Rich chocolate Buckeye Brownies topped with a homemade peanut butter filling and chocolate ganache. You’ll love how easy and fudgy these brownies are to make!
If you LOVE Buckeyes you will also love these Buckeye Bars. Much like the original, except there is no dunking each individual piece in chocolate.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
Imagine making your own Reese’s peanut butter cup recipe. Smooth and creamy peanut butter dipped in rich chocolate.
A buckeye brownie is that same flavor on top of a fudgy chocolate brownie. Perfection.
The layers.
- Brownies. I use my homemade brownies as the perfect base for this dessert. You *could* swap out homemade for a boxed mix.
- Peanut Butter Filling. This is the best layer. Soft peanut butter combined with butter, vanilla and powdered sugar to create the perfect texture!
- Ganache. The chocolate ganache is soft enough to sink your teeth into, but not runny that leaves your hands covered in chocolate. You decide whether you prefer dark, milk, or semi-sweet chocolate!
If you love today’s brownies, be sure to try our chocolate peanut butter pie next! Or give our buckeye brownie cookie recipe a try- it’s a copycat Crumbl cookie!
Ingredient Notes
- Peanut Butter- opt for a shelf stable peanut butter, like Skippy or Jif, as they tend to produce the best results.
- Powdered Sugar- used as a sweetener for the peanut butter layer. We love powdered sugar because it sweetens without creating a grainy texture. No graham cracker filling here!
- Vanilla- pure vanilla extract is best. Try our homemade vanilla extract, it’s delicious and cost effective!
- Dark Chocolate & Heavy Whipping Cream- for the ganache on top. A good quality chocolate is best here, semi-sweet and milk chocolate works well too.
How to make Buckeye Brownies
Brownies. Start by making a batch of brownies in a 13×9 baking dish. My fudgy brownie is best, but you could also try my dark chocolate brownies!
PRO TIP: Make sure you line your baking dish with parchment paper before baking. This will allow you to easily lift them out of the pan and slice for serving.
Peanut Butter Filling.
- While your brownies are baking, make your peanut butter filling. Beat ingredients until combined into a soft “dough.”
- Remove brownies from oven and gently drop peanut butter mixture onto top of warm brownies. Use your finger tips to make sure the brownies are completely covered.
For the ganache.
- In a small microwave safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream. Heat for one minute and stir until smooth.
- Pour over peanut butter layer and spread evenly.
Chill. Cool completely by refrigerating brownies for 2 hours (or more). Cut into bars while chilled and enjoy!
Storage
Store. These buckeye brownies are best when stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Keep covered for up to 5 days.
Freeze. Place brownies in airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator overnight.
More Easy Desserts
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Grahams: these easy dipped grahams are a fun treat!
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Biscotti: cookies for breakfast is always a win in my book!
- Peanut Butter Mousse Pie: one of my favorite peanut butter and chocolate desserts on the blog!
- Rice Krispie Treats
- Magic Bars Recipe
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
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Buckeye Brownies Recipe
Ingredients
For the brownies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
For the peanut butter filling:
- ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar
For the ganache:
- 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips
- 6 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Set it aside.
- In a medium sized saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Once melted, remove the pan from heat and add chocolate chips and granulated sugar. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted.
- Add eggs, one at a time, combining completely after each addition. Add vanilla and stir until blended.
- Add the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Using big strokes, stir just until mixed and dry ingredients are no longer visible.
- Pour batter in the prepared baking dish. Bake the brownie layer for 23-25 minutes.
- While brownies are baking, make peanut butter filling. In a mixing bowl, combined melted butter, peanut butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Beat until combined.
- Remove brownies from oven when done baking. Gently drop peanut butter filling onto top of warm brownies, using fingertips to make sure brownies are completely covered.
- For the ganache, in a small microwave safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and heavy cream. Heat for one minute. Stir until smooth. Pour over peanut butter layer and spread until evenly distributed.
- Refrigerate brownies for 2 hours (or more). Cut into bars while chilled. Serve and enjoy!!
Notes
- Peanut butter. I find regular creamy peanut butter works better than natural or sugar free.
- Storage. Keep these brownies chilled for best results. Store in airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
These were a-MAZing! Totally loved by all. They’re going to a pot luck on Sunday:)
Hooray! Thanks for stopping back and letting me know 🙂
I made these yesterday but only used two cups of powdered sugar on the pb filling and I think it was to dry. Don’t know how you could use three cups.
It will work, I promise! You just keep mixing until it finally comes together. It will be very crumbly at first, then it will combine.
I made this recipe and I think the measurents for the chocolate is wrong I had to add alot more heavy cream
Maybe it depends on the brand of chocolate? But I use Ghirardelli morsels which melt so smooth, and 6Tbsp of cream is perfect!
