Name: Buckeye Brownies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 8 Tablespoons cocoa powder; 1 cup unsalted butter; 2 cups sugar; 4 eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 2½ cups flour; pinch of salt; 1 cup creamy peanut butter; ½ cup butter ((softened)); 3 cups powdered sugar; 3 Tablespoons milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla; pinch of salt; 2 cups milk chocolate chips; ¾ cup butter

It’s that time of year, the time for all the delicious sweets and treats to be made and shared with friends and families. These glorious buckeye brownies are the perfect mix of chocolate and peanut butter that will leave your tastebuds asking for more.

We LOVE Buckeye Brownies! Some of you might be wondering what exactly is a buckeye.

Well the name “buckeye” comes from Ohio. These wonderful desserts are meant to resemble the nut that comes from the Ohio buckeye tree.

With these when you cut into the brownies you will be able to see all of the peanut butter and chocolate layers just like if you were to cut into a buckeye nut.

If you want to check some more buckeye desserts and ball recipes to make for this holiday season you MUST check out our Chubby Hubby Buckeye Peanut Butter Truffles, or our classic Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls and another one of my favorites, Peanut Butter Snowballs!

Buckeye Brownie Square on a white plate with a fork

Ingredients needed to make these Buckeye Brownies from scratch?

Buckeye Ingredients:

Cocoa powder
Eggs
Salt
Flour
Granulated sugar
Unsalted butter
Powdered sugar
Vanilla extract
Creamy peanut butter
Milk
Milk chocolate chips

Buckeye Brownies cut into squares stacked

For the brownie layer, you can use our brownie recipe to make them from scratch, but you could also use your favorite boxed brownie mix. Just skip to number 6 on the ingredients list and add a box of brownie mix then you’re good to go!

If you are looking to add an extra special touch to these peanut butter chocolate brownies, maybe try your hand at making your own peanut butter with THIS recipe for the Food Network. Just be sure to make it creamy!

Can you use chunky peanut butter for this recipe? You can, but it will not give the same texture we are looking to achieve for the chocolate and peanut butter layered brownies.

Related Article: These Lunch Lady Peanut Bars are the EXACT same recipe that they served in your cafeteria growing up!

“I have so much time!” -No mom ever

Let us give you your time back. With the Six Sisters’ Meal Plans, we do the dinner planning, grocery ordering, and then all you have to do is decide whether to pick them up or have them delivered.

Get My Meal Plans NOW!

Love cooking as much as we do? Join our FREE private Facebook Group: Six Sisters’ Dinner Club!

HOW DO YOU MAKE THE WONDERFUL BUCKEYE BROWNIES?

BROWNIE LAYER:

Let’s start with the brownie layer. Begin by preheating the oven to 325 degrees. Then, get out your favorite 9 x 13 pan (THIS is my favorite one) and grease it up.

Then, melt the butter and after it is melted, add in the cocoa and stir it together well. Once those have been combined, add in the sugar and eggs to the butter and cocoa mixture mixing and combine it all together.

Ingredients for brownie layer in a white mixing bowl

Lastly, add in the vanilla, flour, and salt to the creamed cocoa and sugar mix. Beat everything together until it is well incorporated.

Brownie mixture in mixing bowl with a rubber spatula

Then, simply pour everything into the 9 x 13 pan and bake it for 25 – 30 minutes, or until the brownies are cooked all the way through.

You will then top the brownies with the peanut butter layer and then pour the chocolate ganache and spread it evenly over everything. THESE angled spatulas make spreading the chocolate ganache evenly very easy!

*Remember, if you are wanting to use a brownie box mix skip the brownie making step and replace it with the box steps for the brownies.*

PEANUT BUTTER LAYER:

To begin the peanut butter layer, place the peanut butter and softened butter into a medium sized bowl and mix it all together on medium speed until the peanut butter mixture becomes light and creamy.

Be sure to scrape down the bowl and then add in the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and salt. Beat it all together for another minute and then scrape the bowl down again. Then, turn the mixture back on medium speed until the peanut butter mixture becomes smooth and creamy.

Spreading Peanut Butter Layer on top of Brownie Layer

Spread this layer over top of the brownies.

