Peanut butter brownies are like a party in your mouth! These amazing keto brownies are topped with a rich sugar free peanut butter fudge and a sweet chocolate glaze. Perfect for any occasion. This post is sponsored by Bob’s Red Mill.
Can I confess that I am having a ball going back and re-vamping old posts and recipes like this peanut butter brownie recipe?
I create so many recipes, it’s hard to know how many there are in my archives. Thousands, for sure. And given that I write recipes for other websites in addition to my blog, and that I write all sorts of new recipes for my series of keto cookbooks, I can’t even fathom how many keto recipes I have made. And surely there are some I’ve almost forgotten about.
But I could never ever forget about these amazing peanut butter brownies. These have been on my mind since I first made them way back in 2013.
Buckeye Brownies go low carb
Are you a buckeye fan? These are also known as Buckeye Brownies. What the heck are buckeyes, you ask?
Good question. I’d never heard of them either until I began blogging about food. Which feels like a million years ago now because I feel like I’ve been a food blogger all my life. It was what I was destined to be, my friends!
Okay so the Ohio Buckeye is the state tree of Ohio, and it produces a nut that resembles a chestnut. Buckeye trees are also known as horse chestnuts.
That nut is the inspiration for buckeye candy, which is a ball of peanut butter fudge dipped in chocolate, made to resemble the buckeye nut.
WHOA! Wait a second, did you just say peanut butter fudge? Oh heck yeah, I did! And I will say it again. Peanut butter fudge, peanut butter fudge, peanut butter fudge. Who doesn’t love peanut butter fudge?
Buckeyes are so beloved in Ohio and that love has extended far and wide, so that now almost anything made with peanut butter and chocolate can be referred to as “buckeye”. I am not above exploiting that love of peanut butter and chocolate. Because I love it too and will eat just about anything made with these two ingredients. It’s hard for me to resist.
How to Make Keto Peanut Butter Brownies
- Begin with the best, fudgiest, gooiest keto brownies around. I had a pretty great recipe back in the day but ever since I discovered using a little gelatin to improve the chewiness of my keto cookies and brownies, I’ve been using my Ultimate Keto Brownies recipe as the base for any brownie recipe.
- Use quality ingredients like Bob’s Red Mill almond flour. Not all almond flour is created equal, my friends. You may have heard me expound on this before and you will hear me expound on it again. Finely ground blanched almond flour is a MUST for all of your keto baked goods.
- Use the creamiest peanut butter you can find. A lot of natural peanut butters aren’t as creamy as I would like and have that thick layer of oil on the top. I have two that I really like: Justin’s and Thrive Market. Both are very creamy and not overly oily, and make the peanut butter fudge layer on these brownies so creamy and delicious.
- Use enough powdered Swerve to thicken the peanut butter layer so that it’s spreadable but not too thin. You really want this to be like a fudge layer on top of the brownies.
- Make a creamy sugar free chocolate ganache to go on top. I did some where I spread the ganache and some where I just drizzled it. You could spread the whole batch with a thin layer of the chocolate ganache. Or you could do as I did and cut the peanut butter brownies up first, and then drizzle or spread as you see fit.
Really, I am just so happy that I decided to tackle these keto peanut butter brownies again. The original version was very very good and I loved them. This new version, 5 years later, is even better. It feels like I’ve discovered the joy of Buckeye Brownies all over again!
Be sure to check out this Peanut Butter Fudge from Texanerin too!
Peanut Butter Brownies
Ingredients
Brownie Base:
- 1 recipe Ultimate Keto Brownies
Peanut Butter Fudge:
- ¾ cup peanut butter
- 6 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup powered Swerve Sweetener sifted
Chocolate Glaze:
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 ½ ounces unsweetened chocolate finely chopped
- 3 tablespoon powdered Swerve Sweetener
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Brownies:
- Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, with an overhang for easy removal. Prepare the keto brownie batter as directed and pour into the pan. Bake the brownies as directed and let cool in the pan.
Peanut Butter Fudge:
- In a smal saucepan over medium heat, melt together peanut butter and butter. Stir in vanilla and salt.
