Blondies?  Love ‘em!  In fact, my husband’s aunt makes some that are out of this world.  She always brings them to our family gatherings and, if you’re lucky, you might get one before they are all gone.

Then, last Friday, I saw this post on Sweet & Crumby.  They were called TGIF Peanut Butter Blondies.  As in, thank goodness it’s Friday!  Now…let’s celebrate with some pure decadence in the form of a blondie!  What could be better?  I just had to give them a try!

Peanut Butter Blondies
(original recipe from Dorie Greenspan’s Baking from My Home to Yours; adapted recipe from http://www.sweetandcrumby.com)
Makes about 24 1.5×1.5 inch Blondies
2 c. all purpose flour
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
3/4 t. ground cinnamon
1 c. crunchy or creamy peanut butter
1/2 c. + 2T. (10 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 c. granulated sugar
1 1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
4 eggs
1 t. pure vanilla extract
2 c. coarsely chopped peanuts (optional)
1 c. good quality chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Line a 9×13 rectangular dish with foil and spray coat or butter the foil.

Whisk together the dry ingredients from flour to cinnamon. Combine butter and peanut butter and beat on medium speed until smooth.  Add sugars and beat for 1 -2 minutes.  Add eggs, one at a time and beat in between each addition.  Add the vanilla and beat on medium speed until all ingredients are combined.

Add 1/2 of the flour mixture and combine on low speed.  Add the last 1/2 of the flour mixture.  Mix on medium speed ONLY until all ingredients are adequately incorporated.  Do not over mix. Scrape down the sides of the bowl now and then in between beating. Fold in chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean and they feel firm to the touch.  They should be a nice golden brown.

Wait until they cool completely to carefully lift the blondies out of the pan and invert onto a cutting board, gripping the aluminum foil.  Peel away the foil and cut into squares when cool.

Obviously I should have done this part on a bigger cutting board! I am going to remember this method in the future…it would be much easier to do brownies this way too.

Now, for the lowdown. Guys, if you like peanut butter, you should try these. If you like chocolate, you should try these.  If you like anything that is sweet, gooey and delectable, you should DEFINITELY try these!  But just for a treat.  An occasional indulgence. Or better yet, make them for someone else so the temptation is no longer in your house.

Happy Friday!
Muncho Mom