Peanut Butter Brookies – combination of two classic treats: chocolate brownies and peanut butter cookies. Layers or swirls of both brownie batter and peanut butter cookie dough in one baked treat.
Just like my viral Brookie Bars, these Peanut Butter Brookies will have a hard time competing! Made with a homemade peanut butter cookie dough, and for the ease of a delicious brownie, this recipe calls for a brownie mix! So, it comes together so nice and easy without the hassle of measuring our a million ingredients!
For other recipes like this one:
- The Best Chocolate Cookie Dough Cake
- The Best Brookie Bars With Brownie Mix
- Best Gooey Butter Cake Without Cake Mix
Why you should make these
- Flavor combo: What could get better than peanut butter and chocolate? Plus combining it with the two best desserts, cookies and brownies!
- Best of Both Worlds: Why choose between brownies and peanut butter cookies when you can have both? Peanut butter cookies combined with fudgy brownie.
- Easy to make: Only two bowls, and no mixer required
- Fudgy texture: With the fudgy, moist center of a brownie alongside the slightly crispy and nutty profile of a peanut butter cookie.
Grocery Check List – Peanut Butter Brookies
Before you start baking, here are some notes for the ingredients you will need. I have listed key ingredients that you might not have on hand. For a full list of ingredients, check out the recipe card below.
- Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Boxed Brownie Mix (or your favorite brand): This is the base for the brownie layer. Using a high-quality brownie mix ensures a rich chocolate flavor and consistent texture.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: Peanut butter not only adds its signature nutty flavor but also contributes to the softness and moisture of the peanut butter cookie layer.
- Unsalted Butter: Melted butter provides moisture and a luscious texture to both the brownie and peanut butter cookie layers.
- Granulated Sugar and Brown Sugar: These sugars sweeten the dough, contribute to texture, and aid in browning during baking.
- Eggs and Egg Yolk: Eggs act as binders and add moisture to the dough, resulting in tender and chewy brownies and cookies.
- All-Purpose Flour: Flour gives structure to the peanut butter cookie layer. I spoon and level mine to ensure it doesn’t have too much flour.
Best tips for making
Next, here are some tips to how to make Peanut Butter Brookies! This recipe needs an a bowl, whisk, 9×9 and a rubber spatula!
- Thorough Reading: Read the instructions once before starting so you know what to expect
- Quality Ingredients: Use for high-quality brownie mix, chocolate chips, and creamy peanut butter for better flavor and texture.
- Prep your pan: Line the pan with parchment paper and lightly coat it to prevent sticking and ease removal.
- Follow Brownie Mix: Follow the package instructions for the brownie mix, including eggs, oil, and water measurements.
- Room Temp Eggs: Use room temperature eggs for smoother batter and better incorporation.
- Gentle Mixing: Fold dry ingredients gently to avoid overmixing and tough cookies.
- Alternate Spoonfuls: Randomly layer brownie and peanut butter dough for the marbled effect. Remember smaller is better.
- Check Doneness: Test with a toothpick around 45 minutes; a few moist crumbs indicate doneness.
- Cool Before Cutting: Allow brookies to cool in the pan before slicing for cleaner cuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use a different type of brownie mix or cookie dough recipe?
A: Yes, you can experiment with different brands or flavors of boxed brownie mix, or even try making your own homemade brownie batter from scratch.
Q: Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?
A: While the recipe generally calls for unsalted butter, you can use salted butter if that’s what you have on hand. Just be mindful that the overall saltiness may be slightly different, so you might want to adjust the added salt accordingly.
Q: How do I know when the brookies are done baking?
A: The baking time can vary depending on the specific brownie mix and oven temperature. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the brookies. If it comes out with moist crumbs or a few moist chocolate streaks, they are likely done. Remember that they will continue to set as they cool, so you don’t want to overbake them.
Essential Equipment For Your Kitchen
Furthermost, here are five essential kitchen equipment items for baking:
- Stand Mixer: A stand mixer is a game-changer in the baking world, making mixing doughs, batters, and frostings a breeze.
- Mixing Bowls: A set of high-quality mixing bowls in various sizes is indispensable for baking. They are sturdy, easy to clean, and non-reactive.
- Baking Pans: Stock your kitchen with a range of baking pans and sheets, including cake pans, muffin pans, and cookie sheets.
- Cooling racks allow air to circulate around baked goods, preventing them from becoming soggy. Invest in sturdy wire cooling racks to cool cookies, cakes, and bread evenly.
- Silicone Spatulas: Silicone spatulas are versatile tools for scraping batter, folding ingredients, and ensuring you get every last bit of goodness from your mixing bowl.
Storing and freezing – Peanut Butter Brookies
Additionally, here is how to store your Peanut Butter Brookies! To properly store, allow them to cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Store at room temperature for a few days, in the refrigerator for up to a week, or in the freezer for a few months. Bring them to room temperature before serving.
Freezing – Peanut Butter Brookies
To properly freeze peanut butter brookies, ensure they have cooled completely. Place them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, making sure to remove as much air as possible. Label the container with the date and freeze for up to a few months. Thaw the brookies in the refrigerator or at room temperature before serving.
Lastly, how to serve: First, ensure they have completely cooled. Then, use a sharp knife or a bench scraper to make clean, even cuts, applying gentle pressure to avoid crumbling. For clean edges, wipe the knife or bench scraper with a damp cloth between cuts.
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Recipe
Peanut Butter Brookies
Ingredients
- 1 box Ghirardelli dark chocolate brownie mix or your favorite brand plus the ingredients to make
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly coat it with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Prepare the boxed brownie mix according to the package instructions, incorporating the specified quantities of eggs, oil, and water. Mix until well combined, then set aside.
- For the peanut butter dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, granulated sugar, and packed brown sugar until well combined.
- Add the creamy peanut butter to the sugar mixture and vigorously whisk for about 30-45 seconds until the mixture is smooth and well incorporated.
- Incorporate the egg and egg yolk, whisking for an additional 30 seconds after each addition. This part is important, this is what gets the shine on top.
- Mix in the pure vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Switch to a rubber spatula and gently fold in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Be careful not to overmix; just mix until the ingredients are combined.
- Stir in the dark chocolate chips to the peanut butter cookie dough.
- To assemble the brookies, use two spoons to alternate between spoonfuls of brownie batter and peanut butter cookie dough, creating a marbled effect in the prepared baking pan. Remember, the smaller the dollops the better it looks!
- Bake in the preheated oven for 50-55 minutes. Begin checking for doneness around 45 minutes by inserting a toothpick into the center. It should come out with a few moist crumbs attached.
- Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the peanut butter brookies cool in the pan before slicing and serving.
- To add Swirls of peanut butter, I melted a coupe tablespoons and poured it on top right after the brookies came out!
Patti says
Hello, and thanks for the recipe! I noticed there was an option to prepare the recipe 1X, 2X, or 3X, but I see in the directions, the pan size never changes, it’s always a 9X9 baking dish. Surely you would need a larger baking dish if you tripled the original recipe. Please advise!
Molly Murphy says
Hi, if you double it then you will need to bake it in a 9×13 and bake an extra 5 minutes! If you 3x the recipe I suggest doing it in two different pans, one 9×9 and one 9×13!