- Stir in powdered Swerve a little at a time until the mixture thickens to a spreadable consistency. Spread over cooled brownies and refrigerate 1 hour, until set.
Chocolate Glaze:
- In a small saucepan, heat the cream until just simmering. Remove from heat and add the chopped chocolate. Let sit 5 minutes to melt.
- Add the sweetener and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Let sit a few minutes to thicken, then spread or drizzle over the peanut butter layer.
- Lift brownies out by edges of parchment paper and cut into squares.
Debby says
Love trying your recipes 😋 these were GREAT… thank you for doing all the work and sharing… I’m a Dessert Girl…
Barbara says
Hello Carolyn
LOVE THESE!
My only problems is that they often separate; the peanut butter layer comes off of the brownie layer… any ideas? Should I score the brownie layer first?
Thanks for this and all of your other amazing recipes!
Carolyn says
I haven’t had that problem. Are you chilling them after making them? That might be the issue, trying to cut them when they are cold.
Tracy Sheehy says
Carolyn,
Whenever I make recipes that entail cooking the peanut butter on the stove top with butter and sweetener, it seizes and releases all the oil. I can never get it to combine to a smooth consistency. I thought it was because I was using a natural peanut butter where the only ingredients are peanuts and salt and the kind that had to be stirred, but I see that you use the thrive natural peanut butter (which seems to be the same) any ideas as to why this always happens to me. I usually use Smith/Kroger Simple Truth Organic.
Carolyn says
Your heat is too high! If you have a microwave, you can try melting in in there… or do it double boiler style.
Christine says
Carolyn, I’ve been baking from your website since I have gone keto for medical reasons. Your recipes save me! These brownies with the peanut butter topping are seriously amazing!! I thought 16 pieces would make them so small and unsatisfying, but they are rich and gooey and the perfect treat to help sweet-toothers survive the keto life. Thank you a million times for your awesome keto treats!!!
Barb says
Our Costco had big jars of macadamia nut butter and I picked one up, without any idea what to use it for! Do you think it would work in this recipe?? Would I need to make any adjustments? I have everything else. Love your recipes, make something of yours at least once a week. The mint fudgsicles are a staple in our house—delicious!!!
Carolyn says
Try it in these! https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/keto-macadamia-nut-muffins/ (you will need about 3/4 cup of the butter).
Pam says
These are fantastic!! My whole gang loves them but I’ve asked them to leave them for me!
Jeannie says
I have so much almond butter, can I substitute it for the peanut butter?
Thanks
Carolyn says
Sure!
Annie Murphy says
I love your recipes! I need some advice, though, on how to deal with cutting back on the sweetener in many (including your) recipes. We find that the called-for amount is just too sweet for our liking and I routinely cut the amount by half. You mentioned the need for adding enough Swerve to the peanut butter to get it to thicken up. Other than just keeping the brownies in the fridge, is there anything you would suggest I do?
Carolyn says
Use some collagen to help it thicken!
Misty says
I’m from Ohio – buckeyes are our “thing”. Candy buckeyes are made with obscene amounts of powdered sugar to hold them together. To cut the sweetness in low carb adaptations, I replace some of the swerve with powdered peanut butter. Lakanto makes a powdered peanut butter with no added sugar. I start by replacing 1/3 of the swerve with powdered peanut butter, then continue to make adjustments to the swerve/powdered peanut butter ratio from there. I add the powdered peanut butter before the swerve to make sure it doesn’t get too sweet before it gets to a consistency that will hold together.
Tracy says
Hi Carolyn, thanks for another amazing recipe. I made these up until the chocolate glaze and I’m wondering if I use a Lily’s bar, can I omit the confectioners swerve? I am out and unable to get to a store. Thanks again!
Carolyn says
Yes but it will be more thin. You might want to do less cream. Or more chocolate.
Tracy says
Thanks Carolyn. I did slightly increase the chocolate and that worked great. I should have made a double batch though because I only got to eat one, after all the NON keto people devoured them! Excellent recipe!! ❤️
Carolyn says
So glad to hear it!