Hey there, fellow dessert lover! Let’s be honest, sometimes you just need something unapologetically decadent, something that screams comfort and pure joy. And if you’re anything like me, that craving often involves the magical combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Remember tearing into a Reese’s cup as a kid? That perfect balance of salty peanut butter and sweet chocolate? Well, get ready to take that feeling and multiply it by a hundred, because we’re making the most ridiculously delicious Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Brownies you’ve ever had. These aren’t complicated or fancy; they’re just easy, fudgy brownies stuffed and topped with all that peanut butter goodness you crave. Seriously, they’re so simple you might just find yourself making them way more often than you planned!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast: Because cravings wait for no one! Using a box mix gets you halfway there in no time.
- Easy: If you can make brownies from a box, you can make these. Seriously, it’s that simple.
- Giftable: Wrap these up, and you’ll be everyone’s favorite person. Perfect for parties, bake sales, or just a sweet surprise.
- Crowd-pleasing: Who doesn’t love Reese’s? Who doesn’t love brownies? This is a guaranteed hit every single time.
Ingredients
Gather up your sweet supplies! Most of these are pantry staples, but that crucial star ingredient? Make sure you grab enough!
- 1 (18 oz) box brownie mix, plus ingredients called for on the box: Your favorite brand works great here. We’re embracing the ease!
- 15 full-size Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: This is where the magic happens! Make sure they’re full-size for that perfect gooey layer.
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter: Smooth and creamy is key for that dreamy frosting.
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature: Make sure it’s nice and soft so it creams beautifully with the peanut butter.
- 2 1/4 cups confectioners sugar: Also known as powdered sugar or icing sugar. This gives the frosting its smooth texture.
- 4 tbsp heavy cream: Just a little bit to make the frosting light and fluffy. Milk can work in a pinch, but cream gives the best richness.
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla enhances all those lovely flavors.
How to Make It
Alright, let’s get baking! You got this. Follow these steps, and you’ll be in chocolate-peanut butter heaven before you know it.
First things first, let’s get the oven ready. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). While it’s heating up, grab a 9×13-inch baking dish. The easiest way to get these brownies out later is to line the dish with parchment paper, letting the paper hang over the sides a bit. This creates little “handles” for lifting!
Next, whip up your brownie mix according to the package instructions. Don’t overmix it, just get it combined until there are no dry spots. Easy peasy.
Now, spoon about two-thirds of that glorious brownie batter into your prepared dish and spread it out evenly. This is your bottom layer.
Here comes the fun part! Unwrap those 15 full-size Reese’s Cups. Lay them out in a single layer over the batter. You can press them in ever so slightly, just enough so they sit nestled in the batter.
Gently dollop the remaining brownie batter over the top of the Reese’s cups. Carefully spread it out, trying your best to completely cover all those cups. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just aim to hide them away so they melt into a surprise layer of goodness inside.
Pop the dish into your preheated oven and bake for 25–30 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when a toothpick inserted into the brownie part (avoiding the hidden Reese’s!) comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Overbaking is the enemy of fudgy brownies, so keep an eye on them!
Okay, now for the hardest part: waiting. Let those brownies cool completely in the pan. I know, I know, it’s tough, but trust me, you need them cool before frosting.
While the brownies are cooling, let’s make that dreamy peanut butter frosting! In a large bowl, beat together the creamy peanut butter and your room-temperature butter until it’s smooth and lovely.
Gradually add the confectioners sugar, mixing it in bit by bit. The mixture will get thick! Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to make sure everything is getting combined.
Pour in the heavy cream and the vanilla extract. Now, beat this mixture on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes. You’ll see it transform from a thick paste into a wonderfully light and fluffy frosting. It’s pure magic!
Once the brownies are completely cool, use those parchment paper handles to lift the whole slab out onto a cutting board or counter.
Spread that fluffy peanut butter frosting evenly over the top of the cooled brownies. Make swirls or just smooth it out – whatever makes you happy!
Now, slice ’em up and dive in! Prepare for immediate happiness.
