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This Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Torte has layers of brownie, peanut butter mousse, peanut butter cup pieces, all drenched in ganache.

Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Torte

*This post is from 2009.

It is one of my most pinned recipes and many a person has made and loved this recipe.

I have thought many a time about remaking this and updating the smaller photos.

But the first photo actually won me two photo contests.

This was back in the days when food bloggers didn’t have super fancy cameras and elaborate set ups.

And so I’m actually rather fond of it. *

Original Post:

So the In-Laws have left and I have been doing my best to get back into the swing of things.

Not easy to do.

I love having people visit but hate having my routine get all thrown out of whack.

And it is extra out of whack since there is no hockey right now so I am not scorekeeping at night.

Though that means more baking time. 😉

Thought I would be nice to the husband and make him something with peanut butter and chocolate since I haven’t really done much with his favorite flavor combo in awhile.

So this amazing Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Torte came about.

This is torte is about as rich as it looks in the photo.

Now, in the real recipe, you don’t want to use as much mousse as I did in the photo…it was just for photographic purpose.

If you used that much it would be a little too much in my opinion.

But if you are a peanut butter mousse fan maybe it won’t be overkill for you.

I say don’t be shy with the peanut butter cup pieces.

You rarely ever hear someone comment that they wish there were less peanut butter cups on something. 🙂

Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Torte

I did have a slightly amusing moment while out getting the Peanut Butter Cups.

I stopped off on way home to the Starbucks to get my afternoon Refresh Tea.

While standing in line I notice that the barista and what appears to be her boyfriend arguing.

Which then turned into a shouting match, in which he called her a whore.

I really wanted to point out the the guy, that though she may be a slut, she is most likely not a whore, as I doubt she was getting paid for putting out.

I’m a stickler for semantics.

But since the guy looked a little unstable, I felt it best to keep my mouth shut this time around. 😉

Sadly, the took the rest of the argument outside.

However, I don’t feel that she will be having her job there anymore.

Perhaps I should offer them both a piece of this Peanut Butter Cup Brown Torte to make two very unhappy people get in a better mood.

Last but not least…it’s a great time to order my cookbook. 😀

Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Torte

Want more recipes like this Peanut Butter Cup Brown Torte? Try these:

Peanut Butter Cup- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

Giant Peanut Butter Cups

Peanut Butter Cup Cake

Creamy Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

Peanut Butter Cup Pots de Creme

Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Torte

Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Torte

Ingredients

  • You will need:
  • 6 brownie rounds (recipe follows)
  • peanut butter cream cheese mousse (recipe follows)
  • lots and lots of peanut butter cup pieces (I chopped up about 15 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups)
  • chocolate ganache (recipe follows)
  • Brownie Rounds:
  • 7 TBSP unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder ( I used Green and Blacks)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Mousse:
  • ½ cup whipping cream, chilled
  • 5 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup plus 2 TBSP powdered sugar
  • 1/3 cup peanut butter
  • Chocolate Ganache:
  • 4 ½ ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped finely
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

  1. For Brownie Rounds:
  2. Preheat oven to 325F.
  3. Butter and flour Six 4 ½ -inch Diameter Spring Form Pans. Set aside.
  4. Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together butter and sugar, about 2 minutes.
  5. Add in egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Beat another minute.
  6. Pour in cocoa, flour, baking powder and salt.
  7. Mix on low speed until fully incorporated.
  8. Fold in chocolate chips until completely distributed throughout the brownie batter.
  9. Using measuring cups, pour a heaping 1/3 of a cup into each of the 6 prepared pans. If there is any batter left over, try to as evenly as possible, add to the prepared pans.
  10. Bake for 20-23 minutes.
  11. Remove from oven and let cool.
  12. Peanut Butter Cup Mousse:
  13. Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk the whipped cream on high until stiff peaks form.
  14. Place into a bowl and set aside.
  15. Add the cream cheese and peanut butter and whisk on medium speed, until fully incorporated.
  16. Add powdered sugar and mix until combined.
  17. Add whipped cream back into bowl and whisk on medium high until peanut butter mixture and whipped cream are fully incorporated and the texture is light and fluffy.
  18. Place into a medium sized bowl and set in fridge while brownies fully cool. At least 30 minutes.
  19. Chocolate Ganache:
  20. In a small saucepan bring cream to a boil. Once the boil starts, pour over chocolate.
  21. Let sit 5 minutes.
  22. Whisk until mixture is smooth and glossy.
  23. To Assemble the Torte.
  24. Remove brownie from spring form pans. If still too warm, place in freezer for about 10 minutes.
  25. Place one brownie circle on a plate.
  26. Add about a 1/8 cup of peanut butter mousse (I added much more to mine and actually doubled the recipe…but for photo reasons only. That much filling would be too much).
  27. Scatter a handful of peanut butter cups.
  28. Place another brownie round on top of the that.
  29. Then add another 1/8 cup peanut butter mousse.
  30. Then peanut butter cups.
  31. Place third and final brownie round on top of the second layer.
  32. Add a ¼ cup for the top layer of peanut butter mousse.
  33. And more peanut butter cups.
  34. Pour ½ the ganache over the top of the torte.
  35. It might take some peanut butter cup pieces with it down the side.
  36. Just add more on top, you know you wanted to anyway.
  37. Repeat and make a second torte. You should have two total. You can share…but why would you?
Peanut Butter Cup Brown Torte

