These Buckeye Brownies are the BEST brownie recipe ever! They have the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter with a fudgy brownies base, peanut butter filling, and a layer of rich chocolate ganache on top of the brownies. Perfect for the chocolate and peanut butter lover and will totally take your homemade brownies to the next level.

Buckeye Brownies Recipe

In my house, anything peanut butter and chocolate doesn’t last long the chocolate and peanut butter combination is a family favorite. This buckeye brownie recipe combines my love of brownies with my love of buckeyes and makes one amazing treat! Seriously these rich brownies never last long in my house and I might be the reason for that. If you love buckeye candies then you are going to love this great recipe for layered brownies.

Now look at that photo above, you see ALL that amazing flavor in ONE tasty treat? I know, it makes me hungry just thinking about them! Rich chocolate brownies, with a creamy and smooth fudgey peanut butter layer and then topped with smooth chocolate.

What is a Buckeye?

Real buckeyes are nuts that grow on trees and are related to the horse chestnut. They came up with the buckeye candy to look like them. Buckeyes are a sweet treat made from a peanut butter fudge partially dipped in chocolate to leave a circle of peanut butter visible, they are also called peanut butter balls. They are amazing!

Love Brownies? Be sure to check out these tasty brownie recipes too!

Best peanut butter for Buckeye brownies

It is a MUST that you use creamy peanut butter when making buckeye brownies. The brand doesn’t really matter as much as it needs to be a creamy peanut butter when you are making these homemade layered brownies.

How to Melt Chocolate for Buckeye Brownies

Sip using the microwave, you will not end up with chocolate the way that tastes best with this brownie recipe. To melt the chocolate, you want to use a double boiler. If you have never used a double boiler to melt chocolate I can tell you that it is super easy to do. Just follow the directions on how to melt chocolate with a double boiler. It is also important that you keep the heat at medium heat when you are melting chocolate, you might want it to melt faster, but I will tell you now that melting it to fast is going to give you a big mess and a waste of chocolate.

Tips for making this recipe

Use Boxed brownie Mix. When you are making buckeye brownies, you can use either a box of brownie mix or homemade brownie mix. If I am running short on time, I use the boxed mix if I am out of the homemade brownie mix that I normally keep on hand. Either one will work, but I will tell you there is a difference between the homemade mix and the boxed, so if you have the time homemade is the way to go!

Even layers. It is also VERY important that you spread the peanut butter and the chocolate toppings in an even layer.

Let the layers cool. Let each layer cool completely while making this chocolate peanut butter dessert. You will need to cool brownies, then cool the peanut butter layer and then cool the chocolate layer.

How to Keep Brownies from sticking to the pan

I suggest you line your baking dish with parchment paper before baking these chocolate and peanut butter brownies. This will allow you to easily lift them out of the pan and slice for serving, it also means no one will be able to tell that you cut a brownie out for yourself to enjoy, before serving them. There is no evidence of a missing brownie from the pan, when they are served on a plate.

Can I use boxed brownie mix?

You can! If you want to use a boxed brownie mix to make things easier you totally can, however, I love them best with homemade brownies and think they are even better when you use a homemade brownie mix but a boxed mix will still give you an awesome batch of brownies.

What type of chocolate chips should I use?

I like using semi-sweet chocolate chips but you can use milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips as well.

What size pan do I need when Making brownies?

The size pan you use will depend on how thick you like your brownies. Regardless of the pan size, you will still end up with rich chocolate flavor brownies. You can use a glass pan or a metal pan and they will bake the same. 9×13 pan for thin brownies and 9 x 9 square pan for thick brownies.

How do you know when brownies are done?

When brownies are perfectly baked, the center of them will look undercooked. Asbrownies cool they continue to cook, so you want to remove them before the center is fully cooked or you will have dry brownies.

To tell if the brownies are done cooking you want to stick a toothpick in the center, if it comes out with wet brownie batter then they need to bake longer. If it comes out with crumbs then it is time to remove the brownies from the oven.

How to Store Brownies

Homemade brownies are best stored in an airtight container. Allow the homemade brownies to cool completely before putting them in a container. They will keep for about 3 days if stored properly.

Buckeye Brownies Ingredients

Homemade Brownies Layer

Peanut Butter Fudge Layer

Chocolate layer

semi-sweet chocolate chips
butter

How to Make Buckeye Brownies

First Make the brownies.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease a 9×13 pan for thin brownies and 9 x 9 for thick brownies.

Combine the dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder in a large bowl.

In a medium mixing bowl add the wet ingredients, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract.

Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until they are well combined.

Spread brownie batter evenly in your prepared baking dish.

If you are using a 9 x 13 pan bake for 22-25 minutes. If you are using a 9 x 9 pan bake for 25 – 28 minutes.

Allow brownies to cool.

While the brownie base is cooling make the peanut butter layer.

In a small bowl, mix together the 1/2 cup of butter, peanut butter, and powder sugar until smooth.

Spread over cooled brownies. Let the peanut butter mixture set up in the refrigerator for and hour.

Once cooled it is time to make the chocolate layer for the Buckeye brownies.

Melt the chocolate chips and butter in a double boiler over medium heat till melted.

Once cooled it is time to make the chocolate layer for the Buckeye brownies.

Melt the chocolate chips and butter in a double boiler over medium heat till melted.

Pour over the peanut butter layer and let the chocolate harden.

Once cool, cut them into squares.

Chocolate Dessert Recipes

Baking Supplies

Love to bake? Here are some of our favorite tools to make it easier!

Buckeye Brownies Recipe

Created by Lauren

No ratings yet

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 40

Total Time 50

Servings 12

Print Recipe Pin Recipe