Peanut Butter Cup Brownies (Printable)

Fudgy brownies with rich peanut butter cups, baked to indulgent perfection in every square.

# What you need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
06 - 2 cups granulated sugar
07 - 4 large eggs
08 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ Mix-ins & Filling

09 - 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
10 - 16 mini peanut butter cups, or 8 standard halved

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
03 - In a large bowl, combine melted butter and sugar. Whisk until the mixture becomes glossy and well incorporated.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract until smooth.
05 - Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain fudgy texture.
06 - Gently fold in chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
07 - Spread half of the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan.
08 - Arrange peanut butter cups evenly over the batter layer.
09 - Spoon remaining batter over the peanut butter cups, smoothing the top with a spatula to completely cover the filling.
10 - Bake for 28-32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges with a few moist crumbs.
11 - Allow brownies to cool completely in the pan before lifting out using parchment overhang. Slice into 16 squares.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • Fudgy, decadent brownies with a surprise peanut butter cup center in every bite
  • Simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry
  • Easy enough for beginner bakers but impressive enough for special occasions
  • Perfect make-ahead dessert that serves a crowd with 16 generous squares
  • Combines two beloved treats—brownies and peanut butter cups—into one irresistible dessert
02 -
  • Use room temperature eggs for smoother batter incorporation and better texture
  • Don't skip lining the pan with parchment paper—it makes removal and slicing so much easier
  • For the most evenly distributed peanut butter cups, arrange them in a 4x4 grid pattern
  • Let the melted butter cool slightly before adding to prevent scrambling the eggs
  • Resist cutting into the brownies until completely cooled for the cleanest slices
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