Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Torte

Desserts don’t get much more decadent than this! Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Torte is a fudgy brownie layered with whipped peanut butter and rich ganache.

Lately, all of this gloomy winter weather has given me quite the appetite for something rich and intense. For example, this very dessert. It’s like a good shake by the shoulders, waking you (or your taste buds) from hibernation. It is certainly intense and so special occasion-worthy. I drafted this recipe first as a small pan of brownies, then decided that simply would not do. I remembered the silicone pan in my cabinet that is shaped like a peanut butter cup. And with some reconfiguring, I came up with this layered torte. But you don’t have to own a peanut butter cup-shaped silicone pan to make this! It molds well in a standard 9-inch springform pan.

The layers.

So. What makes up this decadent chocolate-peanut butter confection? The base is a layer of intensely fudgy dark chocolate brownie. Its center is a no-bake whipped peanut butter filling, and butter ganache tops it all off. As the author of a cookbook dedicated to salty-sweets, the garnish comes as no surprise. Maldon salt is sea salt dried into brittle thin crystal pyramids, is the perfect garnish. It offers just the right amount of salt to all that sweetness. And it won’t melt away on top of the ganache.

Step-by-step brownie mixing.

The brownie layer has a few steps, but the fudgy end result is so worth it. Start with high quality semisweet chocolate finely chopped along with some cubed butter. Melt it in the microwave at 30 second intervals in a large mixing bowl until the mixture can be stirred smooth. Cubing the butter helps everything melt evenly.

Next, add the sugars and salt. Mix this up with a whisk. You don’t need an electric mixer for this part. But if you decide to use a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment. We’re not looking to incorporate any air into this batter. If using a hand-held mixer, beat on low to medium low speed.

Whisk in the eggs and a smidgen of peanut butter. Yes, even the brownie layer has a secret scoop of peanut butter in the batter!

Sift in the dry ingredients, which includes a small amount of unsweet dark cocoa powder for extra richness.

Mix everything together by hand and pour the batter into a pan coated with cooking spray. I use this pan. Its intended purpose is to protect your cheesecake pan from getting water in it, but I use it to make Peanut Butter Cup-shaped treats.

Bake for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees F, until well set. (Check with a toothpick.) I suppose, if you are in a big hurry, that you could begin this recipe with a prepackaged box brownie mix. But as written, the brownie layer is the perfect texture and flavor with the other components.

Peanut buttery goodness.

Next, whip up the peanut butter filling. It’s an easy no-cook, no-bake affair made with butter, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. (Did I mention this is indulgent?) But you will need an electric mixer, or stand mixer, for this part. It takes about 3 minutes of whipping on high speed to lighten this mixture well. Spoon and spread the whipped mixture over the cooled brownie layer in the pan. Chill well before adding the ganache.

In a microwavable bowl, heat together butter and chopped semisweet chocolate (or chocolate chips) to make a rich chocolate ganache. Alternatively, you can make this in a saucepan over low heat. Pour this over the chilled peanut butter layer. The amount of ganache you use can be variable. My testers all noted that the ganache layer really brought the richness. Some returned their plate with a little ganache left on it. Therefore, use more or less to your taste. I’ll include instructions for a thinner layer of ganache, should you choose to lighten things up a little.

For those using a silicone pan, like me, freeze the dessert completely. Then unmold it as a solid disk from the pan and transfer to a serving plate. The silicone edges of pan will pull away from the sides of the frozen dessert easily while keeping the crenulated edges intact. If using a springform pan, then just a chill in the refrigerator will be sufficient.

Bring the Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Torte to room temperature before serving, and sprinkle on some flake sea salt for extra deliciousness.

The butter ganache and peanut butter filling become so soft at room temperature. It’s a luscious texture with the slightly chewy brownie. It’s better than a Reese’s cup, I tell ya! Make it for the peanut butter lover in your life – even if that person is YOU!

If you’re looking for other ways to make winter cozy with peanut butter and chocolate, try my Peanut Butter Cup Hot Cocoa Bombs!

Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Torte

Heather Baird

This brownie torte is rich with layers of brownie, whipped peanut butter filling, and ganache. I made this recipe in a specialty silicone pan that has the shape of a peanut butter cup, see the blog post for product link. If you don’t have the silicone pan, this dessert can easily be made in a 9-inch round springform pan. See the recipe notes for a smaller 8×8-inch version of this torte.

4.69 from 16 votes

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

2 hours chill time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 50 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Equipment

• 9-inch specialty silicone baking pan
• or 9-inch springform pan

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

Brownie layer

• 6 oz. semisweet chocolate chopped
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter cubed
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons dark cocoa powder

Whipped peanut butter filling

• 1 1/4 cups creamy peanut butter
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Butter ganache

• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chopped (about 12 oz.)
• 1 cup unsalted butter cubed
• 1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
• Maldon sea salt for garnish

Instructions

 

Brownie layer

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Coat a 9-inch silicone pan or springform pan with flour-based baking spray
• Place the chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe mixing bowl. Heat at 100% power in a household microwave oven in 30 second intervals, until the mixture can be stirred smooth (about 1 minute 30 seconds total).
• Add the sugar, brown sugar, and salt; whisk until combined. Whisk in the peanut butter, eggs and yolk, and the vanilla.
• Sift the flour and cocoa powder over the mixture. Fold together until well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. If using a silicone pan, place it on a baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the brownie is well set. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, or speed cooling in the refrigerator, about 30 minutes.

Whipped peanut butter layer

• In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the creamy peanut butter, butter, confectioners’ sugar, and salt. Beat on high speed for 3-5 minutes, occasionally scraping down the bowl. Beat until lightened in color and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract.
• Scoop the whipped mixture on top of the cooled brownie and spread evenly over the entire surface. If using a silicone pan, place the pan in the freezer about 30 minutes. If using a springform pan, place in the refrigerator while you prepare the butter ganache.

Butter ganache

• Place the butter and chocolate in a large microwave safe bowl. Heat at 100% power in a household microwave oven in 30 second intervals, until the mixture can be whisked smooth and a shiny ganache is formed (about 1 minute 30 seconds total). Stir in the salt.
• Pour the ganache over the chilled peanut butter layer and tilt the pan so that the ganache touches the edges of the pan.
• If using the silicone pan, freeze the layered brownie until completely solid, about 2 hours. To unmold, gently pull the edges of the pan away from the dessert, then remove from the pan. Let it come to room temperature before serving. If using a regular springform pan, refrigerate the dessert for 2-3 hours, or until the ganache is well set. To unmold, soak a tea towel with hot water and wring out; place around the edge of the springform pan to loosen the ganache and peanut butter from the springform collar. Unclip the collar and unmold.
• Garnish the torte with Maldon flake sea salt. Let the torte come to room temperature before serving.

Notes

What to expect:

This is a rich dessert with three equal portions of brownie, peanut butter filing, and ganache. It is best served at room temperature, around 70°F. This softens the ganache and peanut butter layers and the flavors are more developed.

The ganache layer makes this dessert very rich. If you’d like to lighten this torte, use a thinner layer of ganache.

For a thinner ganache layer, halve the ingredient amounts to 1 cup semisweet chocolate and 1/2 cup of butter.

To make this dessert even more indulgent, top with chopped mini peanut butter cup pieces. 

Smaller brownie pan batch: Make the brownie batter as directed and bake in a greased 8×8 inch square pan. Halve the whipped peanut butter filling ingredients and layer on top of the brownies. Halve the ganache recipe and layer on top of the peanut butter layer. Chill well as directed; slice and serve from the pan.

Keyword butter ganache, dark chocolate brownies, maldon sea salt, whipped peanut butter filling

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