Description
These Peanut Butter Stuffed Brownies are rich, fudgy chocolate brownies with a creamy peanut butter center and swirled peanut butter topping, sprinkled with sea salt flakes for a delightful sweet and salty treat. Baked to perfection, they offer a luscious texture that’s perfect for any chocolate lover craving a decadent homemade dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Peanut Butter Filling and Swirl
- 1 cup (250g) smooth peanut butter spread for stuffing
- 1 tsp salt flakes, divided
Batter
- 200g / 14 tbsp unsalted butter (1 3/4 US sticks)
- 1 1/4 cups (200g) dark chocolate chips (7 oz)
- 1 cup loosely packed brown sugar
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup plain flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/8 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan: Grease an 8-inch (20cm) square pan with butter and line it with parchment paper, ensuring the paper overhangs for easy brownie removal later.
- Create Frozen Peanut Butter Slab: Set aside 2 tablespoons of peanut butter for swirling. Warm the remaining peanut butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds to loosen, then pour it evenly into the lined pan. Sprinkle half of the salt flakes on top. Freeze this slab for 2 to 3 hours until firm enough to lift out without breaking. Keep it frozen while preparing the batter.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) or 160°C (fan forced).
- Melt Butter and Chocolate: In a heatproof bowl, melt the butter and dark chocolate chips together by microwaving in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth and combined (approximately 1 minute 30 seconds total).
- Make the Batter: Add the brown sugar to the melted mixture and stir to combine. Then incorporate the lightly beaten eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth and glossy. Finally, sift in the flour, cocoa powder, and cooking salt, stirring gently until just combined and smooth.
- Assemble Brownies: Pour half of the batter into a freshly lined pan. Place the frozen peanut butter slab evenly over this layer, then carefully spread the remaining batter on top to cover the peanut butter completely.
- Swirl Peanut Butter: Dollop the reserved 2 tablespoons of peanut butter randomly over the surface. Use a butter knife or teaspoon to swirl the peanut butter into the batter, creating marbled patterns. Make sure to create grooves to reveal some of the brownie batter underneath for a beautiful effect.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 32 minutes. The edges should be set and slightly firm, but the middle will jiggle slightly—this is normal and the center will firm up as it cools.
- Cool and Set: Allow the brownies to cool in the pan on the countertop for 1 hour. Then refrigerate for at least 3 hours to let the peanut butter center properly set, preventing oozing during cutting.
- Slice and Serve: Once chilled, lift the brownies out using the parchment overhang and cut into 16 equal squares. Let them come to room temperature for at least 15 minutes before serving for the best texture and flavor. Store leftovers in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Notes
- Using salted butter is not recommended as the recipe already includes salt flakes and cooking salt for balanced seasoning.
- Dark chocolate chips provide depth of flavor; using high-quality chocolate will enhance the brownie taste.
- The swirl technique not only adds visual appeal but also creates pockets of rich peanut butter in every bite.
- Proper chilling time is essential to prevent the peanut butter from oozing out when cutting.
- You can customize the salt flakes amount according to your preference for sweet and salty balance.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 32 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Peanut Butter Brownies, Stuffed Brownies, Chocolate Brownies, Peanut Butter Swirl, Homemade Brownies, Fudgy Brownies, Sweet and Salty Dessert