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Comments

  1. Read thepart about nto using soo much mousse in real life…and thought I read pornographic instead of photographic…maybe that relates to the latter part of the post…or to the fact that these are true food porn photos.

    Reply

  3. That looks so yummy! I can’t wait to try it – my husband and I both love chocolate and peanut butter. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  5. “[I] hate having my routine get all thrown out of whack.”

    Story of my life, hahaha.

    Yikes!! Well thank goodness you weren’t in the “line of fire” or anything with the arguing couple – don’t get involved, my dear, haha 😉

    Stop it with that dessert – it’s TOO good-looking!!

    Reply

  8. Ha too funny, I thought it read “pornographic” as well!
    I just finished eating a batch of something similiar to this but in bite size form that I made earlier this week and now I want it in cake form too!!! Is there such a thing as too much peanut butter mousse?!?

    Reply

  9. I’ll be making this. One when it gets cooler and two when I can make sure it won’t send hubby into a diabetic coma. It’s worth that though!!!

    Reply

  11. Oh, my. I just keep going back to look at that picture. *drools*

    I’ve never been a really big hockey fan, but I would totally sit through a whole game if that torte was with me. 😀

    Reply

  23. You’re killing me. I felt my thighs expand as I continued reading through your post. Chocolate? Peanut butter? 7 TBSP butter? Cream cheese? It’s posts like this that make me wish I was your neighbor. Or personal dishwasher. Or both! I plan on making this. Soon!

    Reply

  25. First of all, that torte: yes, please. You can go ahead and ship one to Virginia where I will be waiting to devour it.

    Second of all, don’t your thoroughly enjoy a little drama occasionally on public outings? Sounds like you had a good one.

    Reply

  29. Here I am winding down for the day and now I have the urge to cook that yummy piece of heaven. I guess I REALLY just have the urge to eat some!
    Wow, devine decadence! And about that arguement-too funny the thought in our heads that we socially refrain from participating in although we REALLY want to add our two cents. I watched this today, thought you’d get a kick out of it! Lucy at her finest!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wp3m1vg06Q

    Reply

  31. Damn, that looks terribly wonderfully good! That really is food porn! But i dont buy the part about too much mousse,i say more the better! In South Africa we dont get the joys of peanut butter and chocolate, although when i was in the US i scoffed so many peanut butter cups i felt ill.

    Reply

  36. oh my. what a sloppy yet solid and marvelous piece of work. i can tell just by looking at this cake that it’d make my knees weak. bravo, peabody!

    Reply

  37. Oh my goodness! This looks so delicious! Just yesterday I had something that was similar to this but they also included a chocolate mousse and caramel on top. I was thinking that I would love to recreate it. I am so happy to find your recipe for the Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Mousse. I will definitely have to give it a try. 😀

    Reply

  39. You always tell the funniest stories and wow I bet that cake really would have made them feel better! 🙂 I loved your post about your MIL never trying brioche- crazy! I’m glad you could enlighten her!

    Reply

  54. I usually need an excuse to bake things so I don’t just have stuff in the house (b/c I would eat it all), but I don’t think I need an excuse for this. I think I will just make it and eat it all.

    Reply

  55. That looks crazy rich! Hmm, both you and your hubby have excellent taste … pb and chocolate is definitely a natural combination and I love the Refresh tea too! Interesting entertainment at your Starbucks though.

    Reply

  56. sweet charlotte woman!
    you do realize that I am eating Cheez Its right now? Cheez It’s!! Can I also say nice job in slicing this. How you did it so neatly I’ll never know…or will I? LOL
    I love my afternoon green tea at Starbucks too. What is refresh tea? Sounds good.

    Reply

  57. There are some desserts where one dessert would suffice. This is one. And that’s a GOOD thing because it would last FOREVER.

