Sunday, May 1, 2011

Kicked Up PB Blondies

I blame Rebecca.  She mentioned that she was in need of a home-baked good, but in the process of packing her pots and pans (along with the rest of her apartment).  When I inquired what she was thinking of, she sent me a link to Jessica's Better-than-crack Brownies.  



I didn't have the necessary ingredients (not enough butter or chocolate...  how did that happen?), but slept on it and came up with this version using ingredients I already had on hand.  Feel free to do the same!   I don't think there's anything else for me to say, the recipe speaks for itself!




Kicked Up PB Blondies
inspired and adapted from How Sweet It Is & Peas and Thank You
Yield:  16-25

Peanut Butter Blondie Base:
3/4c peanut butter (I used a mix of Cinn Raisin Swirl and White Chocolate Wonderful)
5T Earth Balance or butter, softened (I used an EB stick)
1/4c unsweetened applesauce
1/4c milk (almond, dairy, soy...)
1/2c brown sugar (not packed)
1/2c evaporated cane juice (or granulated sugar)
1/2-3/4t vanilla extract (I eye-balled it)
1 1/4c flour (AP, white whole wheat or whole wheat pastry)
1t baking powder
1/2t baking soda
1/2t salt

Filling:
1/2c chopped roasted, salted pecans (or other salted nut)
2/3c Cadbury mini eggs, chopped (or other confection)

PB Choc Rice Crispy Topping:
3/4c semisweet chocolate chips
3/4c peanut butter (I used White Chocolate Wonderful)
1c crisped brown rice (mine was heaping)

Preheat the oven to 350deg.

For the blondies, cream the peanut butter and butter/earth balance in a stand mixer.  Add applesauce, milk, sugars (brown & white) and vanilla; beat until light and fluffy.

In a small bowl, combine dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt) and mix well.  Slowly add flour mix to peanut butter mixture and stop mixing when combined.

Pour batter into an 8" sq pan sprayed with cooking spray.  Use a spatula to spread the batter around and make sure it's in an even layer.  Bake in preheated oven for 20min.

Check the blondies at 20min, top with chopped pecans and mini eggs and bake for another 5-10min (or more).  While the original recipe only called for a 20min baking time, mine were definitely still jiggly after 20min so I'm adjusting accordingly.  It can't hurt to check them earlier, but bake until the batter isn't still sloshing around in the middle.

While the blondies are baking, add peanut butter and chocolate to a small saucepan and heat over medium-low heat to melt.  Stir and once well combined, add brown rice crisps, stirring until well coated.  Keep on low heat until blondies are done baking.  Once the blondies are done baking, remove from the oven and pour rice crispy mixture over the top, using a spatula to make sure everything's covered.

Cool, then refrigerate a few hours before cutting and serving.  Share with as many people as you can, since you can't be trusted with something this peanut buttery and delicious.  Oh, that's just me?   Ok, you can keep them all to yourself if you'd like!


Warning:  These are dangerously delicious.  If the peanut butter fairy and the easter bunny had a baby, well, this would be their love child.  Imbibe at your own risk ;)

30 comments:

Victoria said...

Cinnamon raisin swirl combined with white chocolate for the peanut butter portion sounds divine. And then chocolate...very nice.

Fun and Fearless in Beantown said...

My friend Kim made the "Better than Crack" brownies and they were ridiculously good. I like your version too!

vanillasugarblog said...

oh i love making dangerous foods!!! lol

Delicious Dishings said...

These sound so crunchy and ridiculously delicious!

westwood said...

WHY DID I READ THIS BEFORE EATING ANYTHING TODAY.

Joanne said...

I'm kinda sorta hyperventilating these look so good. I think these are better than better-than-crack.

Erica said...

The crispy topping looks amazing! Jessica has so many awesome recipes, and your adjusted version sounds so tasty!! Happy Sunday

Anonymous said...

they look SO AMAZING! i may need to whip some of these up in my dorm kitch..

Elizabeth said...

These look seriously INSANE. That rice krispie topping! I want these now.

Unknown said...

oh ya, those look dangerous. In a very good good way!

Rosiecat24 said...

Wow, these sound seriously (and awesomely!) over the top. I wouldn't turn one down, even at the risk of becoming addicted :-) Bring 'em on!

The Purple Carrot said...

Yum!! Those look fabulous!

Lauren @ Healthy Food For Living said...

Fantastic adaption to a blogosphere classic! The combination of cinnamon raison swirl and white chocolate wonderful sounds especially awesome. These wouldn't stand a chance around me ;).

Emily @ A Cambridge Story said...

Wow, these do look dangerous. They remind me of Nutty Buddy's from when we were kids with the addition of rice cereal!

Anonymous said...

These blondies sound amazing with all the goodies packed in them, yum!

brandi @ BranAppetit said...

i think i need to try these. i don't think I could pass these off to Nick as "brownies" BUT they look like a nestle crunch bar from the top, which is one of my favorite candy bars. yum.

Elina (Healthy and Sane) said...

Any leftovers? I WANT. ;)
PS - they kind of remind me (from the looks of it) or Cara's pb rice crispies that she brought to the last cookie swap. Am I right?

Kelly said...

I love the sound of a blondie with a crispy rice topper. It sounds like a fun balance. Yum!

Janetha @ meals + moves said...

your warning cracked me up. these look SO damn good.

BigAppleNosh said...

These look so yummy - I love crispy rice toppings!

Natalie said...

haha love your love child description! these look amazing!

Anonymous said...

Yum Shannon. Another awesome recipe. I wonder whether us not-so-peanut butter fanatics could use nutella in this? Hmm... :D
-Michelle

Reeni said...

I love the PB and the rice krispies! I understand their addictiveness!

Lisa (bakebikeblog) said...

They sure do look 'dangerously' delicious!!

Nutmeg Nanny said...

Those look amazing! I need some of those...

We Are Not Martha said...

I love that these are called better than crap brownies!! They look Ah-mazing!!! But I probably shouldn't be left alone in my apartment with them :)

Sues

Maria said...

I can't wait to make these!

Kerstin said...

I don't even know where to start - they just sound AMAZING! And definitely dangerous to have around :)

Kim said...

the better than crack brownies are TO DIE FOR. but these look just as amazing. my boyfriend would eat teh whole batch.

Chef Fresco said...

Better than crack brownies? I'm sold. These guys look delicious!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Blogging tips