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Peanut Butter Cup Blondies

So do you remember yesterday when I asked if you’d ever had a blondie? Mhm. Me too.

I asked because until last weekend, my life was blondie-less (food, that is…I’m naturally a blondie 😉 ). Such a shame. They’re really freakin’ good!

It wasn’t until I started getting to know more about food and opening my blue Midwest eyes to things that are new. And much to Mr. Prevention’s dismay, this new-found love to try all things new (to me), pretty much translates to me making very few recipes more than once.

I digress. Until I had “expanded my horizons,” I had never had, nor heard, of a blondie.

*gassssp*!! I know. I’m like the only one.

It’s a blonde brownie…get it? It took me a minute so I’m throwing it out there now to avoid any confusion. I’m blonde, remember?

What better way to ring in (yet another) new recipe than with Reese’s peanut butter cups? I know, right. Amen to THAT. I am a peanut butter cup girl…Mr. P voted for the pieces. Obviously the executive decision was made for cups.

But, it took me a LONG while to choose this dessert for our dinner with Gina and Nick. See, I’m that girl who likes to look at desserts online and think to myself, “I’ll make that next time I entertain, ’cause Lord knows I don’t have the calories to spare in the interim!” And then months go by, and my very bad memory fails to recall all the scrumptious sweets I had drooled over and planned to make for guests. But this recipe appeared on decision day, and so it was the winner. And clearly, this was a winning recipe.

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Peanut Butter Cup Blondies from Alida’s Kitchen, adapted from Cooking Light

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 Tbsp skim milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup milk or semisweet chocolate chips
10 mini Reese’s peanut butter cups, quartered
Cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray 9 x 9 inch baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk to combine the flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt.

In a separate medium bowl, stir to combine the peanut butter, butter, milk, vanilla and eggs.

Add peanut butter mixture to dry ingredients, and gently stir until combined. Fold in chocolate chips until combined (do not over mix).

Pour batter in prepared baking dish. Arrange peanut butter cups over batter.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Yields 16 blondies.

Nutrition Information: 208 calories; 11.3 g. fat; 27 mg. cholesterol; 97 mg. sodium; 24.8 g. carbohydrate; 0.6 g. fiber; 3.1 g. protein

Result: Those who had had blondies before commented that these seemed lighter and less “greasy” than blondies they had had in the past. That’s a good thing…at least to me! They were light, fluffy, and decadent without being over-the-top. And let me just say that as far as “baking” goes…it doesn’t get much easier than these (no wonder I didn’t screw them up!). Feel free to add whatever goodies on top – Twix, Kit Kat, and M&M’s come to mind! 🙂 Enjoy!

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I am on the mend, I do believe. Thank you for all of your well wishes and sweet emails…muah, muah, muah! By this point, Dr. Me is thinking no shingles (HALLELUJAH!) and that somehow, someway, it must be a muscle strain (in my chest – somewhere). I came home from work yesterday wanting to workout (well, not really…but the drive was there), and I ended up just walking a quick 2 miles on the treadmill after dinner. I am going to ease back into things as to not set-back any of the mending I did over the weekend. Again, thank you for all of your kind words – so appreciated! 😀

Question: Do you prefer brownies or cookies?

Hump Day..wee! Love short weeks! 😀

Be well,

Share With Your Friends!

41 Comments

  1. Alida
    September 7, 2011 / 6:49 am

    Your pictures are awesome! What a good idea mixing up the candy on top…especially with the abundance of Halloween candy that will be around soon. Hmm…I guess I’ll have to make them again. ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Nicole
      Author
      September 7, 2011 / 4:27 pm

      You and I both…I can’t wait to make these again ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for the great recipe!

  2. Amy B @ Second City Randomness
    September 7, 2011 / 7:12 am

    I’ve made those! SO good. And yeah- none of my friends had heard of them either. To be honest, I probably didn’t know what they were until a few years ago. But they’re sort of like cookies in the fact that you can mix literally anything in them…

  3. Chrissy
    September 7, 2011 / 7:13 am

    These look so good! I’ve only made blondies once, but they were soo good! I need to make this version ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Gina (The Candid RD)
    September 7, 2011 / 7:29 am

    Oh my, I missed this health issue! But I do remember you complaining when you laughed the other night….I think a muscle strain makes a lot of sense. But, if it doesn’t go away in a week or so you should probably see another Dr. other than yourself…right?!

    The blondies were AMAZING, Nicole. Definitely some of the best I’ve had (probably because both Nick and I love Reece’s more than anything int he world). You couldn’t have picked a better dessert!

    • Nicole
      Author
      September 7, 2011 / 4:25 pm

      I know!! OF COURSE it just so happens that with me resigning from one clinic, I lost my benefits. And I wanted to be sure I was on Mark’s before landing myself on FAT bill. That’s pretty much the last thing I need…or anyone needs!!

      Glad you guys liked them. And P.S. We were laying in bed Saturday night and I was like, “CRAP! I forgot to send them home with leftovers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” We JUST finished the taco meat, beans, and corn today…I got (way too) many meals out of it. Sorry I forgot ๐Ÿ™ And P.P.S. The wine is awwwwwwesome ๐Ÿ™‚ MUCHO gracias!

  5. Biz
    September 7, 2011 / 7:36 am

    Um, Nicole, those blondies are definiltey insulin worthy!! I am the same way with recipes – always trying to make new stuff!

    Although now that the temps are changing, I’ll be making Tony his bacon wrapped meatloaf and he’ll be in heaven – its the one leftover he will actually eat!

    • Nicole
      Author
      September 7, 2011 / 4:23 pm

      I know how Tony feels about leftovers, so a woman’s gotta do what a woman’s gotta do ๐Ÿ™‚ And insulin-worthy INDEED!!!

  6. Rebecca
    September 7, 2011 / 7:47 am

    Oh pleeaaase, not at 7:45 in the morning!! Aah, I’ll be thinking about these all day long. ๐Ÿ™‚ Blondies are the best — I love putting coconut and toffee pieces in mine…mmm…

    • Nicole
      Author
      September 7, 2011 / 4:23 pm

      Um, now THAT sounds fantastic!! I think any dessert is better with coconut ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Caroline @ chocolate and carrots
    September 7, 2011 / 8:05 am

    I can’t believe you hadn’t had a blondie until now! I saw this recipe in my cooking light magazine when I read it just yesterday. I tore out the page….it’s a definite ‘bake me’ recipe. ๐Ÿ˜€ Yours look delicious!

    • Nicole
      Author
      September 7, 2011 / 4:22 pm

      I know! I feel so much less loser-ish now ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. thehealthyapron
    September 7, 2011 / 8:22 am

    Glad you think you don’t have shingles! Eek!
    I LOVE brownies, so blondies are right up my alley! Glad you liked them! I’m def like you though when it comes to grabbing delicious looking desserts and then forgetting about the recipe!

  9. Evan Thomas
    September 7, 2011 / 9:56 am

    I can’t believe you hadn’t had blondies! They are terrific, but chocolate and peanut butter makes them even more so.

  10. Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg
    September 7, 2011 / 10:04 am

    Mmmm…I was drooling over these in the past issue of Cooking Light. I should have known you’d be making them ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Nicole
      Author
      September 7, 2011 / 4:22 pm

      Haha, I know…I’m soooo predictable ๐Ÿ™‚

  11. Jessie
    September 7, 2011 / 10:08 am

    I can’t believe you’d never had blondies before! The addition of PB cups is just perfect – I would go for the whole cups, too ๐Ÿ™‚ Blondies were one of the best things about the food at my college (of course, that isn’t saying much ๐Ÿ˜‰ ).

    I completely missed your post about needing to go to Urgent Care! I’m glad it isn’t shingles and I’m hoping it’s just a muscle sprain – I think your idea to take it slow with exercise is a good idea. Take care of yourself, Nicole! I hope you feel 100% soon!

    • Nicole
      Author
      September 7, 2011 / 4:21 pm

      Thanks, Jessie! Appreciate it ๐Ÿ™‚

  12. Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life
    September 7, 2011 / 11:46 am

    My husband and I would love these! He’s not a big fan of brownies so these would be perfect!! Glad you are on the mend – thank goodness for no shingles!

