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Last updated April 10, 2018; first published by Katie on April 10, 2018

Peanut Butter Blondies

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Dense, chewy, and intensely peanut buttery, these peanut butter blondies come together in one bowl and half an hour.  No complaints here.   (Jump to Recipe) 

Peanut Butter Blondies | katiebirdbakes

Let me tell you about a recipe that I’ve made not once, but twice in the past week alone.  And took none of it to the office.  That’s right, these two piggies ate two whole pans of peanut butter blondies all on their own, and there are no. regrets. whatsoever.

The whole thing started on Instagram last week, when I posted a picture of my PB&J Bars for…wait for it…#nationalpeanutbutterandjellyday.  Yeah.  That’s a thing.  I don’t even know, I just try to keep up with the kids these days.

Peanut Butter Blondies | katiebirdbakes

When I got home from work that day I encountered a very upset Brian.  “Where are the peanut butter bars??” he asked in consternation.  Let it be known that the original recipe was created purely because of his peanut butter obsession (ok, and mine) so whenever it’s mentioned, he basically demands that I make it.

So, it being a weeknight, I got out the ingredients, looked at the recipe, and was immediately annoyed…with my former self.  Get out my mixer to cream butter and sugar?  Wait…that means I have to bring butter to room temperature.  And clean the mixer beaters later.  On a Monday night, when all I want to do is lay on the couch and binge Gilmore Girls.  The annoyance, can you feel it mounting?

Peanut Butter Blondies | katiebirdbakes

So out of pure laziness I decided to scrap the original recipe and use melted butter, one bowl, and one fork.  And also, not add the jelly swirl, because again, lazy.  How bad could it really be?

Turns out, not bad, not in the slightest way bad.

Peanut Butter Blondies | katiebirdbakes

In fact, using melted butter produced some of the densest, chewiest, most intensely peanut buttery peanut butter blondies I’d ever tasted.  Which in retrospect, makes sense, because why would you want to add air and structure to a bar you want to be dense and chewy?  That’s what creaming butter and sugar together does.  And maybe, in order to support a jelly swirl on top, you do need that.  But when you’re in the throes of a lazy Monday night, need-peanut-butter-now situation, you definitely do not.

No, this is the land of pure peanut butter goodness.

Peanut Butter Blondies | katiebirdbakes

I really hope you’ll try these the next time you desperately need a peanut butter fix.  I know most people need chocolate fixes, and there are definitely recipes on here to satisfy that craving (see, e.g., my favorite fudgy brownies or this venerated single layer chocolate cake) but sometimes chocolate isn’t the thing we want.  Sometimes it’s chewy, dense, stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth peanut butter that we want, and I make no apologies for it.  Neither should you.

Peanut Butter Blondies | katiebirdbakes

And if you want to know how fast two people can eat one pan of peanut butter blondies, well, I guess you’ll have to find out for yourself.

Peanut Butter Blondies | katiebirdbakes
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4.25 from 4 votes

Peanut Butter Blondies

Dense, chewy, and intensely peanut buttery, these peanut butter blondies come together in one bowl and half an hour.  No complaints here.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time22 mins
Total Time32 mins
Servings: 16 two-inch blondies
Author: katiebirdbakes.com

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter*
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Chopped peanuts (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper or grease well. Set aside.
  • In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter (this takes about 1 minute in my microwave).  Stir in peanut butter until it melts into the butter and is one homogenous mixture, then whisk in brown sugar.  My whisk of choice is actually a fork, but a normal whisk works too.  Whisk in egg and vanilla until mixture is well-combined.
  • Add flour, baking soda, and salt to the wet mixture.  Stir it all together until evenly combined. 
  • Press the mixture evenly into the pan to form one layer.  I find using my hands at the end to smooth it out is easiest.  Sprinkle some chopped peanuts over the top, if desired.
  • Bake for 22-24 minutes, until the edges are browned and the bars look slightly puffed. Cool completely before cutting into bars, if you can wait that long.  

Notes

*conventional or natural peanut butter both work.  I tried it both ways, and slightly prefer the texture of the blondies when conventional peanut butter is used (it's denser), but both are delicious.
 
Bars can be stored, covered, at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Like this recipe?  Please rate it and leave a comment or tag me on Instagram @katiebirdbakes, and sign up for my email list to receive my recipes straight to your inbox every time I post!

Peanut Butter Blondies | katiebirdbakes

Filed Under: Brownies & Bars, Dessert

« Single Layer Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Strawberry Crumble Bars »

Comments

  1. Nastassja says

    July 11, 2020 at 3:09 pm

    5 stars
    I’m a huuuge blondie fan and after checking out this recipe, I knew I’d fall in love all over again 😍 I made these with dark brown sugar for some added richness and a super soft, chewy texture and added semi sweet and peanut butter chips for a pop of chocolate here and gooey peanut butter there. They were so delicious! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      July 20, 2020 at 4:48 pm

      Awesome! Thank you so much for the great review Nastassja. So glad you enjoyed these!

      Reply
  2. Colleen says

    May 15, 2020 at 10:18 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely amazing!! These have become our family’s favorite sweet treat. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      May 18, 2020 at 10:29 pm

      Yay! So glad you enjoyed it – thank you for the review!

      Reply
  3. ChrisB says

    December 23, 2019 at 5:59 pm

    5 stars
    Soooo amazing!! My family’s new favorite dessert!!! Thank you for sharing your recipe with us!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      December 30, 2019 at 12:08 am

      Yay!! Thank you so much!

      Reply
    • tahl says

      August 4, 2022 at 2:18 am

      2 stars
      Cooked for more than required and they turned out a bit gooey and undercooked…the texture was not very enjoyable

      Reply
  4. Kim @ FoodTalko says

    June 25, 2018 at 10:15 am

    WOW! These blondies looks and sounds so delicious!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      June 28, 2018 at 11:08 pm

      Thanks Kim! We love them.

      Reply

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I'm Katie: attorney by day, baker by night. I'm sharing sophisticated yet approachable dessert recipes to convince you that if you can read, you can bake! Thanks for being here. Read More...

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