Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies Recipe

The Ultimate Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies Recipe: Fudgy Heaven

Rich peanut butter swirl brownies represent the ultimate indulgence for chocolate and nutty treat enthusiasts.

Decadent and irresistible, these brownies blend two classic flavors into one spectacular dessert experience.

Smooth peanut butter ribbons dance through dense chocolate layers, creating a mesmerizing visual and gustatory delight.

Each bite promises a perfect balance between intense cocoa depth and creamy, nutty undertones.

The contrast of textures elevates this dessert from ordinary to extraordinary, making it a standout among homemade sweet treats.

Chocolate lovers and peanut butter fans will find themselves utterly captivated by this remarkable combination.

Prepare to reinvent your baking skills and impress everyone with these show-stopping brownies.

What’s Special About Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

  • Create Irresistible Flavor Combinations: These brownies masterfully blend rich chocolate with creamy peanut butter, delivering a decadent taste that satisfies both sweet and nutty cravings in every bite.
  • Achieve Bakery-Quality Texture: The recipe produces brownies with a perfect fudgy interior and slightly crisp edges, creating a luxurious mouthfeel that feels like a professional bakery treat made right in your kitchen.
  • Master Simple Swirling Technique: The elegant peanut butter swirl design looks impressive yet requires minimal skill, allowing even novice bakers to create a visually stunning dessert that looks like it came from a gourmet pastry shop.
  • Enjoy Quick and Easy Preparation: With straightforward microwave melting, simple mixing steps, and a total baking time under 30 minutes, these brownies offer a delicious homemade dessert without complicated techniques or extensive time commitment.

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Chocolate Base:
  • Butter: Rich, creamy fat that helps create a smooth, moist texture in brownies.
  • Chocolate: Dark or semi-sweet chocolate for deep, intense chocolate flavor.
Dry Ingredients:
  • Flour: All-purpose flour provides structure to the brownie.
  • Cocoa Powder: Adds deep chocolate flavor and rich color.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
Wet and Sweet Ingredients:
  • Eggs: Binding agent that helps hold the brownie together.
  • Granulated Sugar, Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create a tender texture.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and enhances chocolate flavor.
  • Peanut Butter: Creamy, rich spread that creates a delicious swirl and adds nutty flavor.

How to Bake Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Step 1: Prepare Baking Setup

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 inch square pan with parchment paper, letting edges hang over for easy removal.

Step 2: Create Chocolate Base

Melt in microwave using 20-second intervals:
  • Butter
  • Chocolate

Stir until smooth. Let cool to room temperature.

Step 3: Prepare Peanut Butter Swirl

Mix together:
  • Peanut butter
  • Melted butter
  • Powdered sugar

Set mixture aside.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

Sift together:
  • Flour
  • Cocoa powder
  • Salt

Set aside.

Step 5: Make Brownie Batter

Whisk until pale and creamy:
  • Eggs
  • Sugars
Add:
  • Vanilla extract
  • Peanut butter
  • Melted chocolate mixture

Gently stir in dry ingredients until just combined.

Step 6: Assemble and Bake

Spread batter into prepared pan. Pipe peanut butter mixture in swirls on top. Create additional swirls using a toothpick. Bake for 23-28 minutes.

Step 7: Cool and Serve

Allow brownies to cool in pan for 2 hours before cutting and serving.

Tips for Rich and Fudgy Swirl Brownies

  • Achieve Smooth Chocolate: Melt butter and chocolate slowly to prevent burning, stirring between each microwave interval for even consistency.
  • Create Perfect Swirls: Use a piping bag or ziplock bag with corner snipped for precise peanut butter design, then gently drag a toothpick through for elegant marble effect.
  • Check Brownie Doneness: Insert a toothpick near center – a few moist crumbs are okay, but avoid wet batter for fudgy texture.
  • Prevent Sticking: Use parchment paper with slight overhang for easy removal and clean cutting of brownies.
  • Cool Completely: Allow brownies to rest at room temperature for full 2 hours to set properly and develop rich, intense flavors.

Reheating and Storing Peanut Butter Brownies

  • Refrigeration: Store brownies in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Wrap each brownie individually in plastic wrap to maintain moisture and prevent them from drying out. Keep the container in the refrigerator's coolest section.
  • Freezing: Place brownies in a freezer-safe container, separating layers with parchment paper. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
  • Reheating: Warm brownies gently in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to restore their soft, fudgy texture. For a crisp edge, warm them in a preheated oven at 275°F for 5 minutes. Always check the temperature to avoid overheating and maintain their delicious consistency.

