Butterfinger Brownies

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These Butterfinger brownies are some of the best brownies ever. The brownies themselves are so chocolaty and strike the perfect balance between fudgy and cakey. Top them off with the subtle peanut butter flavor of crunchy Butterfingers and you’ve got yourself one dreamy dessert.

Why You’ll Love These Butterfinger Brownies

This brownie recipe is based on some brownies I tried at a local sandwich shop a while back. They were super popular and so good! The restaurant is closed now, which is such a bummer, but the idea of these amazing brownies lives on. They are such a simple idea and yet they’re so good. Here’s why you’ll love them.

  • Texture. These brownies are moist and dense, but not too dense. They are the perfect middle ground between fudgy and cakey. Just in case that’s not enough to intrigue you, imagine that perfect bite but with the added crunch of Butterfingers on the top. Addicting!
  • Peanut butter-chocolate combo. Peanut butter-chocolate is one of the most well-loved flavor combos out there and these brownies do it so well. The rich chocolate flavor of the brownies themselves is complimented beautifully by the sweet, subtle peanut butter flavor of the Butterfingers.
  • Quick and easy. I love that you can make this brownie batter with nothing more than 1 bowl and a whisk if you want to. Then all you have to do is pour the batter into a baking pan, top it with some crushed Butterfingers, and bake. It’s as simple as that.
Overhead image of a stack of butterfinger brownies.

What You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make these easy Butterfinger brownies. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card below for precise measurements.

Ingredients for butterfinger brownies.
  • Vegetable oil and butter – I used both vegetable oil and butter in this recipe. The butter gives great flavor and richness, while the oil helps keep the brownies even more moist and gives a more tender texture.
  • Milk – The milk contributes additional moisture. I use 2%, but whole milk would also be fine.
  • Sugar – The sugar not only sweetens the brownies but also adds moisture, giving you more tender brownies.
  • Espresso powder – The espresso powder will deepen the chocolate flavor here. You can leave it out if you’d like to.
  • Salt – You need salt to bring out the flavors of the brownies. They would taste bland without it.
  • Eggs – The eggs serve to bind the ingredients together as well as to add structure and fat. Be sure to use large eggs, not medium or extra large ones.
  • All-purpose flour – Use a food scale or the spoon and level method to measure your flour accurately. Using too much will give you dry brownies.
  • Natural unsweetened cocoa powder – For an even deeper chocolate flavor use Dutch-processed cocoa.
  • Chopped Butterfinger pieces – I used fun-sized bars, but full-sized bars would also work. You can buy pre-chopped Butterfinger bits for baking, but I find that they lack some color and flavor.

How to Make Butterfinger Brownies

These brownies are so quick and easy to throw together. Here’s a basic overview of how to do it. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.

  • Prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F, grease a 9×9-inch baking pan, and line it with parchment paper that sticks up over the sides.
  • Bake the brownie batter. Whisk together the oil, milk, sugar, espresso powder, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix in the melted butter followed by the eggs. Finally, gently whisk the flour and cocoa powder into the batter.
  • Assemble. Spread the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle the Butterfinger pieces.
  • Bake. Bake for 30-35 minutes.
  • Cool. Allow brownies to cool completely in the pan
  • Slice. Use the parchment paper to remove the brownies from the pan and slice into bars.
A stack of butterfinger four brownies.

Tips & Variations

  • Parchment paper is your friend. When lining the baking pan with parchment paper, make sure you use enough to have it stick up over the sides a bit. You can use the extra to lift the brownies from the pan once they have cooled.
  • Don’t over-mix. Once you add the flour to the mixing bowl, it is important not to over-mix, as this can cause the glutens in the flour to overdevelop, giving you tough brownies.
  • Don’t over-bake. Baking these brownies for too long will dry them out. So bake them just until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out almost clean. No more.
  • Cool in the pan. The brownies will set as they cool in the pan, so do not attempt to remove them prematurely. Let them cool completely in the pan first.
  • Consider a different topping. While I love the Butterfingers here, you could easily crush up a different candy bar of your choosing and use it to top the brownies.
  • Go for Dutch cocoa powder. Looking for a deeper chocolate flavor? Feel free to swap the natural unsweetened cocoa powder out for Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
A butterfinger brownie with a bite taken out of it leaning on another butterfinger brownie.

How to Store Brownies with Butterfingers

Allow the brownies to cool completely before sealing them in an airtight container. I highly suggest using parchment paper to separate any layers, otherwise the brownies will stick together. Store them at room temperature. The brownies will be good for up to 4-5 days, but after 2-3 days, the butterfingers on top with loose their crunch. You can also freeze these for up to 3 months, but they will lose their crunch.

More Brownie Recipes

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A stack of butterfinger brownies.
Recipe

Butterfinger Brownies

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12-16 brownies
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

These Butterfinger brownies are some of the best brownies ever. The brownies themselves are so chocolaty and strike the perfect balance between fudgy and cakey. Top them off with the subtle peanut butter flavor of crunchy Butterfingers and you’ve got yourself one dreamy dessert.


Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 cups (414g) sugar
  • ½ tsp espresso powder, optional
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup (56g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup (98g) all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup (76g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/4 cups (about 180g) chopped Butterfinger pieces (from 1011 fun-sized bars)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 9×9 square baking pan and line it with parchment paper that sticks up over the sides. You can use the parchment paper later to help remove the brownies from the pan.
  2. Add the oil, milk, sugar, espresso powder, vanilla extract and salt to large mixing bowl and whisk together until well combined.
  3. Add the melted butter and whisk together until well combined.
  4. Add the eggs and whisk together until well combined.
  5. Add the flour and cocoa powder and whisk together gently just until well combined.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle the Butterfinger pieces evenly over the top of the batter.
  7. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist, sticky crumbs.
  8. Allow brownies to cool completely in the pan, then use the parchment paper to remove them from the pan. Cut into bars.
  9. Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature. Best if eaten within 2-3 days, because the Butterfinger topping will soften over time.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Brownie
  • Calories: 257
  • Sugar: 31.9 g
  • Sodium: 82.8 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Carbohydrates: 42.1 g
  • Protein: 3.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 31.1 mg

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61 Comments
  1. Ingrid

    I made these last night and they are INCREDIBLE. The brownie is perfect and fudgy. The Butterfinger top is crunchy. My only change was I added more like a cup of Butterfingers. Amazing!






  2. Mary in Roswell GA

    OMG!  It’s Fat Tuesday night and I just finished one of these brownies from Wildflour!   I immediately hit the web in search of the recipe and found your post citing them. So kind of you to give them a shout out.   I need to wait ‘til after Lent now to make these but if your inspiration for this recipe is Wildflour’s brownie, then I am confident they will be the replica I am after.  Thank you, Lindsay, for this post!






  3. Jordan @Read. Eat. Repeat.

    These are soooo good. I love eating the ‘middle pieces’ of desserts because I don’t like crunchy edges but with this recipe every piece is soft and fudgy and magical. My new go-to brownie recipe!

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      Great question. I didn’t make a note of it. My guess is it’s close to the time listed for the square pan. Maybe a little bit longer.

  4. Darla Adams

    Hey, love the total concept of these brownies! But, was wondering, could you use chopped up Chick-O-Stick for the topping instead of the butterfingers?? I get those really long Chick-O-Sticks for 99 cents each. I think it would work, but your the professional! Love your posts!
    Thanks,
    Darla

  5. Mary Manello

    Good morning, Lindsey! You are my go-to-baking Queen, whenever I need an important recipe! For Father’s Day, my hubby wants FUDGY Brownies. He does not, however, care for Butterfingers. Would topping the batter with walnuts (instead of the chopped candy bars) work? Or do you suggest a different one of your recipes? Many thanks and GOD BLESS YOU!

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      I’m sorry I wasn’t able to respond sooner. I hope the brownies worked out. The walnuts sound like a great idea!

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      You don’t have to use it. You could grease the pan or use aluminum foil. Saran wrap would probably melt.

  6. Ellen@BakeItWithBooze

    These look wonderful and I love the use of the special dark chocolate! I do see that the recipe says to use an 8×8 pan, while your photos show an oblong pan? Is it a 9×13 or a 7×11? Thanks!

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      It is actually an 8×8 square pan. I doubled the recipe in the photos. I’m sorry – I can see how that’d be confusing.

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  8. Maya

    The recipe looks great!!! I’d love to make it but I have no clue how can I replace the butterfingers? (we don’t have it in Israel 🙁 )

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      I’m not really familiar with what candy you have, but any crispy peanut butter candy should work.

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  13. Wendy

    Butterfingers are the perfect crunchy, peanut buttery topping for these dark fudgy brownies! Dark chocolate makes such a difference in chocolate flavor intensity. Thanks! We will be trying these asap. 🙂

  14. Erin @ Table for 7

    These look amazing!! Love crust..great idea! Thank you for sharing at Share your Stuff Tuesdays..enjoy your weekend 🙂

  15. Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes

    Whoa …. I don’t think I’d want to share! I love the idea of the Butterfinger crust – genius idea 🙂 Pinning and sharing on Facebook! Thanks for linking up to All My Bloggy Friends this week – have a great holiday weekend!

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  18. Ruth @ Living Well Spending Less

    Oh, these look and sound absolutely delicious!! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe and for linking up to Thrifty Thursday!

  19. Julianne @ Beyond Frosting

    I would have never thought to put butterfinger on a brownie! I would love to see more too, your recipes are amazing!

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      Thanks Dorothy! I’d love too 😉 Could you image two sweet lovers in one house? Dangerous!

  20. Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes

    How smart to run a survey, and I am not really that surprised of the results. You’re doing a great job! I love the look of these brownies. They look dangerous!

  21. Nancy @ gottagetbaked

    I love reading personal stories from bloggers. That’s what makes a post interesting. While I love drooling over the delicious food (seriously – these brownies are ridiculously good! Especially with that butterfinger crust – ohmahgawd!), I love getting a glimpse into the thoughts and life of the blogger that I’m visiting.

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      Thanks Nancy! It’s funny – I love the stories too – but sometimes think my life is too boring to be interesting, lol. 🙂

  22. sally @ sallys baking addiction

    This is my favorite brownie recipe! They are so fudgy AND easy to make – bonus! I love the butterfingers on top. So creative!

Lindsay
About Lindsay

I'm a wife and a mom to twin boys and a baby girl! And I've got a serious sweets addiction! Bring on the treats!

Scripture I’m Loving

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29