Fudgy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cobbler

Lizzy Briskin
Lizzy Briskin
Lizzy is a trained chef, food writer, and recipe developer for print and digital outlets including Insider, Real Simple, and the Chicago Tribune. She has a culinary degree from Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and a BA from Amherst College. She lives in New York City, where she runs, eats, and explores as much as possible.
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published Sep 6, 2024
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overhead shot of the chocolate peanut butter cobbler with a scoop taken out of it and drizzled with peanut butter
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Cobbler meets brownie meets pudding in this indulgent dessert.

Serves10 to 12

Prep30 minutes

Cook30 minutes

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overhead shot of the chocolate peanut butter cobbler with a scoop taken out of it and drizzled with peanut butter
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Chocolate peanut butter cobbler is the rich, gooey, fudgy dessert you’ve been sleeping on. Traditionally, a jammy cobbler is a baked dessert with a saucy fruit filling often made with blueberries, apples, or stone fruit and topped with a buttery, biscuit-like crust. Here, I swap out the fruit for a peanut butter brownie base that’s topped with a crackly crust made from sugar and cocoa powder. The result is a showstopper that looks and tastes like a gooey, spoonable pan of fudgy brownies with plenty of peanut butter in the mix (there’s also a drizzle on top, for good measure). The center is extra rich and stays super moist, while the top is crisp, and everything is coated in a luscious chocolate sauce. 

Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Why You’ll Love It

  • It’s an indulgent, delicious dessert. I promise you won’t miss the fruit here! It also makes the perfect base for vanilla ice cream. 
  • The ultimate mash-up of a cobbler, brownie, and pudding. Between a layer of pudding-like chocolate sauce, a layer of brownie-reminiscent cake, and a crackly cobbler-like topping, this dessert has so much to love. 
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Key Ingredients in Chocolate Peanut Butter Cobbler

You may already have the ingredients for this easy chocolate and peanut butter dessert in your kitchen. 

Here are the most important ingredient items to note.

  • Cocoa powder. Opt for natural, unsweetened cocoa powder in this recipe for optimal flavor and texture. 
  • Milk. Feel free to use any kind of milk you have on hand — even plant-based options will work in a pinch. 
  • Peanut butter. Choose creamy, not crunchy, peanut butter for both the batter and topping. If you want to make this chocolate cobbler peanut-free, feel free to use sunflower butter or Nutella — it will be every bit as delicious!
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cobbler Recipe

Cobbler meets brownie meets pudding in this indulgent dessert.

Prep time 30 minutes

Cook time 30 minutes

Serves 10 to 12

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

For the batter:

  • 8 tablespoons

    (1 stick) unsalted butter

  • 2 cups

    water

  • 2 cups

    all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/4 cups

    granulated sugar

  • 1/3 cup

    natural unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 2 teaspoons

    baking powder

  • 3/4 teaspoon

    kosher salt

  • 1 cup

    whole or 2% milk

  • 2/3 cup

    creamy peanut butter, at room temperature

  • 2 teaspoons

    vanilla extract

For the topping and serving:

  • 3/4 cup

    granulated sugar

  • 1/4 cup

    natural unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 1/4 cup

    packed light or dark brown sugar

  • 1/2 cup

    semisweet chocolate chips

  • 1/2 cup

    creamy peanut butter

  • Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)

Instructions

Make the batter:

  1. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 350ºF. Meanwhile, place a 9x13-inch baking dish on a baking sheet. Place 1 stick unsalted butter in the baking dish. Place in the oven while it is heating until the butter is just melted, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven.

  2. Bring 2 cups water to a boil. Meanwhile, make the batter.

  3. Place 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, 1/3 cup natural cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Add 1 cup whole or 2% milk, 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Stir with a flexible spatula until smooth and no dry streaks remain. The batter will be thick.

  4. Carefully tilt the baking dish so the melted butter fully coats the bottom and sides. Transfer the batter into the baking dish and spread into an even layer with a flexible spatula. Do not stir (butter will be pooling at the corners).

Make the topping:

  1. Place 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup natural cocoa powder, and 1/4 cup packed brown sugar in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Sprinkle evenly over the batter. Do not stir. Sprinkle 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips over the batter. Slowly pour the boiling water evenly over the batter. Do not stir.

  2. Bake until set around the edges but the center is still wet and jiggles, about 30 minutes.

  3. Let the cobbler cool for at least 10 minutes. Meanwhile, place 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave until pourable, 30 to 60 seconds.

  4. Drizzle the peanut butter over the cobbler. Serve warm, topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream if desired.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Filed in:
Dessert
dairy
pantry
Chocolate
baked goods
Baking