Peanut Butter Brookie Cookie Cups

These Peanut Butter Brookie Cookie Cups feature a soft, chewy peanut butter cookie base topped with a rich, fudgy brownie layer. Made with a simple cookie dough and boxed brownie mix, this easy dessert delivers bakery-style results with minimal effort.

What is a Brookie?

Traditionally, a "Brookie" is a combination of a cookie dough (usually chocolate chip) merged with a brownie. Most Brookies are served in bar (or square) form. Today's recipe takes that same idea but swaps out the chocolate chip cookie dough with my personal favorite, peanut butter.

The result?

Well, friends. . .I'd say it's pure magic! And, just for fun, I'm offering options. You'll find multiple ways to bake up this recipe in this post!

Peanut Butter + Chocolate = Pure Magic

There’s just something about the combination of peanut butter and chocolate that never gets old. These Peanut Butter Brownie Cookie Cups bring the best of both worlds together in one simple, crowd-pleasing dessert.

You start with a soft peanut butter cookie dough, press it into muffin tins, and top it with a rich brownie batter. The result? A golden, slightly crisp cookie shell with a gooey, fudgy brownie center. A peanut butter Brookie cookie!

They’re easy to make, fun to serve, and absolutely irresistible.

Why You’ll Love These Cookie Cups

• Perfect texture contrast – chewy cookie edges + fudgy brownie center
• Simple ingredients – shortcut brownie mix keeps things easy
• Bakery-style results – they look as good as they taste
• Great for sharing – or not… no judgment here

Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here's a quick peek at what you're going to need to make these delicious Brookie Cookie Cups.

For the Peanut Butter Cookie Base

• ½ cup butter, softened
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt

For the Brownie Layer

• 1 box chewy brownie mix
• Ingredients listed on box (typically eggs, oil, and water)

How to Make Peanut Butter Brownie Cookie Cups

1. Prepare the Muffin Tin

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Spray a standard muffin tin generously with baking spray.

2. Make the Cookie Dough

Cream together butter, sugars, and peanut butter until smooth. Add egg and vanilla, mixing well.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually mix into the wet ingredients.

👉 The cookie dough should be soft but scoopable.

3. Form the Cookie Base

Using a cookie scoop, measure one scoop of peanut butter cookie dough into each muffin cup.

Press the dough into the bottom (and slightly up the sides) to form a base.

4. Prepare the Brownie Batter

Mix the brownie batter according to package directions.

5. Assemble

Spoon brownie batter on top of each cookie base. Don’t overfill—just enough to cover the dough.

6. Bake

Bake at 350°F for 18–20 minutes.

👉 Centers will still be slightly soft—that’s exactly what you want!

7. Cool

Allow to cool in the pan for 15–20 minutes before removing. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

What to Expect

These cookie cups have:

• A firm, golden peanut butter exterior
• A soft, chewy interior
• A rich, fudgy brownie center

If you prefer a more set center, bake an additional 2–3 minutes—but we love them slightly gooey.

A Note About Extra Dough

You may notice you have some peanut butter cookie dough left over.

That’s not a mistake—it’s a bonus!

Simply roll and bake the extra dough into classic peanut butter cookies…because honestly, who’s going to complain about that?

⭐ Four Ways to Make These (Optional Variation)

I tested three other versions of this recipe, just for fun, and thought I would share those with you, in case you're feeling adventurous.

Version #2: Peanut Butter Cup Brookies

This version started with a reversal of the doughs. I started with chocolate brownie batter on the bottom of the muffin cup, then put a scoop of peanut butter dough in the center. Then I placed chocolate batter on top of the peanut butter center. This approach produced a muffin that's more chocolate than peanut butter. It doesn't have the same "cookie" feel to it, but was delicious and muffin-like. Definitely richer and more chocolate-forward.

Version #3: Peanut Butter Brookie Squares

For this version I spread the peanut butter cookie dough in the bottom of a 9x13-inch pan and added the brownie batter on top, then baked it at 350 for half an hour. It made a delicious peanut butter "Brookie" square that was divine!

Version #4: Brookie Cookies

I took a spoonful of chilled chocolate dough and a spoonful of peanut butter dough, pressed them together and rolled them into a ball to make yummy Brookie cookies, which I baked at 350 for 10 minutes-ish. These were absolutely delicious, as well.

No matter which option you choose, you're going to flip over the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, I promise!

💬 Kid-Tested Taste Results

I took options one and two (the muffin tin versions) over to my kids/grandkids and gave them a fun challenge:

They had to:

• Cut each one in half
• Study the inside
• Decide which version looked more appealing
• Then choose which one made them want to come back for more after taste-testing.

Here’s what my daughter Megan had to say after their taste test:

“Oh yum!!! That peanut butter-filled one was yuuuum! Jenna’s favorite—she wanted to eat more because it was delicioso! 😂

But then I tried the other one and surprisingly loved the brownie center version! It has such a smooth texture inside—perfect balance with the outer crunch and mix of flavors. I love me a peanut butter cookie!

I thought I’d like the peanut butter center better, but that gooey brownie center (or a perfect peanut butter bite!) is clearly my love language.”

While both versions were a hit (and clearly sparked some strong opinions!), my personal favorite is still the peanut butter cookie base with the fudgy brownie center on top.

Like Megan, I love the balance of flavors and that slightly crisp cookie edge—it really lets the peanut butter shine while still delivering that rich chocolatey bite.

Final Thoughts

These Peanut Butter Brownie Cookie Cups are the kind of dessert that feels a little special—but couldn’t be easier to make.

They’re rich, satisfying, and perfect for anyone who loves that classic peanut butter and chocolate combination.

And if you happen to have leftovers…

Well, good luck with that. 😉

Other Peanut Butter Favorites from Out of the Box

If you love these Brookie Cookie Cups you'll also enjoy:

• Luscious No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie: Served cold, this one is over-the-top delicious!
• Chocolate Cookies with Peanut Butter Chips: Simple and yummy!
• Chunky Peanut Butter Banana Bread: Bananas and Peanut Butter? Oh my!
• Copycat Reese's Peanut Butter Cups: Better than the original, I promise!

Thanks for Stopping By!

I hope you enjoyed these fun (and tasty) options! If you make one of these versions and love it, please leave a comment or review.

Before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?