1-First Step: Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter or line with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy for your chewy Reese’s Pieces peanut butter brownies. Gather all ingredients mise en place style to keep things smooth, especially if baking with kids or for parties.

2-Second Step: In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup melted unsalted butter, 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, and 1 cup brown sugar until smooth. Add 3 large eggs one at a time, mixing well, then stir in 2 tsp vanilla extract and 1/2 cup peanut butter. This creates the moist base for fudgy peanut butter brownies with candy. For vegan adaptation, use applesauce here instead of eggs.

3-Third Step: In a separate bowl, sift 1 cup flour, 2/3 cup cocoa powder, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp baking powder. Gently fold the dry mix into the wet ingredients until just combined, avoiding overmixing to maintain chewiness in these Reese’s Pieces brownies. The batter should be thick and glossy.

4-Fourth Step: Fold in 1 cup of the 1 1/2 cups Reese’s Pieces candies, reserving the rest. Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan, then press the remaining 1/2 cup Reese’s Pieces on top for extra crunch. Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. Check at 25 minutes: edges should set, but center soft with moist toothpick crumbs for perfect chewy brownies.

5-Final Step: Cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 2 hours, or overnight for best texture. This sets the chew without drying out your chocolate peanut butter brownies. Cut into 24 squares. Total time: 45 minutes active plus cooling. Serve warm with milk or ice cream. For gluten-free, ensure all ingredients match.