Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Brownies

These chocolate peanut butter brownies bake up rich and fudgy with a double chocolate base, melted Reese's peanut butter cups, and plenty of colorful Reese's Pieces on top. They're soft, gooey, and easy to make from scratch, with peanut butter chip sweetness and an optional peanut butter ganache to finish them off. You'll get a Reese's brownies recipe with simple tips to help you create the best homemade pan without extra fuss. Pin this recipe now so you always have a fun, crowd-pleasing dessert ready whenever a chocolate craving hits.

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Why is this the best recipe for Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter Brownies

This Reese's Pieces peanut butter brownies recipe is absolutely delicious! The combination of chocolate brownie batter with a hint of vanilla, peanut butter chips, and Reese's peanut butter cups is absolutely divine! But the flavors keep coming: you add a smooth chocolate ganache on top with Reese's Pieces.

This recipe makes the best dessert! Every bite is filled with rich, chocolately peanut butter flavor that will delight both kids and adults alike. No one will want to stop at one of these decadent brownies.

This is a quick and easy dessert, potluck, or holiday gathering recipe. Start by making your chocolate brownie batter in one bowl, adding only a few ingredients. Add in peanut butter chips and Reese's peanut butter cups into the batter and bake! Make a quick ganache with just 3 ingredients: heavy cream, chocolate chips, and Reese's pieces. Pour on top of the freshly baked brownies. That's all there is to it!

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The ingredients for the dish are common and easy to find. You likely already have most of the simple ingredients for this easy peanut butter brownie recipe in your pantry. If you need an ingredient or two, you can easily find them in most local grocery stores or on Amazon!

This Reese's Pieces brownies recipe tastes amazing! These peanut butter brownies are absolutely delicious on their own, but topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, they're a delicious dessert any time!

What you'll need to make Reese's Brownies

Equipment

• 8x8 inch baking pan creates the perfect size brownies for this recipe. You could use a 9x9, and then you'd need to cook them a little less. If you want to use a 9x13, you'll need to double the recipe and cook them a bit longer.
• Parchment paper prevents the brownies from becoming stuck in the pan after baking, and it also makes clean-up easier.
• Butter-flavor cooking spray helps the brownies release from the pan without getting stuck.
• Egg separator helps separate the egg yolk from the egg white. If you do not have an egg separator, you can crack the egg in the middle and gently pass the yolk back and forth between the two halves of the shell, letting the whites fall into a bowl underneath.
• Electric mixer evenly mixes the brownie batter. You can make a brownie batter without a mixer, certainly, but it's hard and labor-intensive.
• Sifter creates a lighter, less dense flour-cocoa mixture, helping the brownies to rise more evenly.

Ingredients  

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See the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all measurements and nutritional information.

For the Peanut Butter Brownies

• unsalted butter - This should be room temperature but not melted. Also, if you only have salted butter, don't worry about it. You can use salted butter with virtually no difference in the finished brownies. Do not reduce the amount of salt in the recipe.
• eggs - These should be room temperature. Note that you need whole eggs plus an egg yolk. If you use the last egg's whites, the batter will be too runny.
• vanilla bean paste - I prefer vanilla bean paste to vanilla extract because the paste has a much stronger and richer vanilla flavor. Vanilla extract is made by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol and then removing the beans. Vanilla bean paste is made by mixing crushed vanilla beans into concentrated vanilla extract. You can use them interchangeably in equal amounts.
• white sugar - This makes the brownies sweet. You may be able to use an alternate sweetener, but I have not personally tested any and can't help with those conversions.
• brown sugar - Brown sugar is just white sugar with molasses mixed in, but you need the molasses to make the brownie's distinctive flavor. This should be lightly packed into the measuring cup.
• cocoa powder - These brownies use only cocoa powder and not chocolate bars or chocolate chips. If you're looking for a plain fudgy brownie recipe using only cocoa powder, you can find that here.
• all-purpose flour - This is what makes the bulk and structure of the brownies. You can use a cup-for-cup gluten-free baking mix if you need to.
• salt - You're going to use just a little bit of salt to enhance the other flavors and to help the brownies rise.
• peanut butter chips - If you can't find peanut butter chips, you can replace these with Reese's Pieces to stick with the peanut butter theme or even milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips for a double chocolate brownie.
• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups - These should be cut into quarters or chopped. You can use standard-sized peanut butter cups or mini ones.

For the Chocolate Ganache

• semi-sweet chocolate chips - Traditional ganache is made from chocolate and heavy cream.
• heavy cream - You can replace this with a bit of peanut butter or coconut oil if you need to, but either one will change the flavor. I like peanut butter in this recipe as a second choice to heavy cream.
• Reese's Pieces - You'll want lots of these!

How to make chocolate peanut butter brownies

Instructions 

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F, and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and spray with butter-flavor non-stick spray. Set aside.
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For the Peanut Butter Brownies

1. In a large bowl, combine softened butter, eggs plus yolk, and vanilla bean paste. Mix well.
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2. Add the white and brown sugars to the butter mixture and beat together.
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3. Sift the cocoa powder, flour, and salt into the bowl, and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
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4. Add the peanut butter chips and chopped Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and fold into the batter.
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5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth to the edges.
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6. Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the center is just set. You'll notice the center does not jiggle when the pan is moved, but a toothpick may be a little dirty. Don't over-bake or the brownies will be hard.

For the Chocolate Ganache

1. Using a small heat-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and heavy cream. Heat in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring thoroughly after each interval, until the chocolate is melted and smooth. It should only take 2 or 3 bursts. (The photo shows a mixture of traditional chocolate chips and chocolate chunk shapes. It's what we had when we made the recipe.)
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2. Pour the ganache over the brownies, and gently smooth out the top.
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3. Cover the ganache with Reese's Pieces.
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4. Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes so the ganache can set. Enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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Substitutions & variations

These brownies can be made with gluten-free baking mix.

These brownies are fantastic as they are. But for you peanut butter lovers, you can take these recipes to a whole new level and add even more flavor by mixing a peanut butter swirl into the batter. Add chopped peanuts for extra crunch.

You can swap Reese's for Snickers, Milky Way, or Rolo's for a fun twist on the original recipe!

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Storing leftovers

Room Temperature: If your kitchen is cool, place the brownies in an airtight container on the counter. Add a piece of parchment paper between layers, if you're stacking them.

Refrigerator: Because of the ganache, the fridge is best for storing these brownies. Chill the brownies uncovered for 15-20 minutes to firm up the ganache, then transfer to an airtight container with parchment paper between the layers. Let them sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before enjoying, so the ganache can soften again.

Freezer: Wrap each brownie tightly in plastic wrap. Place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw in fridge overnight before serving or microwave in short bursts of 20 seconds until warm.

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Check out more delicious brownie recipes

• Cherry Cheesecake Brownies
• Caramel Turtle Brownies
• Cocoa Powder Brownies Recipe
• Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownies (AKA PB Cream Cheese Brownie Bars)
• Cast Iron Skillet Brownie
• Microwave Brownie in a Mug
• Brownie Mix Crinkle Cookies
• Gluten-Free Fudge Brownies Recipe

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