This Snickers brownies recipe turned a regular Tuesday night into the kind of evening my family still talks about months later. After years of trying to recreate that perfect combination of fudgy chocolate, gooey caramel, and crunchy peanuts, I finally cracked the code. What started as using up leftover Halloween candy became our most requested dessert for every gathering, potluck, and "just because" moment.
Why You'll Love This Snickers Brownies Recipe
This recipe solves every problem I've had with candy bar brownies. Most versions either have boring chocolate that disappears under all the candy, or everything sinks to the bottom making a weird soggy layer. After making these for school fundraisers and birthday parties more times than I can count, I've figured out how to get chocolate, caramel, and peanuts in every single bite.
What makes this so great is how straightforward it is once you know the steps. You don't need special equipment or ingredients from fancy stores. Max loves helping because he gets to unwrap Snickers Brownies bars and "check" that they taste right. The brownies stay thick and chewy even with all the candy mixed in, and they're even better the next day when everything settles together. They also freeze really well if you want to make extra and save some.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Snickers Brownies Recipe
- Ingredients for Snickers Brownies
- How To Make Snickers Brownies Step By Step
- Smart Swaps for Snickers Brownies
- Creative Twists on Snickers Brownies
- Equipment For Snickers Brownies
- Storing Your Snickers Brownies
- Our Special Kitchen Secret
- Top Tip
- FAQ
- Sweet Success Awaits!
- Related
- Pairing
- Snickers brownies
Ingredients for Snickers Brownies
The Brownie Base:
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Large eggs
- All-purpose flour
- Cocoa powder
- Salt
The Snickers Magic:
- Full-size Snickers Brownies bars
- Caramel sauce
- Salted peanuts
- Mini marshmallows (optional)
For the Top:
- Extra chopped Snickers
- Sea salt flakes
- More caramel for drizzling
Basic Tools:
- Rubber spatula
- 9x13 baking pan
- Large mixing bowls
- Sharp knife for chopping
see recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Snickers Brownies Step By Step
Prep Phase:
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Line 9x13 pan with parchment paper
- Chop Snickers bars into chunks
- Set aside extra pieces for topping
Make the Brownie Base:
- Melt chocolate and butter together
- Stir in sugar until combined
- Beat in eggs one at a time
- Mix in flour, cocoa, and salt gently
- Don't overmix or brownies get tough
The Snickers Layer:
- Pour half the batter into prepared pan
- Sprinkle chopped Snickers over batter
- Drizzle with caramel sauce
- Add remaining batter on top
- Swirl gently with knife
Final Touches:
- Top with reserved Snickers pieces
- Press lightly into batter
- Sprinkle with sea salt
- Bake 28-32 minutes until set
Cooling Magic:
- Clean knife between cuts
- Cool completely in pan
- Drizzle with more caramel
- Cut with sharp knife
Smart Swaps for Snickers Brownies
Healthier Switches:
- Dark chocolate chips → Semi-sweet chips
- Coconut oil → Butter (use ¾ the amount)
- Applesauce → Half the butter
- Whole wheat flour → All-purpose flour
Dietary Needs:
- Gluten-free flour blend → Regular flour
- Vegan butter → Real butter
- Flax eggs → Chicken eggs
- Dairy-free chocolate → Regular chocolate
Candy Alternatives:
- Baby Ruth bars → Snickers bars
- Peanut butter cups → Snickers pieces
- Chopped peanuts + caramel chips → Snickers bars
- Heath bars → Different crunch texture
Texture Changes:
- Different caramel sauce → Store-bought
- Chunky peanut butter swirl → Plain batter
- Crushed pretzels → Extra crunch
- Chopped almonds → Peanuts
Creative Twists on Snickers Brownies
Triple Chocolate Version:
- Add white chocolate chips to batter
- Use dark chocolate Snickers bars
- Drizzle with chocolate ganache
- Sprinkle cocoa powder on top
Salted Caramel Style:
- Extra caramel sauce layers
- Flaky sea salt between layers
- Caramel chips mixed in batter
- Butter toffee pieces on top
Peanut Butter Lovers:
- Swirl peanut butter through batter
- Use peanut butter Snickers bars
- Top with crushed peanut butter cookies
- Drizzle melted peanut butter
Holiday Versions:
- Christmas: Add crushed candy canes
- Halloween: Orange food coloring
- Easter: Mini chocolate eggs
- Birthday: Colorful sprinkles
Grown-Up Twist:
- Less sweet, more complex
- Splash of bourbon in batter
- Espresso powder for depth
- Dark chocolate instead of milk
Equipment For Snickers Brownies
- 9x13 inch baking pan
- Large mixing bowls
- Sharp knife for chopping candy
- Rubber spatula for mixing
- Measuring cups and spoons
Storing Your Snickers Brownies
Counter Storage (3-4 days):
- Cool completely before covering
- Store in airtight container
- Layer between parchment paper
- Keep at room temperature
Fridge Storage (1 week):
- Wrap individual squares in plastic
- Store in sealed container
- Bring to room temperature before serving
- Cold brownies are too firm
Freezer Storage (3 months):
- Wrap squares individually in plastic
- Place in freezer bags
- Label with date
- Thaw overnight in fridge
Serving Notes:
- Don't leave out more than 4 hours
- Room temperature tastes best
- Cut with clean knife each time
- Warm slightly in microwave for gooey texture
Our Special Kitchen Secret
My son and I discovered our favorite twist on these Snickers Brownies during last year's school bake sale chaos. I was rushing to get three dozen brownies done, and he was helping me chop the candy bars when he accidentally knocked over the jar of instant coffee granules. Instead of starting over, we decided to sprinkle about a tablespoon of those coffee granules right into the brownie batter.
