With no food allergies or major intolerances to speak of, my general approach to food is this: Nothing is off limits and everything in moderation. I try to eat clean when I can, but the one thing I am an absolute sucker for is a homemade dessert. Should you find me at a potluck, you will see me pass the grocery store cupcakes with neon frosting and any prepackaged snack cake while I load up on homemade chocolate chip cookies, slices of fresh cake, and any kind of pie that came right from someone’s kitchen. Not eating store bought desserts might be the one hard rule I have when it comes to what I eat. If I can go to the store anytime and pick it up, it’s just not that special to me. But when someone takes the time to craft something in their home using real ingredients to bake something delicious, then I’m all in.
When I need a dessert fix at home, I almost always opt to make something myself. We keep our pantry stocked with baking essentials should a craving strike. And strike they did last weekend so I whipped up these sweet and salty peanut butter blondies. I never used to be a peanut butter person, but over the last few years the need for the creamy substance has increased 10-fold and I find myself constantly stocking jars of it in the fridge.
Part of the peanut butter appeal is how well it pairs with sweet and salty. A healthy dose of brown sugar keeps these blondies perfectly sweet and chewy while a generous sprinkling of flaky salt on top sets these bars over the top.
Pro tip: Just like any cookie, you’ll want to slightly under bake them and remove them from the oven just as soon as the top start to brown. This will ensure you get that soft and chewy texture that makes blondies so darn delicious.
These travel great and would make a perfect addition to any tailgates or parties this season. Try them out and tell me about it in the comments below!
Salted Peanut Butter Blondies
Makes 24 Small Bars
- 1 1/2 Cups Flour
- 1 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1/2 Cup Sugar
- 1/2 Cup Butter, Softened
- 1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Tsp Vanilla
- Flakey Sea Salt (Optional)
Preheat the oven to 350. Grease a 9×13 pan and set aside. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt then set aside.
Add the brown sugar, sugar, and butter to a large mixing bowl. Use an electric or stand mixer to beat the sugars and butter on high until creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Turn the speed to medium and add the peanut butter, eggs, and vanilla. Slowly add the flour mixture to the batter until just blended.
Pour the batter into the pan and use a spatula to spread the mixture evenly. You can optionally drag a fork across the top to create that signature peanut butter cookie pattern on the top. Place in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the top begins to turn golden. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with flakey sea salt, if using. Allow to cool before slicing and enjoying with a glass of milk.
