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!

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
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!
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.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

this wa my question also……where do you get the vanilla??
carole
Sam’s Club and it is soooooo imitation Vanilla, too. 🙂
Christy, where on earth do you buy the gallon jugs of vanilla?! I’ve checked Kroger, Publix, and the Pig and can’t find it…I really need to stock up, because I’m always running low on those piddly little bottles. These brownies look scrumptious! 🙂
Hey Lauren, it came from Sam’s.
Just found your blog and this wonderful recipe. These look delicous and have all the ingredients I so love. I am now following you on Google Friend Connect as well as on Twitter. I can’t wait to explore more of your blog as time permits. Probably more during the week.
Hi Judimae!! I am so glad you found us, WELCOME to the Southern Plate family!! I hope to see you around and get to know you better.
These look delicious! My husband is a huge PB & chocolate fan, so I’ll have to make them for him sometime soon! (a good excuse at least, don’t you think?! :).
I think that sounds like a GREAT excuse!!! ~giggles~ 🙂
Oh, I love this frosting! I remember making it for my little boy’s first birthday (can you believe he’s three now?). Then you commented on my post about how adorable he was, and just made my day! Yup, good memories connected with this frosting. And now, adding it to brownies? Can I just say WOW!
can you just double the margarine and not usse shortening?????
Unfortunately my brother in law lost his sister yesterday. As being the Southern Lady that I am, food just goes with the passing of loved ones so this is gonna be on the menu. It just looks so awesome melt in your mouth, easy to make kind of dish. Gotta go to your cookbook to decide what else would be easy and feed a large crowd. BTW, I love my Christy Cookbook.
Martha, I’m so very sorry for your family’s loss. I am just like you, when someone passes I get right into the kitchen. It really is such a help to the family. I like to make country casseroles and leave them unbaked but refrigerated. you can write instructions on the aluminum foil you put over the top and the family can either freeze it or have it for supper when they need to. Just a thought.
Your family is in my thoughts.
Sincerely,
Christy