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Chewy, chocolatey Peanut Butter Blondies are easy to make, travel well and tick all the boxes of a great dessert.
Peanut Butter Blondies
Blondies are arguably the perfect dessert. They’re a little bit cookie, slightly cake-like, not crazy sweet, and have a great chewy texture. For that extra something special top your blondie with a scoop of ice cream, a drizzle of caramel or a sprinkling of sea salt!
Everything about these Peanut Butter Blondies is dessert perfection. The peanut butter and chocolate combo is a classic and one of my all-time favorites.
The lightly salted chopped peanuts add a nice crunch to the chewy, buttery bites and brown butter gives them great butterscotch flavor.
Finally, they’re easily served and eaten just like a cookie, out of hand. One thing is for certain, these delicious little squares with the big peanut butter flavor won’t sit around for long.
Ingredients Overview
- unsalted butter, browned and cooled
- creamy peanut butter (like Jiff, not all-natural peanut butter)
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- table salt
- light brown sugar
- egg
- vanilla extract
- bittersweet chocolate chips, peanut butter chips or a combination of both
- salted roasted peanuts, rough chopped
- dark chocolate bar, chopped for topping
How to Make Peanut Butter Blondies
1. Prep
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper creating a sling for easy removal. Lightly coat the parchment with vegetable cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Brown the butter
Heat the butter in a small light colored pan over medium heat. Cook until the butter begins to have a nutty smell and turns amber in color. Remove the butter to a small bowl and add the peanut butter. Stir to combine.
3. Combine the ingredients
Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Mix together the melted butter mixture and brown sugar until blended. Add the egg and vanilla and mix well.
4. Fold ingredients together
Using a rubber spatula fold the flour mixture into the peanut butter mixture just until combined. Add the chocolate or peanut butter chips and the peanuts to the batter. Fold in gently until blended. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
Sprinkle a few more chopped peanuts on top and chunks of dark chocolate.
5. Bake, cool cut and serve
Bake until the top is puffed, shiny, cracked and light golden brown, about 22 to 24 minutes. Don’t over-bake! Blondies should be chewy, not crisp.
Cool the blondies in the pan then lift out using the parchment paper as a sling. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into small squares. Enjoy!
How to store Peanut Butter Blondies
Blondies can be stored at room temperature for up to 5 days sealed in an airtight container.
Leftovers can be frozen for up to two months. However, these blondies are best served the day they’re made so you can enjoy all that melted chocolate goodness!
Variations and Add-In’s
I’ve made these blondies several ways over the years and loved them all.
- If desired you can use all peanut butter chips inside and on top. Peanut butter chips are a little sweeter than bittersweet chocolate so be aware.
- Combine peanut butter chips and bittersweet chocolate chips for the best of both worlds.
- Any kind of peanut will do but we prefer a lightly salted, roasted peanut for this recipe. Be sure to save some for a garnish.
- Milk chocolate chips are also sweeter than bittersweet but go great with peanut butter flavored desserts.
- Don’t skip the chopped chocolate on top. It adds a nice visual feature but also great chocolate flavor.
- For a super rich dessert top each square with a small scoop of ice cream or a drizzle of caramel.
Peanut Butter Blondies
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter browned and cooled (56g)
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter (33g)
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour (100g)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar (170g)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup peanut butter chips or bittersweet chocolate chips (90g)
- ½ cup salted roasted peanuts rough chopped (2 1/4oz or 65g) plus extra for garnish
- 2 ounces dark chocolate bar chopped or chocolate chips for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Cut a length of parchment paper to fit a 8×8 baking dish allowing the paper to come up to the top of the pan on both sides. Cut another sheet to fit in the opposite direction also trimming at the top of the pan. Spray the parchment paper lightly with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a small light colored pan over medium heat, melt the butter stirring occasionally. Cook the butter until it begins to have a nutty smell and turns amber in color. Do not overcook as it will burn easily. Remove the browned butter to a glass bowl or cup. Stir in the 2 tablespoons peanut butter and set aside to cool.
