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Home » Recipes » Bars

Peanut Butter m&m Brownies

Published: Aug 4, 2014 Last Updated: Aug 2, 2022 by Marye 871 words. | About 5 minutes to read this article.

Jump to Recipe
40 minutes mins
Easy, fudgy M&M Brownies have a salty peanut butter swirl that makes them irresistible. Always perfectly moist and chewy and they freeze well.
Brownies with M&Ms in the top on a blue and white plate.

Adding m&ms to these chewy bars makes them colorful and fun - they make a wonderful lunchbox surprise. Be sure to try these monster cookies, too.

A peanut butter swirled brownie on a plate.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 💭 Tips
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 📞 The last word
  • Peanut Butter Brownies
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

  • You won't need a mixer - these are made by hand.
  • SO much chocolate flavor plus a creamy peanut butter swirl.
  • The m&ms make them colorful and fun!

I can't resist a fudgy brownie.

These have all of the dark chocolate chewiness of my favorite brownies but with the addition of a peanut butter swirl and a generous amount of m&ms sprinkled randomly throughout.

When the brownies are cooled the candy coating and chocolate in the m & ms provides a crisp, dense burst of milk chocolate as you eat them.

The peanut butter stays smooth and salty-rich which keeps the brownies from being overly sweet.

They're perfect, I tell ya.

🥫 Storage

Leave the brownies in the baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Or store in an airtight container.

To freeze: Let brownies cool completely. Place in an airtight, freezer safe container with waxed paper or parchment between the layers. Freeze for up to 3 months.

They freeze well and work great for school lunches.

  • Let brownies cool completely.
  • Cut into bars.
  • Place in an airtight, freezer safe container with waxed paper or parchment between the layers.
  • Freeze for up to 3 months.

I like to wrap these fudgy chocolate brownies individually and put them in a plastic freezer container. That way you can just get a few out when you are making the kids' lunches and pop them right into each lunch box. They'll be thawed and ready to eat at lunchtime.

💭 Tips

Expert Tip: Be sure not to overcook these brownies. They should be still somewhat soft in the middle when you take them from the oven and you'll need to let them cool a bit.

  • The secret to dark fudgy brownies is using unsweetened dark cocoa powder.
  • Don't over-mix! If you mix the batter too much with cause the brownies to be caky, crumbly, and tough. Stop mixing once you can't see the dry ingredients anymore.
  • If you plan to take homemade brownies out of the baking dish before serving line it with parchment paper and grease the parchment paper. The brownies will lift right out.
  • Use a really good quality vanilla extract. It does make a difference.
  • Make them even gooey-er by adding about ½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips to the batter.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

How do you add M&Ms to brownies?

Stir about ¾ cup of m&ms into the brownie batter. Spoon the batter into the pan and scatter the remaining ¼ cup on the top.

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📞 The last word

These are a combination of peanut butter and classic brownie flavors and they are irresistible. 

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A peanut butter swirled brownie on a plate.
4.89 from 9 votes

Peanut Butter Brownies

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Easy, fudgy M&M Brownies have a salty peanut butter swirl that makes them irresistible. Always perfectly moist and chewy and they freeze well.
Course Bar cookies
Cuisine American
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings:36 bars
Calories:232
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • 13x9-inch pan
  • rubber spatula

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups butter, melted
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup dark cocoa powder, (the darkest you can find…do not substitute baking chocolate)
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, or ¼ teaspoon regular table salt
  • 1 cup M&Ms candies
  • 1 cup smooth peanut butter

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350F
  • Grease a 13 x 9-inch pan (line with parchment if desired)
  • Whisk cooled melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla together in a large mixing bowl until smooth.
  • Blend the dry ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl.
  • Stir in the dry ingredients into the egg mixture until well blended but do not over beat.
  • Fold in the M & Ms, reserving about ¼ cup to sprinkle on top.
  • Spoon into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
  • Place the peanut butter in a small mixing bowl. Make sure it's microwave safe.
  • Warm it for a few seconds, just until it is soft enough to spread easily.
  • Spoon it in thick lines across the brownies.
  • Use a spoon to swirl it through the brownie batter - don't overmix.
  • Sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup M&Ms.
  • Bake at 350F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until done but still soft in the middle.

Notes

Expert Tip: Be sure not to overcook these brownies. They should be still somewhat soft in the middle when you take them from the oven and you'll need to let them cool a bit.
  • Don't over-mix! If you mix the batter too much with cause the brownies to be caky, crumbly, and tough. Stop mixing once you can't see the dry ingredients anymore.
  • If you plan to take the brownies out of the pan before serving line it with parchment paper and grease the parchment paper. The brownies will lift right out.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 145mg | Potassium: 105mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 249IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

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    First published August 14, 2014. Last updated June 21, 2021 for to add tips.

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lois

      February 15, 2023 at 4:27 pm

      5 stars
      These are on my list of others
      of your recipes. Sound scrumptious!

      Reply
    2. Sandra McCoy

      December 29, 2021 at 9:52 am

      5 stars
      Just received your first recipe by email after subscribing to your site. Look forward to making the M & M brownies. What my comment is, regarding the beautiful, helpful, direct directions you provide for success!!
      Sandra McCoy, Kentucky

      Reply
    3. Jocelyn Wilhelm

      May 13, 2021 at 9:19 am

      OMG my mouth is watering just looking at these deliciousness! I love the fact that I don’t need to use any fancy equipments. A must try for sure. Thank you!

      Reply
    4. Sandra Shaffer

      August 04, 2014 at 4:31 pm

      These look scrumptious! Peanut butter and chocolate are absolutely comfort food. The m&m's just take it over the top!

      Reply
    5. Renee's Kitchen Adventures

      August 04, 2014 at 2:39 pm

      These look like absolute comfort food at its best. Chocolate, peanut butter and M&M's...what can be wrong about that?? Nothing! YUM!!

      Reply
    6. Michelle @ The Complete Savorist

      August 04, 2014 at 1:58 pm

      As soon as I saw the first picture my mind started singing "I'm in heaven." I am included to agree with my inner singer! I am in heaven. YUM.

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        August 04, 2014 at 2:09 pm

        🙂 I love chocolate and peanut butter! Thanks to you and your inner singer for stopping by!

        Reply

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