  13. emily (a nutritionist eats)
    September 7, 2011 / 11:57 am

    Oh.M.G.
    I want these! (after my wedding, hehe)

    • Nicole
      Author
      September 7, 2011 / 4:21 pm

      Haha ๐Ÿ™‚ You’re so good! Pre-wedding stress didn’t help my cause!

  14. Megan S.
    September 7, 2011 / 1:30 pm

    These look so delicious!! I will mostly like “have” to bake some up for a tailgate this upcoming weekend–but should probably do a round 1 so I can taste test first ๐Ÿ™‚

    Question: do you still have your mid-ohio email? I was wondering if you’d be interested in helping up with a tweetchat or blog posting about healthy eating for your kidneys, diabetes, etc? My Libre e-mail is above! Looking forward to hearing from you, thanks!

    • Nicole
      Author
      September 7, 2011 / 4:21 pm

      Yep, I still have that address ๐Ÿ™‚ I would love to do whatever I can to help – on Twitter, my blog…I’m an open book ๐Ÿ™‚ Always looking for new ideas!

  15. Melissa
    September 7, 2011 / 5:27 pm

    Ummm, was totally going to make those out of cooking light, they look delish. If you have a trader joes by you next time you’ll have to try the trader joes “dark chocolate peanut butter cups.” By the way I just figured out how to post a comment, LOL , and I’ve been reading your blog for a year ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Nicole
      Author
      September 7, 2011 / 5:32 pm

      Glad you did ๐Ÿ™‚ I will keep an eye out for the dark chocolate peanut butter cups! We have a TJ’s near by ….luckily ๐Ÿ™‚ The wedding is inching closer!!!!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  16. Eunice
    September 7, 2011 / 5:33 pm

    Glad you’re feeling better! I was waiting to get lab work done while reading this post and it made me sooooo hungry. I’ve been thinking about blondies every since. ๐Ÿ™‚ You better believe I’m making these.

  17. Leah @ Why Deprive?
    September 7, 2011 / 6:14 pm

    YAY!! Im so glad you’re feeling better! ๐Ÿ™‚
    Blondies are amazing. I LOVE them, and until this year had never had them either. We were clearly missing out.

  18. Jessica
    September 7, 2011 / 7:28 pm

    This sounds amazing! Please send me the leftovers!

  19. Erika @ The Teenage Taste
    September 7, 2011 / 7:53 pm

    Oh. My. Gosh! These look fabulous! ๐Ÿ˜€

  20. Andrea@WellnessNotes
    September 7, 2011 / 10:27 pm

    Glad you are feeling better! Hope you’ll be all the way better soon!!!

    I’ve never had blondies, but they look amazing!!!

  21. Melinda
    September 8, 2011 / 2:20 am

    These look awesome! Love the addition of PB cups. I may need to make these soon. I keep saying there are all these things I want to make but then we keep wanting to go out and explore. We found a place called the cake house last night. So awesome! I did not realize the Japanese were such fans of French pastries and desserts. I have seen some really fancy stuff, and I live in rural Japan! Oh, and I love brownies, but I won’t pass up a good cookie. ๐Ÿ™‚

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  23. Heather Mulholland
    September 8, 2011 / 9:56 pm

    Yum! I agree with the executive decision to go with cups instead of pieces ๐Ÿ˜‰

  24. Irishbaker
    September 15, 2011 / 3:22 pm

    Firstly let me say these look delicious,especially because there is peanut butter cups involved.And secondly,I also have never had a blondie but after seeing these I’m more determined to give them a try.

    • Nicole
      Author
      September 15, 2011 / 3:42 pm

      Glad I am not alone in being new to blondies! They truly are delicious, though…we’ve been missing out! ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for stopping by and the sweet comment!

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  26. Joanne
    November 6, 2011 / 9:50 pm

    I made these last night and they were really good! My boyfriend and his friends liked them, and they didn’t have to know that they’re from Cooking Light. Of course, I may have added just a few more chocolate chips than was called for… ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Nicole
      Author
      November 6, 2011 / 11:43 pm

      I’m so glad the guys approved ๐Ÿ˜‰ They’re trust-worthy judges, it seems! Always honest, for the good and the bad!

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