These peanut butter brownies are the ultimate treat! It's our favorite fudgy brownie recipe studded with crunchy peanut bits and topped with a layer of peanut butter frosting, chocolate ganache, and a sprinkle of sea salt. They're always a hit, they're easy to make, and they're ready in just 45 minutes!
Ingredients
Brownies
½cupbutter, room temperature
¼ cupneutral-flavored oil, such as canola or avocado
5ouncesdark chocolate chips, about ¾ cup
1 cupsgranulated sugar
2teaspoonsvanilla extract
3largeeggs
1cupall-purpose flour
¼ cup cocoa powder
¼ teaspoonbaking powder
½ teaspoonsalt
1cuproasted salted peanuts, optional
Frosting
½ cupnatural peanut butter
2tablespoonssalted butter, room temperature
½ cuppowdered sugar
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1-2tablespoonwhole milk
Ganache
5ouncesdark chocolate
½ cupheavy cream
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9x9 inch square baking pan with parchment paper and grease it with butter. Place the butter and chocolate in a mixing bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Stir the chocolate until it's melted and smooth. Add the sugar, oil, and vanilla to the chocolate and whisk to combine. Add the eggs and whisk again.
½ cup butter, ¼ cup neutral-flavored oil, 5 ounces dark chocolate chips, 1 cups granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 3 large eggs
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder. Mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients. If using, fold the peanuts into the batter.
Pour the batter into the baking dish and smooth the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
1 cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup cocoa powder, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 cup roasted salted peanuts
When the brownies are mostly cool, make the frosting. Use electric beaters to beat the peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Add 1 tablespoon of the milk and beat again. If you'd like a thinner frosting, add the second tablespoon. Spread the frosting over the brownies in the pan.
½ cup natural peanut butter, 2 tablespoons salted butter, ½ cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1-2 tablespoon whole milk
To make the chocolate topping, add the chocolate and cream to a medium-sized bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth then pour it over the brownies. (Make sure that it's not hot when you pour it over!) Set the brownies aside for at least 30 minutes for the chocolate to set. Sprinkle a little sea salt over top then cut the brownies into 16 pieces.