My Go-To Brownie Mix Hack with a Peanut Butter Swirl
These Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies are my go-to hack for turning a basic box mix into something that tastes like it came straight from a fancy bakery.
They’re fudgy, rich, and have that perfect swirl of peanut butter that makes everyone think you spent hours in the kitchen. I’ve been making these for years, and they never fail to impress.
So, I LOVE brownie mixes and I love brownie mix hacks. It’s one of my favorite quick ways to make a dessert. These peanut butter swirl brownies are my absolute go-to when I need something that looks like I tried real hard, but it really came together in like 10 minutes with not much effort.
I’ve made these over the last year or two for get-togethers and this time, I made them for my stepson’s birthday. Everyone devoured them, kids and adults alike and not one person guessed they were from a box.
Why You’ll Love These Brownies
- Super quick to mix up.
- Fudgy, rich, and gooey with a peanut butter swirls.
- It looks fancy and like you really tried.
- Kids and adults love these.
- No one believes they’re made from a mix.
Pro Tips
Don’t go adding in extra peanut butter. Trust me, I’ve tested it and more peanut butter causes the brownies to either bake really slowly, or not fully bake at all. I think it’s because of the oil content.
Use a plastic knife to cut them once they’re cool. Yep, a plastic knife! I don’t know why it works, but it does. It cuts your brownies much cleaner than a regular knife does.
Easiest Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 box Duncan Hines dark chocolate brownie mix – family size
- All the ingredients on the back of the box except lower the amount of oil a bit maybe by a couple of tablespoons.
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter, microwaved about 20 seconds (Do not add more peanut butter as this will cause the brownies not to bake because of the oil content. There is a fine line here.)
- Peanut butter chips
- Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven according to the brownie mix box directions.
- Prepare the brownie mix according to the directions on the box, except lower the amount of oil a bit, maybe around a couple of tablespoons.
- Pour the brownie batter into a sprayed 13×9 inch pan (or disposable aluminum foil pan) and smooth.
- Add the peanut butter to a bowl and microwave it for about 20 seconds, then spoon on top of the brownie batter in the pan.
- Take a knife and swirl it around a couple times.
- Sprinkle peanut butter chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips over the top.
- Bake per the box instructions, but I’ve found that it will likely need to bake almost 10 minutes longer due to the oil content from the peanut butter. You’ll need to watch it closely. Mine usually take about 27-30 minutes. It also seems to take longer when you use one of those disposable aluminum foil pans to bake this in.
- Remove the brownies from the oven and set on a cooling rack and let cool for about an hour.
- Cut the brownies with a plastic knife. This is the secret to cutting brownies without destroying them.
Video
Tips & FAQs
I wouldn’t. Natural peanut butter is too oily and unpredictable. Use the classic stuff like Jif or Skippy
Because the peanut butter adds enough fat on its own. If you don’t cut the oil a bit, your brownies will turn into a greasy mess that never bakes all the way through. Ask me how I know.
Probably, but it might take two pans unless you want to use one large pan and then just have thicker brownies.
Tried This?
If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to know what you think!
