Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Brownies

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownies — Fudgy brownies with a layer of peanut butter cheesecake and topped with peanuts and peanut butter cups!! Rich, decadent, and amazing! A must-make for all peanut butter lovers!!

Nothing says Christmas like peanut butter and chocolate. At least in my world this is my idea of a Merry Christmas.

There’s a layer of peanut butter cheesecake that runs through the center of these fudgy brownies that are topped with peanuts and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Can you say thick, rich, filling, decadent, and wonderful?

The brownies are easy to make and you’ll have them in the oven in no time. Mix up the filling which is cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar, and an egg.

And for the brownies, I used a box of Betty Crocker™ Original Supreme Premium Brownie Mix that I found at my local Vons grocery store.

When I’m busy I appreciate shortcuts. The ease and love are baked right in when you use Betty Crocker™ for your holiday baking needs that you can find at your local Albertsons Safeway stores. 

The brownies are full of flavor and texture contrasts which I love.

Fudgy brownies, contrasted with the smooth peanut butter cheesecake filling, the salty crunchy peanuts, and the melt-in-your-mouth peanut butter cups ensures that every bite is awesome.

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownies

If you’ve never tried adding peanut butter to brownie mix before now, you’re going to LOVE this recipe! The resulting peanut butter cream cheese brownies are so rich and decadent, and they require just a handful of ingredients. 

To make the cheesecake peanut butter brownies, gather the following ingredients: 

• Cream cheese
• Egg
• Creamy peanut butter
• Granulated sugar
• Box brownie mix (I used Betty Crocker™ Original Supreme Premium Brownie Mix)
• Ingredients called for on brownie box (water, oil, and egg) 
• Salted peanuts
• Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups 

How to Make Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownies

If you’re a frequent baker, making peanut butter brownies with mix may sound “wrong” to you but rest assured that this recipe winds up tasting 100% homemade! 

Full instructions are provided in the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of how the cheesecake peanut butter cup brownies are prepared: 

1. Make the cream cheese filling: In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, egg, sugar, and peanut butter.
2. Make the brownie batter: Follow the instructions on the box. You’ll likely need to add egg, oil, and water.
3. Assemble the brownies: Add half of the brownie batter to a foil-lined 9×9-inch pan. Top with the cheesecake filling, then spread over the remaining brownie batter. Sprinkle the top with peanuts.
4. Bake: Bake until done, then let cool for 1 hour before sprinkling with peanut butter cups and slicing. 

Can I Use Natural Peanut Butter? 

No, I don’t recommend using natural peanut butter in this recipe (i.e. peanut butter that you have to stir and that contains just peanuts and salt). 

You need to use a “traditional” no-stir peanut butter to make the peanut butter cheesecake brownies, like Jif or Skippy. 

Can the Recipe Be Doubled? 

Definitely! Just double the ingredients and bake in a 9×13-inch pan. The bake time should remain roughly the same. 

Can This Recipe Be Made Gluten-Free? 

Yes! Use your favorite gluten-free brownie mix, and double check that the remaining ingredients are gluten-free. 

Can I Use a Different Nut Butter? 

If you have a peanut allergy or simply ran out of peanut butter, this may not be the recipe for you. You can likely use almond butter or another nut butter if it’s a no-stir variety. But I’ve made this recipe only with peanut butter, so that’s what I know for sure works. 

Tips for Making Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Brownies

• Betty Crocker has many kinds of box brownie mixes. Pick your favorite, any will work. 
• You need to also buy the ingredients called for on the box brownie mix. You’ll be making the brownie batter as instructed on the side of the box. 
• If you can’t find mini peanut butter cups, you’re welcome to buy full-size ones and chop them into smaller pieces. You could even use Reese’s Pieces, if desired. 

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5 from 4 votes

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownies

By Averie Sunshine

Fudgy brownies with a layer of peanut butter cheesecake and topped with peanuts and peanut butter cups!! Rich, decadent, and amazing! A must-make for all peanut butter lovers!!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours

Servings: 12

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Ingredients 

Filling

• ▢ 6 ounces brick-style cream cheese, softened (I used lite)
• ▢ 1 large egg
• ▢ ½ cup creamy peanut butter
• ▢ ⅓ cup graunlated sugar

Brownies

• ▢ 1 box, 1 pound 2.4 ouncesBetty Crocker™ Original Supreme Premium Brownie Mix
• ▢ Water, vegetable oil, and egg called for on brownie mix box
• ▢ ⅓ cup salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
• ▢ 1 heaping cup Reese’s™ Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9-inch square pan with cooking spray; set aside.
• To a medium bowl, add all the filling ingredients and beat with an electric handheld mixer on medium-low speed until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary; set aside.
• To a large bowl, add the brownie mix and make the brownie batter using the water, oil, egg, and pouch of chocolate according to package directions. Spread half of brownie batter in pan.
• Add the filling in rounded tablespoons, spaced evenly over the pan. Using a spatula and taking your time, carefully spread the filling into an even, smooth, flat layer.
• Add the remaining brownie batter over filling, spreading it into an even, smooth, flat layer.
• Evenly sprinkle with peanuts.
• Bake for about 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted 1 inch from side of pan comes out mostly clean or with a few moist crumbs, but not batter. Allow brownies to cool in pan on a wire race for about 1 hour.
• After about 1 hour (brownies will still be warm, just enough so peanut butter cups will melt slightly and adhere), evenly sprinkle with the halved peanut butter cups. Slice and serve. Extra brownies will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Recipe from Vons

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 306kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 49mg, Sodium: 213mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 16g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding Bars — Nutter Butter crust, chocolate pudding, and peanut butter cream cheese filling! Easy, almost no-bake, and beyond amazing! Lives up to their dreamy name!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Nutter Butter Bars – Nutter Butters baked in along with peanut butter and chocolate chips for a very rich and decadent treat!

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Peanut Butter Brookies — These brookies are soft and chewy, with peanut butter and chocolate married together in every bite. All you need is two bowls, and no mixer is required!

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie Bars — Just like the classic cookies except made as cookie bars rather than individual cookies. Bars are faster, easier, there’s no dough to chill, they’re made in one bowl, and you don’t need a mixer! 

Post brought to you by Betty Crocker and Vons. The images, text, and opinions expressed are my own. #bettycrocker #spreadcheer #reeses

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Betty Crocker™ and Hershey’s® . The opinions and text are all mine.