Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Peanut Butter Cup Blondies


What could make a chewy, gooey, vanilla blondie--seemingly perfect as it is--even better?

Try throwing big ol' hunks of Reese's peanut butter cups into the mix.

As you know, birthday packages are amongst my favorite to create. My friend Anne turns 27 this week, and since I'm unable to hop a plane to Chicago to participate in the festivities, I sent my love through the mail...in the form of butter, sugar, and peanut butter cups.

Anne and her boyfriend went bananas for this summer's Peanut Butter Blondies with Milk Chocolate Frosting, so I knew I wanted to make a Chocolate + PB combo. I turned to Lindsey at Gingerbread Bagels for a recipe--she specializes in baked treats with candy mixed in (yes, these types of wonderful people do exist in real life.).

Score! She has a stellar recipe for Peanut Butter Cup Blondies that fit the bill perfectly.

It was all I could do to keep Adam from eating the whole pan, although I did save him a corner slice to munch on. I'll be making these blondies again. And again. Oh yes, and....again.

Peanut Butter Cup Blondies
(recipe from Lindsey at Gingerbread Bagels)

These treats cut smoothly and perfectly--barely a crumb left in the pan! That made them perfect for mailing--no goo or mess, just lots of blondie and peanut butter cup fun :)

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 1 TBSP vanilla
  • 1 large egg
  • 6 full-size Reese cups, cut into quarters (or sixths)
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray an 8 x 8 baking pan with cooking spray.

2) In a small bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.

3) In a large mixing bowl, beat the brown sugar and butter together. Add the vanilla and egg and beat until well combined. Beat in the dry ingredients. Fold in peanut butter cups. Pour into pan and bake for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned at the edges and done.

4) Eat up! Or package 'em up, add a cute label, and mail to your buddy across the miles...

17 comments:

  1. Aww such a cute gift idea! =) I made your shortbread cookies today... they turn into dust when I try to pick them up because I can't bake to save my life! They were tasty dust though =) haha i think I'll stick to veggies <3

    anywho - i'm sure you friend is going to flip when she opens that box =)

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's very sweet of you to give this delicious treat to your friend. I've bookmarked this for my family. Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I was so excited to see that you posted the peanut butter cup blondies! They look delicious and I know your friend is going to love! You're such a sweet friend :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am drooling! I love bars because they look so nice when you cut them - they are all the same shape! Perfect for sending!
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Umm my husband is now drooling on my computer. What a great idea to put peanut butter cups in there instead of just the usual peanut butter and chocolate chips!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. YES! Blondies, my favorite! PB blondies, at that. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Now I only wish I was Anne! These blondies look amazing, and I'm sure they taste great. During my freshman year of college, my roommate and I would order a peanut butter blondie with TWO scoops of icecream from the coffee shop we frequented each week. This recipe takes me back to those fun times! Thank you so much for sharing. I hope you have a festive remainder of your week!

    ReplyDelete
  8. These came out perfectly! What an awesome package to get in the mail. :) I've got a friend who goes nuts for chocolate/PB, and she's got a b-day next month. Makes things easy for me!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ooo nothing beats a stellar PB treat for a birthday present! I am huge fan of mixing candy into sweets...you can never have too much sweet--especially this time of year ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh, I am completely salivating over these. And isn't it so fun to send people treats in the mail? I just did that for the first time this week and I just can't wait for my friend to receive them! I haven't been baking much lately because it seems hard to eat up everything I make, but now I plan to start sending things out.

    PS you have a very lucky friend to have you thinking of her from so far away! Happy birthday to her.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am salivating over here, I LOVE blondies and the addition of PB makes it so much better!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Be sure to pack me up some as well! I can give you my address if you like! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is sure looks like some mouth-watering blondies!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love your idea of sending birthday treat packages! Since I moved away, I haven't been able to be there for my friends birthdays. This would be perfect

    ReplyDelete
  15. if I say my name is Anne will you send me some too?
    I love Reese peanut butter cups and your blondines look delicious. Thanks for sharing.
    Have a great week

    ReplyDelete
  16. i love blondies and these look fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Interested in placing an ad on ahungryspoon.blogspot.com/2010/12/peanut-butter-cup-blondies.html
    Hi,
    I was interested in placing a link advertisement on your site for one of my clients that runs a candy website.
    Please send me information on your advertising rates.
    Thanks,
    -Nina

    email: Ninagoodman1@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete