The first time I made Buckeye Brownies, my whole kitchen filled with that unmistakable scent of warm chocolate—the kind that instantly makes you stop what you’re doing just to inhale a little deeper. As the brownies baked, I whisked together the peanut butter layer, and it smelled like peanut butter fudge in the best way. When I finally poured the glossy chocolate ganache over the top, I remember thinking, “This is exactly what comfort tastes like.” These brownies instantly became a household favorite.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You’ll love this Buckeye Brownies recipe because it gives you all the richness of a classic brownie with the added indulgence of creamy peanut butter filling and a silky chocolate topping. It’s the kind of dessert that looks impressive but is surprisingly simple to make, thanks to the ease of using boxed brownie mix as a base. And honestly, if you adore the combination of chocolate and peanut butter as much as I do, these layers will feel like a dream come true.
Ingredients
- 1 box brownie mix (plus ingredients required on the box)
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups chocolate chips
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
Whenever I make these brownies, I stick with a fudgy brownie mix instead of a cakey one because the dense texture holds up best under the peanut butter and chocolate layers. For the peanut butter, creamy works beautifully—you want that smooth fudge-like consistency. Powdered sugar thickens the filling just right, so don’t substitute granulated sugar; trust me, it changes the texture completely. And for the ganache topping, I prefer semi-sweet chocolate chips because they pair perfectly with the sweet peanut butter layer.
Equipment Needed
- 9×13 baking pan
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rubber spatula
- Saucepan or microwave-safe bowl
- Parchment paper
- Whisk
I rely on parchment paper to lift the brownies out cleanly; it makes slicing them into perfect squares so much easier. A hand mixer helps whip together the peanut butter layer until it’s super smooth, which is important for getting that signature creamy buckeye texture. You can melt the chocolate and cream either in the microwave or on the stovetop—both work fine. I usually choose the microwave because it’s easy, but you just have to melt it slowly so it doesn’t scorch.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Whenever I start these brownies, I begin by preparing the brownie mix exactly as the box directs. I always opt for the fudgiest version, which usually means adding slightly less baking time to keep them extra moist. As they bake, I clean up my space and get the peanut butter layer ingredients ready, because once the brownies are cooled, everything moves quickly.(See the next page below to continue…)