These vegan gluten-free peanut butter brownies with pb glaze require just 9 ingredients (plus sea salt). A dense, gooey peanut butter brownie is made with a combination of coconut sugar, peanut butter, oat flour, cacao powder, and almond milk. Then, a rich, fudge-like peanut butter glaze—made with cacao butter, peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla—is poured over top and chilled to perfection.
If you're a peanut butter chocolate (PBC) lover, you're going to fall head over heels for these vegan peanut butter brownies with pb glaze.
Chocolate is one amazing thing, peanut butter is another. Put them together and you've got the perfect storm of decadence on your hands...
These vegan peanut butter brownies are made with similar ingredients and methods as these blondies.
Only the oats are dropped, the peanut butter is upped, and a generous sprinkle of cacao powder is folded in to transform blondies into... well, brownies.
To make these golden-coated beauties, you'll start by preparing the brownie base.
Here's what you'll need:
» Coconut sugar
» Peanut butter
» Vanilla
» Oat flour
» Cacao powder
» Baking powder
» Sea salt
» Almond milk
Cream together the coconut sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla. Then, whisk together the dry ingredients, and add them to the peanut butter mixture along with a bit of almond milk.
Mix until just incorporated. Then, press the batter/dough into a lined pan, and bake for a speedy 16 to 18 minutes.
While the brownies bake, you'll get to work on that glorious peanut butter glaze. And by "glaze" I mean fudgy, sink-your-teeth-in peanut butter layer.
Add a bit of cacao butter, peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and sea salt to a saucepan, and whisk over low heat. When the cacao butter is almost completely melted, remove the pan from the heat and continue to whisk until smooth and glossy.
Once the brownie has cooled, pour the glaze over the surface and tilt the pan back-and-forth to coat. Then, pop the pan in the freezer for about 20 minutes to set the glaze.
Once the glaze has set, slice the brownies into squares like so...
Now, your work is done, and all that's left to do is pile 'em high and soak up all the PBC love...
These vegan gluten-free peanut butter brownies are dense, fudgy, chocolaty, and oh-so-peanut-buttery.
Pretty much like a Reese's peanut butter cup in brownie form.
They're the perfect treat to welcome in the cooler temps, and they're festive enough to hold their own at a fall gathering.
📖 Recipe
Vegan Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Brownies with PB Glaze
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Brownies
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 1 ¼ cups natural peanut butter, stirred well before measuring*
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups oat flour
- ⅓ cup cacao powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
Peanut Butter Glaze
- ¼ cup (1.2 ounces) chopped cacao butter
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter, stirred well before measuring*
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon fine grain sea salt
Instructions
For the Peanut Butter Brownies
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Line an 8x8-inch square pan with parchment paper (double-check your pan size, because 9x9-inch won’t work for this recipe—you'll end up with thin, dry brownies, so please don't do it).
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the coconut sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla on medium-high for 1 minute using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
- Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, whisk together the oat flour, cacao powder, baking powder, and sea salt. Set within reach of the mixer.
- With the mixer off, add the oat flour mixture. Then, pour the almond milk over the oat flour mixture and begin beating on low. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 15 seconds, or until just incorporated. The dough should pull together into large, moist mounds as it moves around the mixing bowl. If the dough is dry and broken into small crumbles, add more almond milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat until it pulls together.
- Transfer the dough to the lined pan and press into an even layer.
- Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean with several moist crumbs at the tip. Don’t over-bake.
- Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and cool completely.
For the Peanut Butter Glaze
- Prepare the glaze while the brownie cools.
- Add the cacao butter, peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and sea salt to a medium saucepan.
- Heat over low heat and whisk constantly until about two-thirds of the cacao butter has melted. Then, remove the pan from the heat and continue whisking until the cacao butter melts completely and the mixture is smooth and glossy. Be careful not to overheat or scorch (or splash any water into the pan) or the cacao butter will seize and become gritty.
- Let cool for 10 minutes to thicken slightly.
To Assemble
- Once the peanut butter brownie is completely cool, pour the peanut butter glaze over the brownie and tilt the pan back-and-forth to evenly coat the surface. Transfer the pan to the freezer for 20 minutes, or until the glaze has completely set. (It will lose its glossy sheen and take on a matte finish when set.)
- Grasp the edges of the parchment paper and gently lift the brownie from the pan. Slice into 16 squares.
- Store the brownies in the refrigerator to maintain a dense, chewy texture and to keep the glaze well set.
Tammy says
Have you, or any of your readers, for that matter, tried these with another nut butter sub? I'm thinking either almond butter or sun butter? Thanks in advance:) ~ and by the way, your recipes are incredible! The majority of them are quick and delicious! Can't wait to try these!
Ashley says
Hi, Tammy! I haven't tried these with another nut butter sub, but I have a feeling both almond butter and sunflower butter would work just fine. Thanks for the kind words and hope you enjoy these, too! :)
Pia says
Holy brownie! These look so. good. Ashley. And oh my, what a day; I mean, is it brownie day or something? ;) Because Jessie just shared a brownie recipe, too. In any case, thanks for sharing and let's get this chocolate party started haha
Ellen Lederman says
Sounds and looks really good. Have everything but the cacao butter. Do you think it could be left out? Or a T or so of coconut oil subbed?
Ashley says
Thanks, Ellen! The cacao butter can't be omitted altogether (glaze won't set without it), but you can try subbing an equal amount of coconut oil in its place. Should do the trick. Just keep in mind it will impart a coconut flavor and slightly softer texture. Hope you enjoy!
Denise says
Works well with coconut oil, if not better as it results in a shinier glaze that doesn't have a white-sheen to it. Either way, both glazes set well when cooled. This recipe works with Almond Butter and Cashew Butter, but not Sunflower Seed Butter, IMO.
Ashley says
Hi, Denise! Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with substitutions—really appreciate it.
Celeste Jackson says
These went together so quickly. They were a hit at my party. Everyone wanted the recipe. Thank you for sharing!