    Unless you live in my house.

    Reply

  60. Actually, I’m thinking that if the couple had been fortunate enough to have had a plate of this wonderfulness, they’d have launched at each other! Quite the divine mess ; ) Bib please?

    Reply

  61. Are you kidding me? That is ridiculous…and I mean that in the best possible way. I can’t wait to make this for someone’s birthday and watch their eyes light up.

    Reply

  67. How much of that did your husband devour in one sitting?

    The pb mousse looks like it has many possibilities in other applications (well not as hair gel, but you know what I mean).

    Reply

  68. Wow. That looks fabulous. I love Reese’s. And brownies. I’m actually kind of glad it’s on my computer screen and not in my kitchen where I would be tempted to eat it all. =)

    Reply

  73. man, Peabody, I slow-motion scrolled down that first picture. Needless to mention there was a lot of drooling involved. I think i heard harp music too. Yikes~

    Reply

  74. Hi Peabody! I just made this… OH MY GOD!!! It was soooo good. Thanks again for the recipe, and for the tip about using less mousse.

    Reply

  76. a) The torte looks delicious.

    b) You are a very thoughtful wife to make such an amazing dessert to satisfy your husband’s pb/chocolate love.

    c) Is it wrong that sometimes I wish people wouldn’t take those kinds of arguments outside simply for the sake of my own personal enjoyment?

    Reply

  78. I hate when my routine gets out of whack too, makes me really grouchy! Although, I think a slice of this torte would make it all better. Looks delish!

    Reply

  82. Holy cats- that looks amazing. I wish I could still eat peanut butter and tree nuts. Wonder how that would be if I substituted another (non-lethal-to-me) candy… maybe peppermint patties…

    Reply

  87. Oh wow. My husband is recovering from food poisoning but as soon as he is better I’m making this for him. I think this would be heaven on earth for him!

    Reply

  91. The headlining picture in this post is exactly while I love your food. I’m not a commenter usually, but sweet jumpin’ jeebus that’s gorgeous. Are there struts in that thing? How the hell does it support itself? Must be all that decadence.

    Reply

  93. This looks like what I imagine I’ll be eating a lot of in Heaven, only in much larger quantities 🙂 You amaze me with the richness and droolworthy photos every time. Thanks for sticking with the blogging!

    Reply

  100. When you post photos like this it makes me worried that you might leave us! I would so horribly miss your lucious photos and wonderfuly, horrible (for my figure) ideas!

    Reply

  104. I sent this to my husband demanding that we make this for the next birthday, and all he said was,
    “Sugar. Induced. Coma.”

    So true, and I can’t wait!

    Reply

  107. I just made this for my dad’s 56th birthday dinner. It was a hit! I did everything the same, except I put the brownie batter in two 9″ round cake pans that were lined with tin foil (so I could pull them out easily and then peel away the foil). Worked like a charm. Exceedingly rich, but oh-so-impressively good! Thanks for this recipe.

    Reply

  108. Thank-you for posting this! I am pregnant and craving sweet things (boy!) and this was PERFECT. I made the brownies in a square pan, then cut one out and plopped the peanut butter mousse on top with a drizzle of hot fudge and OH MY! This is going to become a regular addition to my daily indulgences.

    Reply

  110. Seriously, who has 6 springform pans? I’ve been a semi-serious baker for decades, and at the moment I don’t even have 1 springform pan. Even my wonderful cheesecake is made in a dutch oven.

    I think I’ll try this with regular cake pans and use parchment paper on the bottom.

    This just sounds too good not to try

    Reply

    • @Sallie- “Six 4 ½ -inch Diameter Spring Form Pans” The pans are mini spring forms that are 4 1/2 inch diameter, not 6 inch. They are actually very handy to use. If you don’t own a spring form pan I highly suggest picking one up. And the mini ones are highly versitile.

      Reply

  112. I made this today for my coworkers, and it was gone in 15 min! I only got one bite! I didn’t have 4″ pans, so I used a jelly pan lined with parchment paper. Then I cut the brownie into small squares and used those to make mini tortes. It was perfect for a large group of people to just grab one and go!

    Reply

  113. I’m an experienced baker, and the brownie absolutely did not work for me. It was hollow and only the bottom was nice and chewy. I’m trying it again with a brownie mix with better hopes. Looks delicious though!

    Reply

  115. quick question, I’m trying to find a way to individualize this recipe into some sort of stacked “cupcake” for gifts. I figured I would just use a cookie cutter to cut circles out of the brownie then stack in individually in little vday plastic cups. My question is, since i would be cutting them with a cookie cutter, do you think it would be best if i just baked them in regular cake pan? thanks so much for this awesome recipe!

