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.
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Ingredients
- 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
- 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
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 lining.
Place chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave at half power in 30-second increments until butter melts and chocolate melts when stirred. Stir until smooth. Allow to cool slightly.
Preheat oven to 350°.
Add sugar and brown sugar to chocolate mixture and stir until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing just until blended after each addition. Stir in flour, vanilla, and salt.
Transfer batter to prepared pan.
To make the streusel, mix flour, peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar, butter, and salt. Stir (or use a fork) until blended and crumbly. Sprinkle streusel mixture evenly over 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 adapted from Southern Living.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
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!
February 13th, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Those sound amazing!! I am definitely going to be trying them asap.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:45 pm
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!!
February 13th, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Chocolate and peanut butter are sooo delicious and in streusel-form – WOW! Thanks for sharing
February 13th, 2013 at 4:53 pm
can you use coco instead of unsweetened chocolate?
February 13th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
That streusel is genius!! These sound so awesome!
February 13th, 2013 at 5:08 pm
Perfect for Valentine’s Day!
February 13th, 2013 at 9:05 pm
Okay, this is genius! I love the idea of the peanut butter streusel – especially on top of brownies!
February 13th, 2013 at 9:12 pm
Love these. PB and Chocolate are an amazing combo.
February 13th, 2013 at 9:17 pm
Can I double the recipe and put it in a 13×9 inch pan!!! More yummy brownies!!!
February 13th, 2013 at 10:18 pm
These look deadly good! Peanut butter streusel is a fabulous sounding addition!
February 13th, 2013 at 10:29 pm
Diane, you can double the recipe. Just be sure to check the center for doneness. You may need to bake them a little longer.
February 13th, 2013 at 10:31 pm
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.
February 13th, 2013 at 10:53 pm
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!
February 14th, 2013 at 12:11 am
That streusel looks like it’s to die for!
February 14th, 2013 at 3:18 am
i love chocolade and peanut butter! perfect combination!
February 14th, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Yup…makin these today!
February 14th, 2013 at 7:21 pm
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!
February 15th, 2013 at 11:28 am
Shannan, I was recently thinking a lot about biscotti! I hope to bake some soon.
February 15th, 2013 at 5:57 pm
you have no idea how much I love this recipe!
February 15th, 2013 at 6:20 pm
You have me sold with peanut butter streusel, there is not way this can be bad!
February 17th, 2013 at 12:22 pm
I love chocolate and peanut butter together the addition of streusel is amazing!
February 24th, 2013 at 10:57 am
Wow these look amazing, I definitely need to give them a try. Thanks for posting