Drinks and Desserts to Pair with Swirl Brownies

  • Savor Creamy Milk Pairing: Cold, whole milk perfectly complements the rich chocolate and nutty peanut butter flavors, cutting through the brownies' dense sweetness.
  • Brew Bold Coffee Companion: Dark roast coffee or espresso creates a robust contrast, enhancing the deep chocolate notes and balancing the dessert's sweetness.
  • Scoop Vanilla Ice Cream: Smooth vanilla ice cream adds a cool, creamy texture that melts wonderfully against the warm, fudgy brownie, creating a decadent flavor explosion.
  • Serve Salted Caramel Drizzle: A light drizzle of salted caramel sauce amplifies the sweet-salty profile, adding depth and complexity to the peanut butter chocolate brownie experience.

Peanut Butter Brownie Variations You’ll Enjoy

  • Almond Butter Chocolate Swirl: Replace peanut butter with creamy almond butter for a nutty alternative that adds rich, smooth flavor without changing the brownie's core texture.
  • Dark Chocolate Espresso Swirl: Mix a teaspoon of instant espresso powder into the chocolate base for deeper, more intense chocolate notes with a subtle coffee undertone.
  • Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Swirl: Drizzle homemade salted caramel sauce between peanut butter swirls to create a decadent layered effect with sweet and salty contrasts.
  • Gluten-Free Nutty Option: Substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour or gluten-free blend, maintaining the same rich chocolate and peanut butter swirl characteristics for those with dietary restrictions.
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Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies Recipe

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies Recipe


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4.6 from 40 reviews

  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 16 1x

Description

Rich peanut butter swirls dance through classic chocolate brownies, creating a heavenly dessert that marries intense cocoa with creamy nutty notes. Chocolate lovers will savor each indulgent bite of these irresistible brownies that promise pure bliss in every square.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 4 ounces (113 grams) semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (50 grams) brown sugar, light or dark, packed
  • ½ cup (120 milliliters) unsalted butter, divided
  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons (90 milliliters) peanut butter, room temperature, divided

Dry Ingredients:

  • ½ cup (60 grams) flour
  • ¼ cup (25 grams) Dutch process or natural cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Flavor Enhancers:

  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prepare the baking setup by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and lining an 8×8 inch (20×20 centimeters) square pan with parchment paper.
  2. Create the chocolate base by carefully melting of butter and chocolate in the microwave, using 20-second intervals and stirring between each interval until smooth and fully combined.
  3. Craft the peanut butter swirl mixture by blending of peanut butter, of melted butter, and powdered sugar until well incorporated.
  4. Prepare the dry ingredients by sifting together flour, cocoa powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
  5. Develop the brownie batter by whisking eggs and sugars until the mixture becomes pale and develops a creamy texture.
  6. Incorporate additional flavor by adding vanilla extract, the remaining of peanut butter, and the previously melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture.
  7. Gently fold the sifted dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined to maintain a tender brownie texture.
  8. Transfer the brownie batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly to ensure uniform baking.
  9. Create decorative swirls by piping the reserved peanut butter mixture across the surface of the batter.
  10. Use a toothpick to create intricate marbled patterns by gently dragging it through the peanut butter swirls.
  11. Bake in the preheated oven for 23-28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
  12. Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan for approximately 2 hours, which helps them set and develop a rich, fudgy texture.

Notes

  • Prep ahead means melting chocolate and butter smoothly in short microwave bursts to prevent burning.
  • Swirling technique requires gentle toothpick movements to create beautiful marble-like peanut butter patterns across brownie surface.
  • Cooling brownies completely in pan helps achieve clean, perfect square cuts without crumbling.
  • Powdered sugar in peanut butter mixture ensures smooth, creamy texture and prevents graininess.
  • Room temperature ingredients like eggs blend more evenly, creating a consistent brownie batter with rich texture.
  • Precise baking time between 23-28 minutes prevents dry edges while maintaining gooey chocolate center.
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 16
  • Calories: 191 kcal
  • Sugar: 15 g
  • Sodium: 83 mg
  • Fat: 13 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 17 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 37 mg
Lucas Bennett

Lucas Bennett

Founder & Recipe Creator

Expertise

Simple Everyday Recipes, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Creative Meal Planning, Recipe Testing and Improvement

Education

Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, Wisconsin

  • Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Practical culinary training, fundamental cooking techniques, meal planning, and using fresh, local ingredients.

Lake Superior College, Duluth, Minnesota

  • Program: Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems
  • Focus: Cooking methods that promote sustainability, farm-to-table practices, and eco-friendly meal creation.

Lucas Bennett’s cooking journey started in his parents’ kitchen, where he learned to prepare tasty, no-fuss meals from scratch. His culinary passion led him to Fox Valley Technical College, where he gained practical cooking skills.
He then expanded his focus on sustainability at Lake Superior College. Today, Lucas shares easy, approachable recipes designed to make cooking enjoyable and stress-free for everyone.

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