Snickers Brownies

Ooey gooey, rich and chewy, my snickers brownies are a snickers bar lovers dream dessert. Packed with lots of milk chocolate, caramel bits, roasted and salted peanuts, then topped with a drizzle of extra caramel sauce and more roasted peanuts, these decadent brownies really hit the spot with a tall, ice-cold glass of milk!

When a Snickers Bar Gets a Rich Brownie Makeover

As a kid, snickers bars were among my most beloved candy bars. I'd grab one as an impulse buy in the checkout line while at the market with my mom, or as a sweet chocolatey treat at our local gas station when getting gas with my dad.

Ah, the good ol' days of candy bars, those childhood treats that we never quite seem to get over, even when we grow up and make the decision to eat healthier and make good food choices. They're still a guilty pleasure...and always will be!

Which is why it's such a fun treat to bake up these snickers brownies when we get that hankering for a classic, rich and chewy snickers candy bar, but with a brownie twist.

Packed with an abundance of rich milk chocolate, bits of caramel, roasted and salted peanuts, then drizzled decadently with salted caramel sauce and an extra sprinkle or two of more roasted peanuts, this chewy brownie recipe really is the best of both worlds, a brownie and a snickers candy bar.

It’s a deliciously sweet (and decidedly naughty!) little snack!

My Recipe For Snickers Brownies

While there aren't any actual bits of snickers bars in these brownies, I went in the direction of recreating the actual taste and texture of a snickers bar itself, only in brownie form.

The reason I didn't chop up and add pieces of snickers bars into the batter here is because I didn't want those pieces to melt into the batter and get lost, so instead I added in lots of the same, yummy ingredients that go into an actual snickers bar...

We're talking lots of milk chocolate chips throughout (both melted in with the butter and folded into the brownie batter), a hint of peanut butter as well as roasted peanuts, plus those sweet little caramel bits for a taste of caramel inside each bite of brownie.

Then there's the added topping of a glistening, salted caramel sauce (good quality store bought) drizzled over top, along with more crunchy salted peanuts for that sweet-n-salty balance.

When cut into bars, these snickers brownies end up looking like a gooey snickers bar, one that you can enjoy simply with an ice cold glass of milk or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to create a snickers brownie sundae—"wowzers"!

Here's a sneak peek at my recipe for snickers brownies: (or just jump to the full recipe...)

1. To get started, I prepare my brownie batter.
2. Next, add half the batter into a prepared baking dish, sprinkle over some roasted, salted peanuts, then add the rest of the brownie batter and smooth out the top.
3. I bake the snickers brownies for about 40 minutes, then allow them to cool in the pan for about 20 minutes.
4. Next, I lift them out of the baking dish to allow things to cool completely.
5. To finish brownies, I drizzle over top some salted caramel sauce, add another sprinkle of the salted peanuts, then cut into brownie bars and enjoy!

Recipe

Snickers Brownies

by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

These snickers brownies are packed with roasted, salted peanuts, milk chocolate and caramel bits, plus a drizzle of salted caramel sauce!

Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Yield: Makes 12 brownies

Nutrition Info: 420 calories per brownie

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces milk chocolate chips, divided use
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temp
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
• 6 ounces caramel bits
• ½ cup salted and roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
• Salted caramel sauce (store bought), to drizzle over top

Preparation:

1. To begin, gather and prep all of your ingredients according to the ingredient list above to have ready and organized for use.
2. Preheat your oven to 350°, and line a 11 x 7 x 1.5 inch baking dish with enough foil or parchment paper so that it hangs a little over the sides (easier lifting after baking), and mist with cooking spray.
3. Into a small saucepan add 4 ounces of the milk chocolate chips along with the butter, and slowly heat just until melted together. Whisk/blend to combine, and pour into the bowl of a standing mixer to slightly cool for 5-10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt, and put those dry ingredients aside for a moment.
5. Once the melted chocolate/butter has cooled slightly, add to this both of the sugars, the eggs, the vanilla, and the peanut butter, and using a paddle attachment, mix to combine well.
6. Next, carefully add in the dry ingredients, and mix just until combined. Then, pour in the remaining 4 ounces of milk chocolate chips and the caramel bits, and mix just until those are incorporated in.
7. Pour/spoon about half of the batter (it will be a little thick!) into your prepared baking dish, and smooth it out. Sprinkle evenly over the batter about half of the chopped peanuts (about ¼ cup), and spoon the rest of the batter over that and smooth out.
8. Bake the snickers brownies for about 40 minutes, then allow them to cool in the baking dish for about 20 minutes.
9. Lift the brownies out of the baking dish using the overhanging foil or parchment paper, and allow things to completely cool.
10. Then, drizzle over the top about ¼ cup of the salted caramel sauce and sprinkle over the remainder of the chopped peanuts, then drizzle more caramel sauce (about another ¼ cup) over top of the peanuts to make the top nice and gooey.
11. Cut into bars and serve, and keep any uneaten brownies well-covered with plastic wrap.

Tips & Tidbits for my Snickers Brownies recipe:

• Milk chocolate chips for "candy bar" sweetness: While you can opt for semi-sweet chocolate chips and have delicious results, I like the milk chocolate chips for this recipe to create a more “candy bar” flavor. I melt half of them into the butter for the brownie batter, and then fold the other half into the brownie batter, for create little “pockets” of milk chocolate throughout the brownies.
• Caramel bits for a sweet chew: I love using little, round caramel “bits” in the brownie batter here, as this offers little bites of caramel chewiness in these snickers brownies. Typically I find the caramel bits in the same section as the chocolate chips (the baking section of the market), but you can order them online.
• Salted caramel sauce for drizzling: Opt for a good quality, store-bought caramel sauce for the topping, to keep things easy. I personally really like Trader Joe's “Fleur de Sel” caramel sauce, but any brand you like will do.
• Snickers brownies sundae: If you'd really like to go a decedent route, serve these brownies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and extra caramel sauce drizzled over top to create a snickers brownie sundae—a terrific treat for a birthday party, or whenever you're feeling a bit naughty!

Hungry for more decadent sweet treats? Check out this Brownie Cake, these “Sweet Heat” Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownies, these Chocolate Truffles, this Chocolate Bark, this Chocolate Pudding, or these chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies with Roasted Hazelnuts!

Cook's Note: This recipe was originally published in 2015, and has been updated with even more love!