Fudgy chocolate brownies topped with peanut butter frosting are a classic dessert that we all love. (traditional and gluten-free recipes included)
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time31 minutesmins
2 hourshrs
Total Time2 hourshrs46 minutesmins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 18servings
Calories: 418kcal
Ingredients
Brownie Ingredients
½cupbutter
2¾cupssemi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
1cuplight brown sugar
1tablespoonvanilla extract
4eggs
1cupall-purpose flour*
½teaspoonkosher salt
Peanut Butter Frosting Ingredients
4ouncescream cheesesoftened
¼cupbuttersoftened
⅓cupcreamy peanut butter
2cupspowdered sugar
1-2tablespoonsheavy cream or milkonly as needed
*Gluten-Free Alternative
⅔cupbrown rice flour
⅓cuptapioca starch
Instructions
Brownie Instructions
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper or line it with foil and grease it very well with butter. Melt the butter in a large saucepan, over medium heat. When the butter has melted, add 2 cups of chocolate chips and stir with a wooden spoon until they have melted.
Remove from the heat, add the sugar and stir to combine. Add the vanilla and then whisk or stir in the eggs, one at a time. When the mixture is smooth and shiny, slowly add the dry ingredients to the mixture in the saucepan.
Stir in ¾ cup of chocolate chips. Spread the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 28-32 minutes, just until an inserted toothpick shows moist crumbs. Let the bars cool completely before frosting.
Frosting Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, butter, and peanut butter. Beat with an electric mixer (with the wire whisk attachment if possible) until thoroughly combined.
Gradually add the powdered sugar and beat until fluffy. The frosting should be thick, creamy, and spreadable. If it becomes too thick to easily spread, add a tablespoon of cream or milk and beat again, adding additional liquid only if necessary.
Gently spread the frosting over the completely cooled brownies and chill for 1-2 hours until firm. Slice into bars. Store the remaining brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.