BEST Peanut Butter Cup Brownies (Gluten-Free or Regular)

Two Peanut Butter Cup Brownies drizzled with white chocolate
topping and two drizzled with semi-sweet chocolate.

These brownie bites are so decadent,

delicious and easy to make! Definitely

a new family favorite.

Brownie Ingredients:

parchment paper

butter

1 1/4 cups gluten-free or all purpose flour

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 cup dark (or regular) unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup butter

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)

5 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

23 full size peanut butter cups (Reese's are gluten-free)

Topping Ingredients:

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup white or semi sweet chocolate chips

Method:

Preheat oven to 350*. Grease the inside of a 9x13 inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray. Line with parchment paper. Lightly grease the inside of the parchment paper with butter.

Sift together flour, salt and cocoa in a medium bowl. Set aside.

In a large glass or other microwave safe bowl, heat 1 cup butter and chocolate chips, in a microwave oven, at 30 second intervals. (If the butter is not room temperature, before melting, cut into chunks before placing in microwave.) Stir after each 30 seconds. Heat just until melted. Stir to blend.

With a large fork or whisk, blend in the white and brown sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each egg is added. Stir in vanilla. 

Sprinkle the flour mixture over the chocolate mixture. Stir gently, just until combined.

Pour the batter into the parchment lined pan. Press peanut butter cups into the batter. 

Peanut Butter Cups and brownie batter before baking.

Bake 30 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into brownie comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. For topping, heat peanut butter and chocolate chips, in a small bowl, in microwave. (20 seconds if using white chocolate and 30 seconds if using semi-sweet chocolate.) Stir and drizzle over baked brownies with a fork or spoon. 

Cool completely on a baking rack. Finish cooling in refrigerator, before cutting into small brownie bites. Store in an airtight container inside of the refrigerator. Makes approximately 60 pieces.

Notes: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups can be purchased in larger packages at Costco, Smart & Final and Sam's Club stores. (I purchased 72 peanut butter cups for $20, at Costco, which was enough to make 3 batches of brownies.)