Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

These Peanut Butter Cup Brownies are rich, fudgy, and strike the perfect balance of peanut butter and chocolate! I use organic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in this nostalgic treat for an indulgence that you’ll love and feel good about indulging in!

If you’re looking for more chocolate and peanut butter recipes, be sure to check out some of my other favorites like Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Bars, Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, or Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Balls.

A Quick Look At The Recipe

• Recipe Name: Peanut Butter Cup Brownies
• Ready In: 35 minutes
• Makes: 16 bars
• Main Ingredients: canola oil, cane sugar, black cocoa, all purpose flour
• Flavor Profile: rich chocolate with bursts of peanut butter cups
• Dietary Info: gluten free swap available
• Difficulty: Easy!
• Why You’ll Love It: peanut butter cup brownies made organic!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Chocolate and Peanut Butter: There is no better combination than chocolate and peanut butter! Rich chocolate with salty peanut butter is pure indulgence.
• Chewy and Fudgy: These brownies are rich and fudgy. I use black cocoa powder for daringly dark brownies that are perfect for Halloween.
• Organic Brownies: Indulge in a nostalgic treat but made with organic ingredients! Reese’s makes Organic Peanut Butter Cups now! So you can get all the nostalgic goodness with good ingredients.

Ingredients

• Canola Oil: I use organic canola oil because it’s the most neutral oil. You could also use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil if you want to avoid seed oils.
• Black Cocoa Powder: Organic black cocoa powder makes these brownies extra dark! They also give them a rich and chocolatey flavor.
• Dark Chocolate: I use an organic dark chocolate bar, chopped up. But you can also use dark chocolate chips too.
• All Purpose Flour: I use Cairnspring Mills, they’re my favorite fresh milled flour!
• Vanilla Bean: I use organic ground vanilla bean as I like the way it provides depth of flavor. If you don’t have vanilla bean, feel free to use vanilla extract in its place, just double the amount.
• Baking Powder: Make sure to use baking powder, not soda. Check out my post Difference Between Baking Soda and Baking Powder for more info on leavening agents.
• Peanut Butter Cups: I use Reese’s Organic Peanut Butter Cups! The original peanut butter cup has an organic option now! You can use minis or regulars, either works. Justin's is also a great option and I've made these with their mini peanut butter cups before too!

*For a full list of ingredients and measurements, visit the recipe card below.

Baker’s Tips

• I use canola oil for the most neutral flavor. If you’re avoiding seed oils, use avocado or olive oil in its place.
• You can use any kind of candy bars if you want, feel free to switch it up to make different flavors like Strawberry Chocolate Bars, Homemade Crunch Bars, or even Peanut Turtle Candy.
• I use my hand mixer here, but this recipe is so easy you could just use a whisk. And you can make this in your stand mixer if you prefer too.
• Make sure to store these in an airtight container.
• Gluten Free — Replace the all purpose flour with 212 grams (1 1/3 cups) gluten free flour blend, I used the Namaste Organic Perfect Flour for testing.

How to Make Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Chop up the peanut butter cups.

2. In a large mixing bowl, add the canola oil, cane sugar, cocoa powder, and dark chocolate.

3. Pour the boiling water directly on top of the chocolate and mix with a hand mixer on low on until combined and the chocolate has completely melted and there are no chunks.

4. Add the egg, flour, ground vanilla bean, baking powder, and sea salt in that order.

5. Mix on low until combined, do not over mix.

6. Add in half of the chopped peanut butter cups. Transfer to the prepared pan and spread evenly.

7. Add the remaining half of chopped peanut butter cups on top of the brownie batter.

8. Bake for 25 minutes to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely in the baking pan and then cut into 16 squares. (If baking at high altitude, be sure to follow the instructions in the Notes at the bottom of the recipe).

Peanut Butter Cup Brownies FAQ’s

Organic Halloween Inspiration

Reese's peanut butter cups are a classic Halloween candy, and it's so amazing they are making an organic option now! If you are looking for more ways to celebrate Halloween organically, check out these posts!

• This Halloween Dessert Board is an amazing quick and easy recipe for a party!
• Enjoy nostalgic candy bars made better like Healthy Almond Joy Bars, Vegan Snickers Bars, Homemade Crunch Bars, and Homemade Twix Bars.
• You can even make your own Vegan Dark Chocolate Mini Peanut Butter Cups and use these in these brownies!
• The Spooky Rose Cake for Halloween is one of my favorite Halloween cakes along with Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake.

More Organic Brownie Recipes

Organic Brownies with Bone Broth

Sourdough Chocolate Chip Brownies

Eggless Chocolate Ganache Brownies

Olive Oil Raspberry Brownies