That tiny bit of coffee didn't make the brownies taste like coffee at all - it just made the chocolate flavor deeper and richer. The slight bitterness balanced out all the sweet caramel perfectly. Now we always add coffee granules to our brownie base, and people constantly ask what makes our version taste so much better than regular brownies.
Top Tip
- My neighbor who grew up baking with her grandmother in Texas shared a game-changing tip that completely transformed my Snickers brownies. Instead of just chopping the candy bars at room temperature, she puts them in the freezer for about 20 minutes first. The cold Snickers Brownies bars chop much cleaner without getting all gooey and messy, and the pieces hold their shape better during baking instead of melting into puddles.
- But her real wisdom was about the batter thickness. She taught me to make the brownie base slightly thicker than normal brownies because all those candy pieces and caramel need something sturdy to hold onto. A thin batter just gets overwhelmed and turns into a soggy mess. The thicker base creates the perfect foundation that stays fudgy but can support all the mix-ins.
- Her last trick was timing the caramel drizzle. Instead of adding it all before baking, she puts half in the middle layer and saves the rest to drizzle on top when the brownies are still warm from the oven. The heat makes it soak in just slightly without making everything soggy. Now every batch I make uses her method, and people always comment on how perfectly balanced these brownies are.
FAQ
What is the secret to the best brownies?
The secret lies in not overbaking and using the right chocolate-to-flour ratio. For fudgy brownies like these, underbake slightly and use more chocolate than flour. Room temperature ingredients mix better, and cooling completely before cutting prevents crumbling. Quality chocolate makes a huge difference in final flavor.
What is the secret to the fudgy box brownies?
Add an extra egg yolk and reduce baking time by 5 minutes for fudgier texture. Replace water with milk for richness, and add a tablespoon of oil beyond what's called for. Don't overmix once you add the dry ingredients or they'll become tough instead of tender.
How to get chewier brownies?
Use more brown sugar than white sugar, add an extra egg, and slightly underbake them. The brown sugar adds moisture and chewiness, while the extra egg creates structure. Let them cool completely in the pan - they continue cooking from residual heat and develop that perfect chewy texture.
What makes boxed brownies better?
Add real vanilla extract, use melted butter instead of oil, and include a pinch of espresso powder to deepen chocolate flavor. Mix in extras like chocolate chips or nuts for texture. Most importantly, don't follow the baking time exactly - check a few minutes early for perfect doneness.
Sweet Success Awaits!
Now you have all the secrets to creating perfect Snickers brownies from the coffee granules that deepen the chocolate to our homemade caramel trick that prevents soggy bottoms. This recipe proves that some of the best desserts come from happy accidents and willingness to experiment in your own kitchen.
Craving more indulgent treats? Try our Delicious Carrot Juice Recipe that combines coffee and chocolate in the most decadent way. For something fruity and different, our The Best Butternut Squash Soup Recipe captures summer in every bite. Or surprise guests with our The Best Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe that looks fancy but comes together surprisingly easily!
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Related
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Pairing
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Snickers brownies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper for easy brownie removal.
- Melt chocolate and butter, mix in sugar, beat eggs, then gently fold in flour, cocoa, and salt without overmixing.
- Spread half the batter, add Snickers chunks, peanuts, and caramel, then cover with remaining batter and swirl gently.
- Top with extra Snickers and sea salt, bake for 28-32 minutes until the center is just set.
- Let brownies cool fully, drizzle more caramel, and slice cleanly with a sharp knife for perfect squares.
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