    Reply

  116. Peabody,
    I wanted to possibly modify your recipe for a baby shower and make it into mini sized trifles. Any ideas? I just saw the last one from Jessica. Was thinking maybe use muffin pans? What do you think would work the best or easiest? The shower will be close to 100 guests.

    Reply

  118. I will be using Duncan Hines Triple Chocolate cake mix instead of the suggested brownie mix. Hoping that it turns out as good as this looks! Thanks!

    Reply

  119. looks delicious! can’t wait to try making this tomorrow! thank you hun for putting this up x 🙂

    Reply

  121. In the middle of making this now. Only, I bought the brownie mix (I know, shame SHAME) and am baking 1/3 of it at a time in a round dish lined with parchment. Tomorrow I will make the ganache and PB cream cheese mouse and putting it together. Sharing w/ some friends who are making us dinner. Even if it doesn’t look as pretty as your pictures I think it’ll be soooooooooooo delicious. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe!

    Reply

  123. I am afraid to go stand on the scale, I’m sure after just looking at this fabulously delish picture that I’ve gained at least 5 pounds! Making a print out and gonna make it someday..

    Reply

  124. just made this for my husband’s birthday…his favorite things are chocolate and peanut butter…it looks so good i can’t wait to try it!

    Reply

  125. I made a version of this last night and it was incredible! I baked a pan of brownies from a recipe that has been in my family for years and I spread your peanut butter mousse over to when they cooled, and topped that with Reece’s! Simple and delish! Thanks for sharing

    Reply

  126. All the directions always say use a stand mixer, what if you don’t have one……I know I don’t. Is it ok to use a regular mixer?

    Reply

  131. I am making this, but using 3 9inch rounds to make a layer “cake” from brownie mix. Will use the mouse and the ganache. How long will this hold up in the refrigerator, assembled? Should I wait until ready to serve to add the ganache.

    Reply

  133. I was wondering I am not as talented as you are in the baking department I see I can use a box brownie mix so cool. However sadly I do not have whipping cream can I sub like cool whip and lessen the powdered sugar in the peanut butter mousse????? I have an event at my church tonight and I think the ladies will like this. Please let me know.

    Reply

  134. I want to bake this but im confused… Do you need 6 brownies like you say in the directions of making the brownie stacks or do you only need three like the picture and in the directions of putting the whole thing together???

    Reply

  135. The reese brownie looks awsome. I can’t wait to try it. Is this were I enter for the giveaway.

    Reply

  137. May I lodge a formal protest? Please adjust your measurements from ounces to cups. I hate that. If you mean 1/2 a pkg or 1/3 of a cup, then say so. I have been baking a long time and I think telling someone who doesn’t to adjust their measurements to ounces is a little elitist. And so, do you mean 1/3 of an 8 oz pkg? Please clarify this for those who don’t know.

    Reply

    • @debby- you can complain all you want but since my blog is read by people who also live outside the United States often use ounces. Measuring ingredients creates better results, especially in baking.
      Being doing that on my blog for almost 8 years and you are my first complaint.

      Reply

  139. @Debby – Seriously??? If you can’t figure this out, maybe you shouldn’t be baking! How about you just be appreciative to people like Peabody who share their wonderful creations! Don’t change a thing and thanks for sharing Peabody! 😀

    Reply

  140. I’m making a trifle version of this for our 13th anniversary! We don’t eat many desserts anymore but when we do, we do it right, obviously! I tasted some of the parts last night and this is going to be amazing….

    Reply

  141. I made this cake last night, but halved the recipe because I just wanted 1 layered 8-inch cake. I figured that would be enough since this recipe is for 6 4-1/2-inch pans. The batter was not even enough to cover half of my pan. I had to make another batch. If you’re making this, just know that the recipe yields 1 8-inch cake in a spring form pan. The cake is about an inch thick. I would double this recipe for a more substantial cake. Other than that, the flavors were delicious.

    Reply

  142. The browines didnt bake right, why?! 🙁 it was hollow in middle and crusty on top. What went wrong?? Help plz!

    Reply

  145. Very excited to give this a try. In the process of making this as ‘date night’ with my hubby,
    And, as for the “formal complaint” – most chocolate packages come with oz. measurements on them anyway, I find!

    Reply

  146. This recipe is GLORIOUS!!! I have made it numerous times. I like to use a scratch chocoalte cake instead of brownie layers and double the mousse. But SOOO SOOOOO SOOOOOOO GOOD! Family favorite!

    Reply

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