It’s been a while since I baked anything using chocolate and peanut butter. While I do believe variety is a good thing, I also believe with absolute certainty that the combination of chocolate and peanut butter is a very, very good thing.
I’ve made peanut butter brownies many times, but these are different from any of those. The difference? Streusel. Not just any streusel. Peanut butter streusel. I’m pretty sure that’s a new one for me.
That sweet, nutty peanut butter streusel tops off a dark, cakey brownie for quite the chocolate-peanut butter experience.
I do recommend using crunchy peanut butter for the streusel to give it a little crunch. If you don’t have that, you can always mix in a tablespoon or so of chopped roasted peanuts.
I’ll pretty much take chocolate and peanut butter in most any combination. But, one of my favorite things about these bars is that you get a layer of each. That way each flavor gets its own little moment to shine while you devour your brownie.
Peanut Butter Streusel Brownies
Dark, rich brownies and a crunchy peanut butter topping combine for these Peanut Butter Streusel Brownies.
Ingredients
For the brownies:
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 & 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the streusel:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
To make the brownies:
- Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving a couple of inches of overhang on 2 opposite sides. Grease the lining.
- Place the chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave at half power in 30-second increments until the butter melts and the chocolate melts when stirred. Stir until smooth. Allow to cool slightly.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Add the sugar and brown sugar to the chocolate mixture and stir until blended. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing just until blended after each addition. Stir in the flour, vanilla, and salt.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan.
To make the streusel:
- Mix the flour, peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar, butter, and salt. Stir (or use a fork) until blended and crumbly. Sprinkle the streusel mixture evenly over the brownie batter.
- Bake 50-54 minutes, or until a pick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Then, use the overhanging lining to remove brownies from pan. Cut into bars.
Notes
Recipe slightly adapted from Southern Living.
27 Comments on “Peanut Butter Streusel Brownies”
This is very inventive! I’ve never seen a streusel topped brownie before. I love peanut butter and chocolate, so this is a must. When the red velvet cream cheese brownies I baked are gone, these will be next!
Those sound amazing!! I am definitely going to be trying them asap.
Very creative, indeed! I never would’ve thought to combine a streusel topping with either pb or chocolate. And this combination is so amazingly delicious…I just had the good fortune of trying one over here at SP! Thanks for sharing!!
Chocolate and peanut butter are sooo delicious and in streusel-form – WOW! Thanks for sharing 🙂
can you use coco instead of unsweetened chocolate?
That streusel is genius!! These sound so awesome!
Perfect for Valentine’s Day!
Okay, this is genius! I love the idea of the peanut butter streusel – especially on top of brownies!
Love these. PB and Chocolate are an amazing combo.
Can I double the recipe and put it in a 13×9 inch pan!!! More yummy brownies!!!
These look deadly good! Peanut butter streusel is a fabulous sounding addition!
Diane, you can double the recipe. Just be sure to check the center for doneness. You may need to bake them a little longer.
Mary, substituting cocoa powder can be a bit tricky. If you have a brownie recipe you like that uses cocoa powder, you can use that as a base for the streusel.
Just made these for my two Valentines…they did not disappoint! My son couldn’t even wait for them to cool. The brownies alone would be wonderful as well but the streusel is on another level!
That streusel looks like it’s to die for!
i love chocolade and peanut butter! perfect combination!
Yup…makin these today!
looks delicious as usual! Do you know of any good biscotti recipes? I saw you had one, I was hoping you could do some more is possible!
Shannan, I was recently thinking a lot about biscotti! I hope to bake some soon.
you have no idea how much I love this recipe!
You have me sold with peanut butter streusel, there is not way this can be bad!
I love chocolate and peanut butter together the addition of streusel is amazing!
Wow these look amazing, I definitely need to give them a try. Thanks for posting
I love all your recipes!! I especially appreciate that a lot of your squares are relatively small batch (8×8″ pan). Less is better that way we can make more than one kind!!
I’m glad you’re enjoying the recipes, Nancy! I’m all for baking more things. Variety is always welcome! 🙂
Once I mixed a full batch of pb cookies and realized i FORGOT the Baking Powder. I had it in my fridge for a day until I put it on top of a boxed brownie mix and it was the best accident in baking that ever happened to me. Lol
Baking “accidents” can result in some pretty amazing things!