Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies

These delicious, irresistible Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies combine that out-of-this-world pairing of chocolate and peanut butter! Brownies are topped with a peanut butter truffle filling and then finished off with a silky ganache topping.

You can put those Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups back in the bag for now and indulge in these marvelous Layered Peanut Butter Brownies instead!

Why You Must Make

I first made these peanut butter brownies back in 2011 for a weekend reunion with some fabulous friends from college. These were those sorority sisters with whom I ate bags of chips and M & M’s. We also were known to make nachos in the sorority microwave after coming home late from the bars. I knew they’d be perfect for our tailgate.

Cut into squares and packed up in a cooler, these Buckeye Brownies made their way across three states to a homecoming football game at my alma mater. I paid about as much attention to the game that day as I did in college. The hubby is still shocked I went to the Rose Bowl and Peach Bowl back in the day, too.

• Obviously, they’re a portable treat!
• And these brownies are finger food, so perfect for picnics and tailgates!
• They are made with the iconic pairing of peanut butter and chocolate. If you’re a Reese’s lover, you’ll flip over these brownies!

Reader Endorsement:

From Susan in the comments: Made these last night. Brought them to work today, and they had rave reviews, I was told that this was a keeper recipe. The peanut butter layer is so light and fluffy. 

Ingredient Notes

• Kitchen Staples – Sugar, Flour, Salt, Milk.
• Butter – Salted is OK, as there’s not enough to make the bars taste salty. Salt is a flavor enhancer, and desserts can taste flat if there is no salt in the recipe. Have your butter at room temperature, as this will make for easier blending.
• Eggs – All my recipes use large eggs unless otherwise noted. Pull them out of the refrigerator about an hour before you start mixing. They will incorporate more easily if not cold.
• Vanilla Extract (affiliate link) – Make sure the label reads real vanilla extract. Artificially flavored vanilla doesn’t taste nearly as good as the real thing!
• Cocoa Powder (affiliate link) – I use Ghirardelli or Hershey’s brands. Sift first if your cocoa has a lot of lumps for the smoothest batter. Use regular cocoa powder, not Dutch processed.
• Baking Powder (affiliate link) – This is not the same as baking soda. You must use baking powder as baking is a science, and these two products work differently. Note: Baking powder is used much less frequently and expires more quickly than baking soda. PRO-Tip: To check if it’s still active, put a spoonful into a cup of hot water. It will bubble vigorously if it’s fresh. If it doesn’t, replace your supply before starting this recipe.
• Creamy Peanut Butter (affiliate link) – My family likes the Jif brand, so that’s what I used.
• Powdered Sugar – Like cocoa powder, sometimes it can be lumpy. Sift if needed before using.
• Semisweet Chocolate Chips (affiliate link) – I used the Ghirardelli Brand, but Nestles will work well, too.
• Shortening – This helps keep the chocolate topping shiny when it cools. I keep Crisco sticks on hand. Extras keep well in the freezer.
• Heavy Cream – Optional (I suggest adding this if using chocolate chips for your ganache).

How to Make

Recipe Tips

As with every recipe, read the instructions before starting to familiarize yourself with the procedure. Also, double-check that you have all the ingredients on hand.

• Usually, I pull out the butter and eggs before I start baking. Since part of the butter is melted in the microwave, only the butter for the filling and the eggs need to be brought to room temperature.
• For both the brownie batter and the peanut butter filling, I use an offset spatula (affiliate link) to spread each layer out evenly. This makes for a prettier presentation.
• The first time I made this recipe, I used a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips for the ganache topping. Since then, I’ve found I like the way Ghirardelli Chocolate Bars (affiliate link to 3 bars) melt better than chocolate chips.
• Feel free to use 12 ounces of either chocolate chips or chocolate bars. If you use chocolate chips, you may need to add 2 tablespoons of cream to the mixture.
• PRO-Tip: Use a Small Offset Spatula (affiliate link) to spread the layers. It helps ensure a nice finished look, especially with the topping.
• PRO-Tip: Line your pan with Non-Stick Foil (affiliate link) if desired. It provides a sling to help move them from the pan to a Cutting Board (affiliate link) to slice.
• PRO-Tip: As with most of my brownies and bars, they cut best after some time in the refrigerator. Use a warm, dry knife to easily slide through the ganache topping, and wipe off the knife frequently to help make pristine slices. I warm my knife by running it under very hot water (from the faucet or my teapot), then wiping it dry.
• For more details, check out my post on How to Cut Perfect Cookie Bars.

You May Also Like:

• Better Than Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars
• Stuffed Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
• Frozen Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
• Tagalong Cookie Bars
• No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

I spotted many decadent versions of these Buckeye Brownies across the Internet, and I’ve pieced together a few recipes and added my own twist. My fabulous friends from college adored these layered peanut butter brownies—they were inhaled!!

These little gems are outrageously rich and delicious. If you like Reese’s, try a batch of these decadent peanut butter truffle brownies.

Note: These brownies were first shared in 2011. The photos and text were updated in 2019.

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The Recipe:

Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Yield 24 brownies

Rich, fudgy brownies topped with peanut butter truffle filling and iced with chocolate ganache!

4.9 Stars (75 Reviews)

Ingredients

Brownies:

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• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• ⅔ cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking powder

Peanut Butter Filling:

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• ½ cup butter (at room temperature)
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2-3 teaspoons milk

Ganache Topping:

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• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ¼ cup butter
• 2 tablespoons shortening
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream, optional (I suggest adding if using chocolate chips)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Line a 9 x 13-inch pan with non-stick foil. Set aside.
3. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the 1 cup butter in the microwave.
4. Mix in sugar, then eggs and vanilla.
5. Sift the cocoa powder into the egg mixture, along with the salt and baking powder. Mix well.
6. Add flour and mix till just combined. Scrape into prepared pan and smooth top.
7. Bake for about 25-30 minutes. Cool completely.
8. While the brownies are cooling, mix together the filling ingredients.
9. Beat until smooth adding the extra teaspoon of milk if needed. The mixture should be spreadable. Spread filling evenly over cooled brownies.
10. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
11. While the filling is cooling, make ganache by melting the chocolate chips, butter, shortening, and cream (if using) together gently in the microwave.
12. Stop and stir at 30-second increments, till melted and smooth.
13. Put dollops of ganache over the filling and carefully spread it across the filling with a small offset spatula. Return to refrigerator to set topping.

Notes

Adapted from Betty Crocker, Loves to Eat and Sweet Pea's Kitchen.

Check the expiration date on your baking powder. Unlike baking soda, it often expires before you can use it up. If you're unsure if it's still active, put a spoonful in a cup of very hot water. If it bubbles vigorously, it's still good.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1 brownie
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 373Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 198mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 2gSugar: 34gProtein: 4g

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Lambeau, our first dog, has not made an appearance on my blog in a while, so to celebrate Halloween, I present her as Moammar Gooddoggi. Costume and styling by Tom Berg.

Isn’t she a good sport??? Do you want to guess the number of marshmallows it took to bribe her into posing? LOTS!