Substitutions & Additions
Want to get creative? Here are a few ways to play with this recipe:
- Change the Candy: Not a Reese’s fan (gasp!)? Try using mini peanut butter cups (just sprinkle them in the middle layer), or swap them for other candies like Rolo’s (caramel!), or chopped Snickers.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Fold a cup of chocolate chips into your brownie batter for extra chocolatey goodness.
- Swirl More Peanut Butter: Before baking, after you’ve put the top layer of batter on, dollop spoonfuls of extra creamy peanut butter over the top and use a knife or toothpick to swirl it into the batter.
- Crunchy Peanut Butter: You could use crunchy peanut butter in the frosting for a bit of texture, but it might not be quite as smooth.
- Different Frosting Flavor: If you wanted to go wild, you could swap the peanut butter frosting for a chocolate buttercream!
Tips for Success
A few pointers to make sure your Reese’s brownies turn out absolutely perfect:
- Don’t Overmix Brownie Batter: Mix just until combined. Overmixing develops gluten and can lead to tougher brownies.
- Room Temperature Butter is Key: For the frosting, ensure your butter is soft enough to easily beat with the peanut butter. Cold butter won’t cream properly.
- Cool Completely!: I cannot stress this enough. Frosting warm brownies is a melted mess. Patience, my friend!
- For Clean Slices: Use a large, sharp knife. For the cleanest cuts, run the knife under hot water, wipe it dry, make a slice, and repeat.
- Adjust Baking Time: Ovens vary! Start checking your brownies a few minutes early. A few moist crumbs are good; liquid batter is not.
How to Store It
If (and that’s a big if) you happen to have any of these glorious brownies left over, here’s how to keep them fresh.
Store the cooled and sliced brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. If your kitchen is very warm, or if you prefer them chilled, you can store them in the refrigerator for about a week. Just be aware they might be a little firmer when cold.
You can also freeze these! Wrap individual slices or the entire slab tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container or bag. They should keep well in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature or in the fridge.
FAQs
Can I use homemade brownie batter instead of a box mix?
Absolutely! If you have a favorite scratch brownie recipe, go right ahead and use it. Just make sure it yields a similar amount of batter as an 18oz box mix (usually enough for a 9×13 pan).
Do I have to use full-size Reese’s Cups?
The recipe is designed for full-size cups to create that distinct gooey layer in the middle. You could use mini cups, but they might distribute differently and not create that same concentrated layer. You’d likely need more mini cups.
My frosting seems too thick/thin. What can I do?
If it’s too thick, add another tablespoon of heavy cream (or milk) at a time and beat until desired consistency is reached. If it’s too thin, add a few more tablespoons of confectioners sugar and beat again.
Why did my frosting curdle or look grainy?
This usually happens if your butter wasn’t soft enough or if the ingredients weren’t mixed long enough. Make sure your butter is properly room temperature and beat the final frosting mixture for the full 2 minutes on medium-high speed to get it nice and fluffy and smooth.
Ultimate Easy Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Brownies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides.
- Step 2: Prepare the brownie mix according to the package instructions. Mix until just combined with no dry spots.
- Step 3: Spoon about two-thirds of the brownie batter into the prepared dish and spread it out evenly.
- Step 4: Unwrap the 15 full-size Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and lay them out in a single layer over the batter.
- Step 5: Gently dollop the remaining brownie batter over the top of the Reese's cups and carefully spread it out, trying to cover them completely.
- Step 6: Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the brownie part (avoiding the Reese's) comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
- Step 7: Let the brownies cool completely in the pan.
- Step 8: While the brownies are cooling, make the frosting: In a large bowl, beat together the creamy peanut butter and the room-temperature butter until smooth.
- Step 9: Gradually add the confectioners sugar, mixing it in bit by bit until the mixture is thick.
- Step 10: Pour in the heavy cream and the vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Step 11: Once the brownies are completely cool, use the parchment paper handles to lift them out onto a cutting board or counter.
- Step 12: Spread the peanut butter frosting evenly over the top of the cooled brownies.
- Step 13: Slice and serve immediately.
