Peanut Butter Cup Blondies

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Peanut Butter Blondies are thick cookie bars made with peanut butter and chocolate chips that are topped off with mini peanut butter cups for a burst of chocolate and peanut butter.  This recipe originally published January 2012.

A plate with a peanut butter cup blondie on it, a fork, and a few mini peanut butter cups.

Let’s talk about peanut butter.   I do not like peanut butter.  When people find out that I’m a huge baker but won’t eat peanut butter they are generally shocked.   It’s just one of those things I don’t like.

In fact, I don’t even really like to be around it.  The smell of it makes me a little queasy which isn’t a good thing since I have lunch duty in an elementary school cafeteria where half of my kids are eating peanut butter sandwiches.

My husband, on the other hand, loves peanut butter.   I feel bad because I rarely make anything with peanut butter in it and I never buy peanut butter cups.   Every once in a while I’ll make a peanut butter dessert and it makes him so happy.

So when I saw the photo of these Peanut Butter Cup Blondies I knew I had to make them for him.  The dough is a basic blondie dough with chocolate chips and peanut butter added in.   Then the entire dish is topped off with chopped peanut butter cups.

A plate stacked with peanut butter cup blondies and mini peanut butter cups in wrappers.

Ingredients:

  • flour
  • granulated sugar
  • brown sugar
  • baking powder
  • salt
  • peanut butter
  • butter
  • vanilla
  • eggs
  • chocolate chips
  • mini peanut butter cups

1.  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a 9 x 9 pan with baking spray.

2.  In a mixing bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.

3.  In another bowl cream together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar. 

4.   Add in the peanut butter, vanilla, and eggs and mix well.

4.  Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.  Fold in the chocolate chips.

5.  Spread the batter into the prepared pan.  Arrange the peanut butter cups over top of the batter, pushing them slightly into the batter.

6.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs. 

The base of the cookies is a basic blondie recipe.   The only difference is the addition of creamy peanut butter and chocolate chips.   In this case I think simple is better because it really highlights the chocolate and peanut butter flavor.

On top of the blondies go the peanut butter cups.  Cut them into halves or fourths and press them on top with the ridge side showing.  Then pop them into the oven.

Pin Image: A plate with a peanut butter cup blondie on it, a fork, and a few mini peanut butter cups, text, a cutting board with a cup of flour, a cup of sugar, a cup of brown sugar, a cup of peanut butter, 2 eggs, chocolate chips, a bag of mini peanut butter cups, and a stick of butter.

Can I bake these in an 8 x 8 baking dish?

Yes you can!   If baking in an 8 x 8 baking dish instead of a 9 x 9 baking dish bake for 25-30 minutes instead of 20-25 minutes. 

I can’t find mini peanut butter cups, can I use the regular sized ones?

Yes you can.   I find they don’t look as good but they work fine.   Just cut them into quarters instead of in half and use them that way.

Can I use just one type of sugar instead of both granulated and brown sugar?

Absolutely!   You can use either granulated or brown sugar though it will change the consistency and flavor of the blondies.  I find using both is best but if you want more of a caramel flavor then you can use all brown sugar.

How do I store these bars?

Store them at room temperature in an air tight container for up to 5 days.   You can also leave them in the pan and just cover with foil or plastic wrap for up to 3 days.  Ours never last longer than 3 days so I usually just leave them in the pan.

A baking dish with peanut butter cup blondies in it.

These blondies turned out great.   They were golden brown on the top and blond in the center.   The peanut butter cups melt just enough to sink into the bars but still hold their shape.

The bars were a hit.  They were soft, chocolately, and had a good peanut butter flavor.   They were sweet but not too sweet.   Perfect when served with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk.

 More Blondie Recipes:

Because these are easy to make and serve they are great to take to parties and gatherings!   They are also good to use at a bake sale because they hold up well.

If you’ve tried my Peanut Butter Cup Blondies or any other recipe on Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you! You can FOLLOW ME on:

A side view of a plate of peanut butter cup blondies with mini peanut butter cups.

Peanut Butter Cup Blondies

Yield: 16 bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Peanut Butter Blondies are thick cookie bars made with peanut butter and chocolate chips that are topped off with mini peanut butter cups for a burst of chocolate and peanut butter.

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ c. flour
  • ½ c. sugar
  • ½ c. brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ c. smooth peanut butter
  • ⅓ c. butter, melted
  • 1 t. vanilla
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • ⅓ c. chocolate chips
  • 10 mini Reese cups, halved

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl cream together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar.
  4. Mix in the peanut butter, vanilla, and eggs and stir well to combine.
  5. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. 
  6. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  7. Spread the batter into the prepared pan.  Arrange the peanut
    butter cups over top of the batter, pushing them slightly into the
    batter.
  8. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs.  Cool on a wire rack.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Prevention RD

A side view of a plate of peanut butter cup blondies with mini peanut butter cups.

 

 

Blondies

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10 Comments

  1. My sister’s favorite candy is PB cups, need to make her a pan of these. She’s a teacher and it’s been a long, long year.

  2. How nice of you to bake with peanut butter for your husband! I would sure love these! Peanut butter and chocolate is one of my favorite combos.

  3. I love baked goods made with candy bar pieces-yum! The classic flavor of these are hard to beat. The extra bonus is that they do not require a lot of time in the kitchen. Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe and enjoy the weekend.

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