GANACHE LAYER:

Melt together the chocolate chips and butter in a microwave safe bowl for 2 minutes and 30 second intervals. Be sure to stir the chocolate and butter together in between. You will continue this until all the chocolate is melted and smooth.

Lastly, spread the chocolate ganache over top of the peanut butter layer and then let it cool until if hardens.

Pan of Buckeye Brownies with one square missing

TIP: You can place this in the fridge to speed up the cooling process a bit.

Related recipe: love these layered brownies? Then you’ll love our Mom’s Famous Marshmallow Brownies and our Brownie Mix Cookies!

Watch our how to video!

We have an awesome YouTube channel that you MUST check out! You can even watch how make the peanut butter snowballs that I mentioned earlier! They are my go to during the holiday season.

More of our favorite Pinterest worthy recipes:

Serves: 24

Buckeye Brownies Recipe

4.34 from 3 votes

These glorious buckeye brownies are the perfect mix of chocolate and peanut butter that will leave your taste buds asking for more.

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 45 mins

Print Pin

Ingredients

Brownie Layer:

8 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 cup unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2½ cups flour
pinch of salt

Peanut Butter Layer:

1 cup creamy peanut butter
½ cup butter (softened)
3 cups powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt

Ganache Layer:

2 cups milk chocolate chips
¾ cup butter

Instructions

For The Brownies:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
Melt butter, then stir in cocoa. Add in sugar and eggs to the mixing bowl and stir together.
Add in vanilla, flour, and salt and beat together well.
Spoon batter into the prepared pan.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until cooked through. Top with peanut butter layer and ganache.

For the peanut butter layer:

Place peanut butter and butter into medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and creamy; scrape bowl.
Add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and salt.
Beat on low speed 1 minute; scrape bowl. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy.

For the ganache:

Melt chocolate chips and butter in the microwave for 2 minutes in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, and mix until smooth.
Spread on top of the frosting layer and let it cool until hardened.

Notes

If you are wanting to use a brownie box mix skip the brownie making step and replace it with the box steps for the brownies.

Nutrition

Calories: 451 kcal · Carbohydrates: 51 g · Protein: 6 g · Fat: 27 g · Saturated Fat: 14 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 7 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 76 mg · Sodium: 151 mg · Potassium: 128 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 38 g · Vitamin A: 574 IU · Calcium: 20 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Equipment

9×13-inch Baking Pan
Mixing Bowl
Medium Bowl
Electric Mixer
Microwave Safe Bowl

Recipe Details

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Be sure to not miss another recipe! Follow Six Sisters’ Stuff on Instagram|Facebook|Pinterest|YouTube

If you made our recipe be sure to tag us on Instagram so we can see your hard work using #sixsistersstuff.

One Buckeye Brownie square on a white plate with a fork

Join The Discussion

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Questions & Reviews

LeeAnn says:

This brownie looks amazing. My questions is do you cool the brownies before you put the peanut butter layer on?
Cyd says:

Yes, cool the brownies before adding the peanut butter layer.
Dana Kitchin says:

I made these for my family and to say the least, THEY LOVED THEM! The 3 steps are easy, require basic ingredients and the results are fantastic, delicious, and loved by all!
Cyd says:

So glad your family loved the buckeye brownies! They are some of our favorites!
Diane says:

Do they need to be refrigerated?
Cyd says:

If you don't eat them in the first day or two, then place in a covered container in the fridge.
Kristen Bell says:

The peanut butter layer calls for salt in the directions but doesn't have salt listed in the ingredients. How much salt should you use?
Cyd Adamson says:

You can leave it out all together or add a pinch. Especially if you are using salted butter.
Amanda lange says:

Just made these, such an easy recipe
Sharla says:

These brownies are the bomb! I LOVE chocolate and peanut butter together!
Tony Anderson says:

I liked these, but I think using oil might be better instead of butter.
Rebecca W. says:

I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but we only have a cheat day one day a week and there is no way we'd eat these all in one day. I plan to half the recipe, but I'm curious, do you know if these would freeze well? I figure if I'm already making them, and can freeze them, it would be nice to be able to just pull one or two out a week to munch on. Thank you!
Momma Cyd says:

You can definitely freeze them in an airtight freezer container or Freezer bag.

Buckeye Brownies Recipe