Vegan Peanut Butter Brownies

If you love rich, fudgy desserts, these vegan peanut butter brownies are about to become your new favorite treat. Made with simple ingredients and loaded with chocolate and creamy peanut butter, this easy dairy-free brownie recipe is irresistibly decadent.

Vegan brownies can get a bad rap. So many recipes out there fail to deliver on flavor or produce a cake-like texture.

These vegan peanut butter brownies are perfect for several reasons: dense texture, rich chocolate flavor and creamy peanut butter swirl. They replicate your favorite box mix, down to the chocolate chunks!

Try our vegan Oreo brownies if you're looking for more brownie recipes that check all the right boxes.

Ingredients You'll Need

Here is everything you'll need to make the greatest brownies of all time:

For the Brownies

• black beans: These replace eggs and much of the fat, creating an ultra-moist, fudgy texture.
• water: Helps blend the black beans smoothly.
• vegan butter: Adds richness and moisture, contributing to that classic dense, indulgent brownie texture.
• dark chocolate (50-70%): Provides deep, rich chocolate flavor and enhances the fudgy consistency when melted into the batter.
• granulated sugar: Sweetens the brownies and helps create that slightly crisp, crackly top.
• light brown sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle caramel-like flavor, making the brownies softer and more chewy.
• vanilla extract: Enhances and rounds out the chocolate and peanut butter flavors.
• instant espresso powder: Intensifies the chocolate flavor without making the brownies taste like coffee.
• salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the richness of the chocolate and peanut butter.
• cocoa powder: Deepens the chocolate flavor and contributes to the dense, fudgy texture.
• all-purpose flour: Provides structure and stability, helping the brownies hold together.
• nondairy chocolate chips: Add pockets of melty chocolate throughout for extra texture and richness.
• peanut butter: Creates the signature swirl and adds a creamy, nutty contrast to the rich chocolate base.
• powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the peanut butter mixture, giving it a smooth, spreadable consistency that holds its shape when swirled.

Why You'll Love These Brownies

• Ultra fudgy and rich with a deep chocolate flavor
• Swirled with creamy peanut butter in every bite
• Made with simple, pantry-friendly ingredients
• Naturally egg-free and completely vegan
• Black beans add moisture without affecting the taste
• Perfect balance of sweet, salty, and chocolatey
• Easy to make - no complicated steps required
• Loaded with melty chocolate chips for extra indulgence

Recipe Tips and Tricks

1. Blend the beans until completely smooth: This is key! Any texture left will affect the final brownies. A high-speed blender or food processor works best.
2. Don't skip rinsing the beans: Rinsing removes any residual flavor and helps ensure the brownies taste rich and chocolatey, not "beany."
3. Melt chocolate gently: Microwave in short intervals to avoid burning the chocolate.
4. Use good-quality cocoa powder and chocolate: Since chocolate is the main flavor, higher quality ingredients make a noticeable difference.
5. Measure flour correctly: Spoon and level the flour to avoid adding too much, which can make the brownies dense or cakey.
6. Don't over-mix the batter: Mix just until combined to keep the brownies tender and fudgy.
7. Swirl, don't over-mix the peanut butter: Gently swirl it on top so you get distinct ribbons rather than blending it fully into the batter.
8. Line your pan with parchment paper: This makes removing and slicing the brownies much easier.
9. Check for doneness carefully: A toothpick should come out with a few moist crumbs, not wet batter. Over-baking will dry them out.
10. Let them cool completely: Brownies firm up as they cool, so resist cutting them too early for the best texture.

Why Add Black Beans to Vegan Brownies?

Black beans make vegan brownies incredibly moist, fudgy, and rich without needing eggs or a large amount of flour.

When blended until smooth, they create a thick, creamy base that helps hold the brownies together while giving them a dense, almost truffle-like texture.

Because black beans have a mild flavor, you won't taste them once they're mixed with cocoa powder, melted chocolate, sugar, and vanilla. Instead, they simply make the brownies extra soft and decadent.

Another benefit is that black beans can replace some of the flour and fat in the recipe, which keeps the brownies rich and fudgy rather than cakey. The result is a dessert that tastes indulgent but has a secretly wholesome ingredient hidden inside.

Frequently Asked Questions

Best Peanut Butter to Use in Baking

When it comes to baking, the type of peanut butter you use matters just as much as the brand. The key factors are texture, stability, and oil content. These directly affect how your brownies turn out.

Best Brands

1. Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter: This style of peanut butter is ideal because it's smooth, emulsified, and doesn't separate. Your batter stays uniform and your bakes turn out chewy instead of oily or crumbly.
2. Jif Creamy Peanut Butter: Classic creamy peanut butter with a smooth texture that works perfectly in baked goods. It is easy to mix into batters and has balanced, sweet/salty flavor.

What to Look For

• Creamy texture → blends smoothly into batter
• No oil separation → keeps brownies from becoming greasy
• Stabilized (processed) → gives consistent, predictable results

What to Avoid

• Runny natural peanut butter (oil separation = inconsistent texture)
• Extra chunky peanut butter (can make brownies dry or crumbly)
• Low-fat peanut butter (often changes texture and moisture balance)

Tested Recipe Variations

Here are a few ways you can mix up your vegan peanut butter brownies:

1. Double Chocolate Peanut Butter: Add extra nondairy chocolate chips or chunks for an even richer, ultra-chocolatey brownie.
2. Peanut Butter Cup Brownies: Fold in chopped vegan peanut butter cups for pockets of melty chocolate and peanut butter throughout.
3. Espresso Peanut Butter Brownies: Triple the espresso powder for a deeper, more intense chocolate flavor with a subtle coffee kick.
4. Salted Peanut Butter Brownies: Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top after baking to enhance the sweet and salty contrast.
5. Nut-Free Option: Replace the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter for a similar swirl without nuts.
6. Chunky Peanut Butter Swirl: Use chunky peanut butter for added texture and little bits of peanuts in every bite.
7. Fudge-Stuffed Brownies: Add a layer of vegan chocolate spread or ganache in the center for an extra decadent surprise.

Storage Tips

Room temperature (short-term): Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. Keep them in a cool, dry place to maintain their fudgy texture.

Refrigerator (longer freshness): For longer storage, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week. Let them come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.

Freezer-friendly: These brownies freeze beautifully! Slice them first, then store in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 1 month.

Prevent drying out: Always keep them tightly sealed to lock in moisture and keep them soft and fudgy.

Quick thaw tip: Let frozen brownies sit at room temperature for about 30-60 minutes, or microwave for 10-15 seconds for a warm, gooey treat.

If you make this recipe be sure to tag @censoredbaker on Instagram!

Print

More Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Desserts:

• vegan peanut butter cups
• vegan peanut butter blossoms
• vegan chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats

More Vegan Brownies and Bars: