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!
- Milk Chocolate & Heavy Whipping Cream- for the ganache on top. A good quality chocolate is best here, semi-sweet and dark 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 milk chocolate chips
- 1 ½ cups 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.
This is a great recipe. Everyone loves it!
Hi, am I reading correctly that it’s 3 full cups of Icing sugar? I just measured it and it seems like a lot.
Would be grateful for a reply. Magda
Yes becasue you need the PB to be sweet thats why.
These are life changing! I made them for a get together and several people asked to take extras home. To me Buckeyes are perfect just as they are but this recipe takes them to a brand new level.
I have made 3 times and has been a hit with everyone! Will definitely be on my Christmas trays! They are delicious
Do you put the peanut butter mixture on top of the brownies fresh out of the oven, or should they cook a bit?
You can put it on the warm brownies 🙂
I have made this 3 times and is a hit with all who have had will definitely be in my Christmas trays! Thank you so much for sharing you wonderful recipes. Billie
I live here in Ohio & also a huge Buckeye fan. I’m getting ready to make the buckeye brownies for tomorrows game opener against Nebraska. These look so yummy & is perfect for this game. Go Bucks !!
Hi there! Just finished making these for our Sunday family dinner tomorrow! I seen them on your Instagram page today. I read your post with it as I don’t always do when it comes to recipes online, I know you wrote that a few years ago but I sure hope you had your son home this Christmas! I can relate a tiny bit but I have had lots of communication with my 17 yr old son who went to the mission field in Belize last July with a family from our local church. Miss him like crazy but support him and proud of the choices he has made! Can’t wait to dig into this dessert tomorrow!! Thanks for the recipe!
Awww thank you for the sweet comment. My son is now OUT of the Marines, yay!! Hope you get to see your boy soon!
Do you recommend a certain type of peanut butter? I usually use Teddy’s, but I am not sure how that type would do in a recipe like this as it can be a little oily. Thoughts? Also, I only have salted butter. Will that negatively impact the recipe?
Okay, so this is coming in about 3-4 years late, but I hope your son is home now or at least somewhere that postal delivery can drop him off one of your sweet-treat packages. Thank him for his amazing sacrifice, bravery, and service. It is people like him whom I look up to and whom inspire me in a bleak world; it is people like you whom I wish I could say, “yeah, I know the feeling,” but I can’t say that. I will just have to admire you and your family from afar for hearing the calling to serve. Not many do.
What a sweet message, thank you! He is still currently serving and deployed, so your comment is quite timely for this momma’s heart during the holiday. I’m in awe every day of our men and women who bravely serve our country.
It is late and I don’t have any heavy cream. What do u suggest I use ?
Thank you so very much. Want to try this recipe .
Hi, these look delicious!! Can’t wait to try them! As I am allergic to dairy, heavy cream is off my list. Can I melt the chocolate with coconut oil instead?
Made these and they’re fantastic! I didn’t have bittersweet chocolate, so I used semisweet and only 4 tbsp of cream. Worked like a charm! Thanks for a great recipe! I’ll definitely be making these again
These look delicious and so easy! YUM!
Just made these tonight! So delicious!
Thank you for this recipe – it is my new favorite!! Do you think they freeze well? I’d like to bring them to a baby shower this weekend and wasn’t sure if they would stay fresh for six days.
I haven’t tried freezing these particular brownies!
Will a brownie recipe from scratch work?