Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownies

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownies are a sure way to win over friends and family. After all, what combination marries together quite like chocolate and peanut butter? If you’re looking for a real treat, look no further! These bars will leave you coming back for seconds!

The Perfection of Peanut Butter & Chocolate

Coming from Ohio, you are pretty much born into loving peanut butter and chocolate. After all, it is the Buckeye State! For those of you unsure of what a buckeye is, in its true form, it is a poisonous nut. In candied form, Buckeyes are a small ball of peanut butter deliciousness, mostly encased in a layer of chocolate. Just a tiny amount of peanut butter is peeking out on one end, creating the look for a buckeye. They are time-consuming to make, but oh-so-good!

So you see, peanut butter and chocolate combinations have already won a place in my heart! Add cream cheese to the mix, and it is something hard to pass up!

Preparation

For this recipe, the brownie itself for this recipe is rich, fudgy, and dense. You start by melting chocolate chips and butter as part of the base. This gives is that abundant, chocolatey flavor. Upon mixing together the rest of the brownie ingredients, you’ll bake the brownie layer. It is normal for the brownie layer to be thin, so don’t be concerned if you don’t feel it has risen enough.

While the brownie was baking, I went ahead and mixed the peanut butter cheesecake layer. Initially, the peanut butter mixture had a very thick consistency. The heavy whipping cream is what helps to make it creamy and smooth and bring everything together. The end result is a decadent topping that will leave you wanting to lick the bowl. I’d be lying if I told you there was no temptation.

Okay, I was more than tempted! A few finger swipes may have taken place.              

Finishing Up

I crushed up Reese’s Cups and sprinkled the pieces on top before putting them in the refrigerator. The chocolate drizzle came right before serving, as the chocolate tends to crack when cooled.

Refrigerating the Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownies once put together is a step you don’t want to skip. This will help so that they can set correctly, making it easier and neater to cut into bars. Trust me, it’s worth the wait. The finished product is a Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownie Bar that you won’t want to share!

If you like nutty desserts, you might also enjoy Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie Bars.

Print Recipe

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownie Bars

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Dessert

Serves: 12

Prep Time: 30 – Cooking Time: 15 – Total Time: 45

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownie Bars are a sure way to win over friends and family. After all, what combination marries together quite like chocolate and peanut butter? If you’re looking for a real treat, look no further! These bars will leave you coming back for seconds!

Ingredients

• BROWNIES:
• 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup salted butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE:
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup cup heavy whipping cream
• TOPPING
• 3 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
• 1/8 cup melted chocolate chips

Instructions

1

FOR BROWNIES

2

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.

3

Place the chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave in 30-second increments until the butter has melted and chocolate melts when stirred. Stir until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.

4

In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, and salt. Add the chocolate mixture, stirring until well combined. Add the flour, mixing just until combined.

5

Scoop the batter to the prepared pan and spread in an even layer. Bake 15 minutes, or until a pick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. A few crumbs is normal.

6

TO MAKE THE PIE FILLING:

7

Beat the cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium until well combined and smooth.

8

In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer with a whisk attachment to whip the cream until soft peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. Be careful not to overmix.

9

Scoop the filling over the cooled brownies.

10

Crumble Reese's Cups over top of filling, sprinkling pieces evenly across top. Refrigerate for 4 hours, or until peanut butter topping is firm.

11

Cut bars into desired size ( I made 12 bars)

12

To finish bars, melt 1/8 cup chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second increments, stirring until smooth. Drizzled melted chocolate over top of crumbled Reese's Cups in a zigzag pattern.

13

Keep leftover Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownie Bars refrigerated.