Skippy like mine. Either smooth or chunky peanut butter, that’s your call. Do not use natural or homemade peanut butter for this recipe. The natural one is usually much more oily than the store-bought and tends to separate easily. Therefore, the swirl made from natural peanut butter will not set up properly on the brownies.
3. Do not overbake
This is a fudgy brownies recipes. To get the fudgy texture, please refrain from overbaking because overbaking will make these brownies dry out.
How to tell when brownies are done baking? This can be tricky because the perfectly cooked fudgy brownies are firm around the edges but still soft in the middle. Turn the timer to 30 minutes as soon as the brownies go into the oven. Then, use a toothpick and stick it into the center. When it is pulled out, there should be a few moist crumbs on it. The brownies need more time if there is wet batter on the toothpick. Meanwhile, you do not want a clean toothpick because it means your brownies are overbaked.
4. Cool completely before removing from the pan
Definitely allow the Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies to cool completely before removing from the pan because they are extremely tender when they are still warm. Do not forget to line the baking pan with parchment paper so that once the brownies have cooled down completely, you can simply lift them out of the pan.
5. How to cut the brownies neatly
Cutting a cake can be stressful, especially for this dessert. For a neat and clean-cut, I recommend refrigerating the brownies for several hours to allow them to fully set or there will be a lot of crumbs clinging to the blade. Before you begin cutting, briefly soak the blade of your knife in a container of warm water. Then, wipe off the excess water with a towel. This will help with cutting into your cake more neatly and easily. It is important to properly clean your blade in between each cut. Not only does this preserve the finished appearance of the brownies, but it also makes it easier to make each cut.
I know that it is pretty tedious. However, if you want beautiful cuts to present them for a party or gift to your friends, these are the best way to get them. Cutting your brownies right after removing them from the pan is definitely okay. I really love eating the fresh-baked brownies because they are so tender while the refrigerated brownies taste much heavier and richer.
More Brownies Recipes
If you love brownies, check out also these delicious recipes!
- Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies
- Strawberry Matcha Brownies with White Chocolate
- Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
- Brown Butter Fudgy Brownies
- Nutella Brownies
Ingredients
Brownies
- 1/2 cup (113 gr) unsalted butter, melted
- 2.7 oz (75 gr) bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped, melted
- 1 cup (200 gr) granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup (80 gr) all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup (65 gr) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Peanut Butter Swirl
- 2/3 cup (160 gr) peanut butter
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tbsp confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Brownies
- Preheat oven to 350F/180°C. Grease an 8×8-inch/20x20cm square pan and line the bottom and the sides with parchment paper. Leave an overhang on every side to easily lift the brownies out of the pan. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, and salt until well incorporated. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk melted butter, melted chocolate, and granulated sugar until well incorporated. Whisk in eggs and vanilla extract until combined.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Using a spatula, combine the brownies batter until well combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour the brownies batter to the prepared pan.
Peanut Butter Swirl
- In a small bowl, mix peanut butter, melted butter, confectioners sugar, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Drop dollops of peanut butter on top of brownies batter. Using a toothpick or knife, swirl the peanut butter in an up and down motion. Then, repeat the same motion crosswise until the desired swirling is achieved.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a couple of moist crumbs. Cool completely in the pan before slicing.
