Halloween Peanut Butter Brownies
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These Halloween Peanut Butter Brownies are rich, fudgy, and swirled with creamy peanut butter. A timeless treat that's easy to make from scratch with simple pantry ingredients!
Recipe Overview
A decadent treat for sure, perfect for Halloween, or even rooting for your favorite "black and orange" team at a tailgate. Here are the details:
- Servings: 16 squares
- Kitchen Equipment: 9x9 square baking pan
- Time: 10 minutes prep and 30 minutes baking.
Why I Love This Recipe
I've been baking these brownies for years, and they never fail to bring smiles. The peanut butter swirl not only adds that irresistible flavor combination but also makes the brownies feel special enough for sharing - or gifting. They're perfect for Halloween gatherings, after-school snacks, or anytime you want a classic brownie with a twist.
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Ingredients
- Butter - melted, for a rich and fudgy base.
- Granulated sugar - balances the deep chocolate flavor.
- Vanilla extract - adds warm, aromatic depth.
- Eggs - create structure and richness.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder - for that classic brownie chocolate bite.
- All-purpose flour - keeps the brownies chewy but not cakey.
- Baking powder & salt - ensure proper lift and balance.
- Peanut butter - creamy style works best for swirling.
- Chocolate chips (optional) - folded in for extra indulgence.
Variations
- Halloween brownies: Top with candy eyes, orange/black sprinkles, or Reese's Pieces before baking.
- Extra chocolatey: Add a layer of chocolate ganache or drizzle melted chocolate on top.
- Nutty swirl: Mix a spoonful of chopped peanuts into the peanut butter before swirling.
How to Make Peanut Butter Brownies
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment for easy removal.
- Make the batter: Whisk melted butter, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs one at a time. Stir in cocoa, flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips if using.
- Layer & swirl: Spread batter into the prepared pan. Warm peanut butter slightly (10-15 seconds in the microwave) so it's easier to swirl. Drop spoonfuls over the brownie batter and drag a knife or skewer through to create swirls.
- Bake: 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs (not wet batter).
- Cool & serve: Let cool completely before slicing for the cleanest squares.
Making the Swirls
Swirling the peanut butter is as easy as dropping spoonfuls of brownie batter and peanut butter in random dollops in your baking pan. Use a knife to spread the brownie batter into the gaps. Then, using the same knife, run it up and down the pan vertically and horizontally until you see a swirl pattern. That's it!
The orange swirl is actually peanut butter with red and yellow food dye added to create the color orange. This is an optional step for Halloween; you can easily omit the dye and just swirl in the peanut butter.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, but stir it well to ensure it's smooth and not oily. Creamy peanut butter gives the best swirl.
Absolutely - bake in a 9x13-inch pan and increase bake time to 35-40 minutes.
Look for the edges to be set and a toothpick inserted in the center to come out with moist crumbs (not raw batter).
Yes - substitute a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for all-purpose flour.
More Halloween Recipes to Try
- Easy, Fun and Spooky Halloween Treats
- Healthy Halloween Treats Your Trick-or-Treaters Will Love
- 6 Incredibly Easy Halloween Treats and Tricks
- Leftover Halloween Candy? Here are 21 Easy Ideas!
- Crockpot Apple Cider
- Easy Halloween Treats to Make Now
- Easy One Pan Halloween Rice Krispie Treats
- 25 Easy Pumpkin Desserts to Make This Fall
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Halloween Peanut Butter Brownies Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter melted
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1-½ teaspoon vanilla
- ¾ cup flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Peanut Butter Swirl
- 3 tablespoons butter melted
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- red food coloring
- yellow food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9 x 9-inch baking pan with overhanging layers of parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine ½ cup butter and chocolate chips. Microwave in 30-second increments, whisking after each, until completely smooth. Then mix in the granulated sugar until completely combined; whisk in the eggs and vanilla.
- With a spatula or spoon fold in the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Peanut Butter Swirl
- Melt butter in a medium-size bowl and add a few drops of yellow and red food coloring, until the butter has a nice orange color. Add the peanut butter and confectioners sugar and mix together until smooth.
- Drop big spoonfuls of the chocolate brownie batter randomly into the prepared pan. Top with spoonfuls of the peanut butter batter. Using a knife, swirl the batters together. Sprinkle with additional chocolate chips.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out mostly clean. Cool completely; about 1 hour. For 16 brownies, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.
Notes
- Peanut Butter: Warm peanut butter slightly for easier swirling.
- Swirls: For a cleaner swirl pattern, use a toothpick or skewer.
- Baking Tip: For extra fudgy brownies, slightly underbake and chill before slicing.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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