- Whisk ¾ cup flour, baking powder and salt together in a small mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Combine the browned butter and brown sugar until blended. Add the egg and vanilla and mix well. Fold the dry ingredients into the butter mixture just until combined. Do not over-mix.
- Add the peanut butter or chocolate chips and the peanuts to the batter. Fold in gently. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Sprinkle a few more peanuts on top along with chunks of dark chocolate if desired.
- Bake until the top is shiny, cracked and light golden brown, 22-24 minutes. Do not over-bake. Blondies should be chewy, not crunchy.
- Cool the Blondies in the pan then lift out using the parchment paper as a sling. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into bite sized squares. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
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Originally published January 2016, updated March 2024
Gerlinde@Sunnycovechef
Boy Tricia you did it again. I would love to have one of these blondies . Have a great weekend!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Gerlinde. Hope you do too!
Amy
One of my husbands most favorite cookies.
Tricia Buice
He has good taste Amy! Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Susan
Wow, I wish I had some peanut butter chips hanging around my pantry to make these. I’ll bet my grandsons would love them too. Better add PB chips to the grocery list 🙂
Tricia Buice
Enjoy Susan – and hope you have a wonderful weekend. Such an exciting time!
Wendy
I love blondies + I love peanut butter = I love these Peanut Butter Blondies! If one must justify eating a treat in January (before all resolutions are forgotten) then think of all the excellent protein the peanuts and peanut butter provide here! 😉 Thanks for the recipe, Tricia. Have a great weekend!
Tricia Buice
I LOVE the way you think Wendy – excellent source of protein – perfect! Happy weekend to you!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
Is it a sin to want these for the breakfast? They look so dang GOOD with all the peanuts!
Tricia Buice
I know, and I understand. Peanuts are great in anything … desserts, salads, spreads. But they are particularly great in these delicious bars! Have a great weekend Angie 🙂
Gourmet Getaways
Oh these look delicious!!
I would love to have one with my afternoon tea.
Thanks for sharing
Love to you and the family.
Julie
Tricia Buice
Thank you Julie! So excited you have come for a visit. I love to travel too and your blog is wonderful! I live for the next trip to somewhere fabulous!
Betty
“…just because” is a good enough reason for me! They look scrumptious. 🙂
Tricia Buice
I know Betty, I know 🙂 Do you think it will ever snow?
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
These look so delicious, Tricia! I have a hard time resisting anything peanut butter 🙂 I hope they freeze well because that’s the only way I could stop myself from eating them all!
Tricia Buice
Maybe your husband will like them as much as mine and you’ll have to fight to get another one! They are a new favorite for us – love peanut butter desserts!
Monique
I bet they are so delicious Tricia:)
You have such a radiant smile:)
Tricia Buice
Monique – you made my day! P.S. They are very tasty 🙂 at least the couple of bites I got before they were gone!
Becky Green
LOL I wonder if “detox” after the holidays really works! These look WONDERFUL TRICIA! My hubby thanks you! 😉 LOL
Tricia Buice
Probably not – but cutting back to reduce cravings probably helps 🙂 Haha – have a great weekend Becky!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland
Your blondies kill me, they literally kill me. I just want to reach through the screen and…stuff them in my mouth 🙂
Tricia Buice
Hahaha – you are adorable Sue! Thanks so much – have a great weekend!
Monica
Tricia, this is bound to make any peanut butter lover happy…count me in!! I would be so satisfied with a piece of this for dessert. And your Christmas goodies sound amazing…those were lucky and happy recipients, I’m sure. Have a great weekend ahead!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Monica! They are really easy to make, no mixer required 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Chris Scheuer
I’m a huge sucker for blondies, the add some peanut butter chips and that takes it over the moon in my book. These look fantastic Tricia. Your taste tester has very good taste!
Tricia Buice
These would be great for any gathering because they are so easy to make and way to easy to eat! Thanks Chris!