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Peanut Butter Fudge Iced Brownies

One bite of these Peanut Butter Fudge Iced Brownies is all it takes to understand why they’ve been a longtime favorite! The old-fashioned boiled peanut butter icing creates a thick, candy-like layer over fudgy brownies for a decadent treat that tastes like it came straight from grandma’s kitchen. Make it once and it’ll be in your regular rotation!

Peanut butter fudge brownie on a plate.

Brownies + Peanut Butter Fudge Icing = A Match Made in Heaven

This icing has been a family staple since I first shared it on Southern Plate back in 2008… and honestly, I’ve lost count of how many of you have made it since!

We’ve always done it over yellow cake, but the day I poured it over brownies, everything changed. A dense, fudgy brownie is the perfect base for this old-fashioned boiled peanut butter icing.

These peanut butter fudge iced brownies perfectly combine rich chocolate with a thick, candy-like peanut butter topping. It’s a combination that feels like it was always meant to be, and once you try it, you’ll wonder why you ever had brownies any other way!

Ingredients

  • Boxed brownie mix
  • Sugar
  • Milk
  • Shortening
  • Margarine
  • Salt
  • Vanilla
  • Creamy peanut butter

Frequently Asked Questions

Which brownie mix do you recommend?

I usually get Kroger or some other generic brand – nothin’ fancy here! I’d go for whatever is cheapest where you shop because I’ve never met a brownie mix I didn’t like 😊.

You don’t have to use two boxes of mix, one is fine and you get to taste more of the icing!

Want to make your brownies extra fudgy?

To make your brownies thicker, use two boxes of brownie mix. This is how I like to do it! If you do this, you need to cut your oven temperature down to 325°F and add about 15 minutes to the baking process.

Can I make my brownies from scratch instead?

Of course! You can use your own recipe or I recommend my friend Susan Spencer’s Grandmothers recipe for Blue Ribbon Brownies. The peanut butter icing will take on the star of the show so go with whatever you prefer and what you have time for, but as for me and my house, we will make them from a mix today.

How to Make Peanut Butter Fudge Iced Brownies

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13 or 8×8 inch baking pan.

Two boxes of cake mix behind cooked brownies in a pan.

Tip: If making an 8×8 inch pan of brownies, I’d still use this same amount of icing and just let it be thicker.

Step 2: Mix & Bake Your Brownies

First, you’ll need to whip up some brownies. Just follow the directions on the package. Once they’re baked, let them cool completely before you start on the icing.

Ingredients for peanut butter fudge icing.

Step 3: Make the Icing

Place your milk, sugar, shortening, margarine, and salt in a good sauce pot and put this over medium heat.

Stir constantly while you wait on all of it to melt and come to a boil. Then stop and let it boil on its own (no stirring) for 2 minutes.

Melted butter, milk, shortening, and sugar in a pot over the stove.

Step 4: Beat it, Spread it, & Serve

Remove from heat and stir in your vanilla and peanut butter.

Beat that until it’s nice and smooth, then spread it over your brownies as fast as you can.

Now allow for the icing to cool and set on your brownies. You can occupy yourself during this time by licking the sauce pot clean once it cools enough to let you 😉.

Serve & enjoy!

How to Store Peanut Butter Fudge Iced Brownies

Store your delicious Peanut Butter Fudge Iced Brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Alternatively, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

 

Peanut butter fudge brownie on a plate.

Peanut Butter Fudge Iced Brownies

These Peanut Butter Fudge Iced Brownies are completely worth turning on the oven for. Enjoy deep chocolate brownies topped with a thick, smooth peanut butter fudge icing that sets just enough to give you that classic, irresistible bite!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Peanut Butter Fudge Iced Brownies
Servings: 12 Brownies

Ingredients

  • 1 box brownie mix prepared according to package directions*
  • 1-½ cups sugar
  • 7 tablespoons milk
  • 2 tablespoons shortening
  • 2 tablespoons margarine
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter

Instructions

  • Prepare brownies according to package directions and allow to cool completely before beginning icing.

For the Icing

  • In a heavy saucepot, combine the sugar, milk, shortening, margarine, and salt. Bring to a rolling boil while stirring constantly.
  • Once it reaches a rolling boil, stop stirring and let it boil for two minutes or until it reaches the soft ball stage (I don’t use a thermometer, I just let it boil for two minutes).
  • Remove from heat and quickly stir in the vanilla and peanut butter. Beat until smooth and quickly spread over the brownies.
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

133 Comments

  1. hey christy i’m trying to make my mom a birthday surprise and i don’t know how to make a cake well i could but don’t have the ingredients or money to go buy them but i do have everything here except the shortening is it necessary to use that if so i guess ill have to figure something else out i don’t want to make the usual brownies cause i always make brownies so i hope u get back to me soon because Friday February 17 is her birthday.

  2. These brownies are the most amazing brownies EVER.. and I mean it!!! A friend was visiting who was a huge fan of chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. His birthday was this past friday. I made this recipe (using Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix), decorated it with piped melted chocolate chips and served it without having ever made it before. A little bold.. maybe.. but your recipes are always awesome! I felt confident from experience in making your other recipes, that I could take it for granted that your heirloom recipe for pb frosting would be perfect. I was right!!! He absolutely loved it and asked for a copy of the recipe. So, I’m sharing a link of this on his facebook page and we’ll all have to scoot down a little and make another place at the virtual Southern Plate family table for another new member! Thanks so much, Christy!!!

  3. Hi Christy, I made these for my neighbors birthdat and wrapped them up- he is a HUGE PB /chocolate fan. I cut them into squares and drizzled with melted dark chocolate to fancy them up 🙂 He just called to ask for a copy of the recipe as he LOVES them- his grandson headed out the door with 4 pieces in his hand lol

  4. I found out on Thursday that I was having a miscarriage and today they confirmed that the pregnancy is over via ultrasound. I am making these brownies and eating the whole pan as comfort. Thank you for posting it.

  5. I made these this past weekend for a church picnic potluck. So Yummy! I had one guy tell me ” I normally don’t like chocolate but those brownies were delicious!”

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