These rich chocolate buckeye brownies are filled with 3 delicious layers of chocolate and peanut butter. The easiest chocolate peanut butter brownies using brownie mix!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Buckeye Brownies
One of the best dessert combinations out there is chocolate and peanut butter. The two taste incredible together! Some of my other favorite recipes using this perfect pair are my buckeye cupcakes and buckeye bark.
Chocolate and peanut butter are two of my favorite flavor combinations. If you love buckeye balls or peanut butter balls like me, you’re going to love these buckeye brownies!
This buckeye brownies recipe contain 3 delicious layers: a brownie layer, a peanut butter layer and a chocolate ganache layer. Plus, I used box brownie mix to make the recipe even easier. These brownies will win anyone over!
Ingredient Notes
Here is what you need for the layers!
- Brownies: I used a boxed brownie mix. Look for one that you make in a 9×13 pan. My favorite boxed brand is Ghiradelli. You will also need all ingredients on the back of the box.
- Peanut butter filling: Creamy peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar, brown sugar and vanilla.
- Ganache: I used milk chocolate chips but you can use dark chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips and melted butter.
How to Make Buckeye Brownies
Layer 1: Make the box mix brownies: Combine brownie mix with ingredients listed on package and stir until smooth. Pour into pan and bake at 350°F according to directions on box. Then remove from oven and let cool completely.
Layer 2: Make peanut butter mixture. In a large bowl, cream softened butter, peanut butter and vanilla then add in brown sugar. Slowly beat in powdered sugar. Spread the mixture on top of the boxed brownie layer. I like to use a spatula so the layer is even and smooth.
Layer 3: Top with chocolate ganache: Melt chocolate chips and butter in a small bowl in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until the chocolate is melted. Pour the melted chocolate over the peanut butter layer and spread with an offset spatula to smooth. Refrigerate brownies for 30 minutes, or until the chocolate topping sets.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t skip lining your 9×13″ baking pan with foil and lightly greasing it with non-stick spray. Otherwise your brownies will stick. Lining the pan with parchment paper also works.
- If the peanut butter frosting is too thick add a splash of milk or heavy cream to thin it out a little.
- These buckeye brownies are seriously to die for! Grab a big glass of cold milk and dig in.
- Make these with homemade brownie recipe instead of box mix.
- Store leftover brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days. Serve cold or bring to room temperature.
- Freeze brownies by flash freezing first then transferring to a freezer safe container and store up to 3 months. Wrap in plastic wrap if preferred to prevent freezer burn.
Love brownies? Try these copycat cosmic brownies and Nutella brownies, too!
More Brownie Recipes
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!
Buckeye Brownies Recipe
Ingredients
Brownie Base:
- 1 box brownie mix , plus ingredients on box (use a box mix that calls for a 9×13" pan)
Peanut Butter Layer:
- ½ cup unsalted butter , softened
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar
- milk , as needed to thin out mixture
Chocolate Glaze:
- 1 ½ cups milk chocolate chips
- 3 Tablespoons butter
Instructions
Brownies:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13" pan with foil and lightly grease with non-stick cooking spray.
- Mix brownie mix with ingredients listed on package, then pour in pan and bake according to directions on the box. Allow to cool completely.
Peanut Butter Layer:
- In a large bowl, mix together 1/2 cup butter, 3/4 cup peanut butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add in 1/4 cup brown sugar. Slowly beat in 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar. If it gets too thick, add a splash of milk.
- Then spread mixture over the brownie layer.
Chocolate Glaze:
- Melt 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips and 3 Tablespoons butter in a small bowl in the microwave. Cook at 50% power for 1-2 minutes until melted. Stir chocolate and pour over the peanut butter layer.
- Spread chocolate glaze with a spatula. Refrigerate brownies for 30 minutes or until glaze is set.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
the only problem i had is the chocolate glaze. mine didn’t turn out creamy. otherwise good recipe.
These were really good and went over well at Christmas
I’m so glad you enjoyed them. :)
Th
e recipes look wonderful I will be trying them for
sure.
I will be doing all
of them for Chrismas.
In your directions it calls for a 9 X 13 pan. You say you use Ghiradelli brownie mix. I have two different Ghiradelli brownie mixes and the largest pan in the baking instructions is a 9 X 9. Was your brownie base thick enough? I am all prepared to make these and just noticed this.
Hi Mary! Jamielyn used a mix that was for a 9×13 pan. You can use two 9×9 mixes and have a slightly thicker brownie than we did – I think that would be better than thinner. Happy baking!
I had the same issue with the chocolate chips as JONP. I added one tablespoon of butter at a time, in addition to the original three the recipe called for, until the mixture was more spreadable. I think the total amount of butter I used was five or six tablespoons. Hope this helps!
These were amazing! Although I was not able to master the melting of the choc chips. The chocolate stiffened before I could get it all spread on to of the peanut butter mixture! Clumpy and lumpy but they were still awesome. Any suggestions for working the choc chips?
What brownie mix do you use? Yours looks so rich and yummy!
I like to use Ghiradelli! :)
Update…I didn’t use the foil (just greased up the pan like the browning mix said) and they didn’t have any problem getting them out of the pan. However, I didn’t care for these at all; which really surprised me as I LOVE anything peanut butter especially if there is chocolate involved.
Hi! I’m going to start these right now ;-) It is snowing like crazy here! I’m wondering why you need the foil to bake the brownie mix? At 1st I thought you wanted us to rake the brownies out of the pan b/f adding the peanut butter layer; but you don’t mention that. Never used foil for just making reg brownie mix -only greased the bottom of the pan & they come out fine. Just want to check with you 1st about leaving the foil out & just follow the brownie mix directions. Never had a hard time removing they plain…. THANKS in advance!
Pat
Hi Pat! I like to use foil with these because it makes it easy to pull them out of the pan and to cut them without the layers separating! They should work just as good without foil though! :)
Since all ingredients are gluten free I am going to make these with the “K……z” gluten free brownie mix! I will check back in after.
Hope you enjoy these! :)
Chocolates just take me away. The pic that you have shown is so indulging, completely motivating me to experiment it today only
Hope you enjoy these Sherlie! :)
These look great. I was wondering if you could substitute the unsalted PB with creamy PB? Hard to find unsalted PB around here.
Yes, creamy peanut butter is what I used. It’s unsalted butter. Good luck! I hope you enjoy them!
This brownie recipe is a heavenly! So rich and delicious!
I’m so glad you liked them! Thanks for stopping by, Sommer!
Having trouble pinning from this site…am I doing something wrong?
These brownies look delicious. Can’t wait to try them!
Those look incredible. Peanut butter and chocolate are two of my favorite treats as well, so I am beyond excited to surprise my family with this yummy treats! Thanks for sharing! PINNED!
Why do you keep posting these tempting recipes?! Chocolate and peanut butter are my favorite! I think I already have everything in my pantry, I can’t wait to give these a try!
I’ve made buckeyes, and I’ve made brownies. But I’ve never made them together before, so this will be a first! I can’t wait to try out this recipe! Heading to the kitchen now… :)
You are in for a treat, they are divine! Hope you enjoy Christie! :)