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Chocolate Peanut-Butter Layer Brownies

3.9

(28)

These thick, chewy brownies have a peanut-butter base and a chocolaty top.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 16 squares

Ingredients

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
3 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped fine, or 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F. and butter and flour a 9-inch square baking pan, knocking out excess flour.

    Step 2

    In a double boiler or metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate, stirring, until smooth and remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat. Cool chocolate to room temperature.

    Step 3

    In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy and beat in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and vanilla. Into a small bowl sift together flour, baking powder, and salt and beat into butter mixture just until blended well.

    Step 4

    Divide batter between 2 bowls. Whisk peanut butter into batter in 1 bowl. Whisk melted chocolate into batter in other bowl and stir in chopped chocolate or chocolate chips.

    Step 5

    Spread peanut-butter batter evenly in pan. Drop chocolate batter by large spoonfuls onto peanut-butter batter and spread carefully to form an even layer. Bake brownies in middle of oven 35 to 40 minutes, or until a tester comes out with crumbs adhering to it. Cool brownies completely in pan on a rack before cutting into 16 squares. Brownies keep, layered between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container at cool room temperature,5 days.

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