These are so amazingly good! Everyone I shared them with loved them! Thank you!
Yay, glad you loved them!!
Can these be frozen? I need brownies for a reunion but need to make ahead. Thank you.
Yes, they sure can 🙂
I just found this recipe today on Facebook. It is the best marriage of chocolate and peanut butter which I love. I really like your blog and seems to have attracted some really nice ladies. I am sure you are over the boot camp episode and it is behind you and you are stronger because of it. Now your boy is off on the next adventure and I am concerned about what it would be given the mess the world is in now. That has its own kind of concern for a mother, one I think worse than bootcamp and will last longer. Your son has chosen his own path, and not as secure one as if he had gone to college or trade school where he could still be in your home. So many boys have chose the lazy path of life, mooching off Mom and Dad or a woman, seems so prevalent today, but not your son. So be proud that he has stepped up to the biggest challenge. Every mother has to learn to let go at some point and accept that their child is capable of doing without her, which I think is the biggest hurt. But that is what you raised them for, so congratulations on a job well done.
Thank you for those kind words 🙂
You are much stronger than I, in fact I would be doing these amazing brownies while crying myself to sleep every night! Stay brave and keep those yuumy creations coming! PS I have featured this scrumptious recipe in the Absolute Best Brownie Recipe Roundup over at dreamingofleaving.com 🙂 xo
Made these last week and they were quite delicious! In the KEEPER recipe pile!! Thank you!
I just discovered your blog and this wonderful recipe on Facebook (shared by OMG Chocolate Desserts). I love Buckeyes and cannot wait to make these brownies. They look, and I’m sure they taste, heavenly. Best wishes to you and your son. My son and daughter-in-law just moved out of state, and I’m starting to send goodie boxes to them. Any advice on how to ship treats like this would be much appreciated (I’ve only sent packaged goods so far).
Depending on the weather, there are some great options. Cookies obviously send best. As does biscotti (I’ve got a bunch of biscotti recipes on the blog). Even quick breads ship well. Just make sure everything is packaged in airtight plastic bags, and then cushioned with newspaper inside a box. Happy to have you here!!!
THANK YOU for this awesome recipe. I made them for Boss’s Day today, and they’re a huge hit. They are easy to make, delicious, and look impressive when cut. Thank you for sharing!
Wow, I had something similar to these years ago when I lived in Ohio and never forgot how amazing they were. Will definitely have to try these. They are decadent but look so delicious. 🙂 Plus, I always go for the recipes that are easy to make, as I’m not the world’s best cook.
And no, I don’t have kids at boot camp (no kids at all, in fact – which means more of these lovely desserts for me, LOL)
Gorgeous photos too. Thanks 🙂
Buckeye brownies?! Its sheer brilliance! These looks incredible. They sure wouldn’t last long in our chocolate and pb loving house!
These sound like the perfect combo of chocolate and peanut butter! And I am glad you are holding up better than you expected with your son at boot camp. I’m not at that stage in my life so I don’t know how I would deal with a child gone with no way to check in on them and find out how they’re doing. But I do agree with you, brownies would definitely help me get by 😉
Thanks Sharon. I’m sure you would do great too…if not, come find me. I’ll help you through it and send you brownies 🙂
I could eat them all, they are so wonderful the tree level gives great decoration, ingredients tell that is a healthy recipe, I congratulate you
god bless your son! I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for a mom! I’m sure those care packages will be as important for you to make as they will be for him to receive!
For sure!! Thanks Cynthia 🙂
Such a beautiful post, a great reminder to stop and enjoy each day with our families! I think some great memories could be made over a batch of these brownies!
Thanks Jessica 🙂
It is so comforting to know that our kids are on the path that God has for them! I’m so glad you are doing ok with him gone. Of course with brownies like these in your kitchen, that definitely has to help some!!! These fun brownies are a favorite in our house too!
What a great post! As a mom to be, hearing these words of encouragement are so powerful!
An these buckeye brownies, the only way I want to devour buckeyes now!
You are going to be a great mom Meg 🙂
Oh Aimee, praying you can stay strong and what an amazing son you have to choose this path. You are right we need to celebrate each moment together. These brownies are a great way to celebrate.
Thank you Kristen 🙂
You are staying so strong, Aimee. And if you send care packages once you have his address, I’m sure they would be the best ones ever. I hear military moms are good at that. Either way, it takes a lot of courage to let him board the plane like that. I am full of admiration.
These are my favorite kind of brownies, ever. Just wanted to add that!
I’m going to love sending out care packages. Not yet though. No packages in boot camp. His drill instructors would make fun of him, haha.