Monday 13 July 2009

peanut butter blondies

peanut butter blondies

I try to be a good person.

I try to blog recipes that I've at least adapted from the original source, rather than blindly followed. I try to be original, rather than reproducing pretty much everything ever posted on Smitten Kitchen. I try to eat healthily (um, relatively. Fresh fruit cancels out sugar, right? I mean, that's science, yeah?) (if not, then what is the point of science?).

All my efforts seem to fail in the face of peanut butter/chocolate recipes.


peanut butter blondie (nom)

I mean, how do you improve on something like this? Sure, you could just stir a load of chocolate and peanut butter together in a bowl and just hand it to me (oh wait, that's basically what this recipe does), but let's keep some semblance of class going on here.

Only a semblance. I wasn't going to tell you, but I had to edit a dog hair out of one of these pictures in photoshop.

(The friends who helped me eat these on Friday are now going 'hccaaaakk' and clutching their thoats.)

(Only one dog hair! It's kind of like Russian Roulette. Most of you are in the clear!)

For the record? These were worth it. When I first tried them I thought they were a little too much - my sweetness tolerance has taken a dive recently - but after being chilled overnight the flavours had melded together into sweet, fudgy squares... not to mention they cut really neatly and looked full-on adorable. I'm such a sucker.

peanut butter blondies

Peanut Butter Blondies
Adapted from Butterwood Desserts, West Falls, New York via Gourmet, October 2007
Found here on Smitten Kitchen.
Further adaptation & metric conversion by Happy Love Strawberry.

These are described as 'brownies', but apparently I think my bar classification system far outstrips the professionals. Brownies mean a chocolate base, okay? Whew, you people are lucky I'm around.

I can't help feeling that these NEED to be made with soft light brown sugar. I don't know why I didn't. Even at the time, as I was stirring in ingredients, I thought, 'I should really use soft light brown sugar for this', and then I totally did not do so. Feel free to do so! But bear in mind I haven't tested them this way yet. Let me know if you do.

For blondies:
230g (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

300g (1 3/4 c.) sugar - I'm promoting the untested brown sugar version, here.

240ml (1 c.) crunchy peanut butter
2 large eggs + 1 large yolk

2 tsp pure vanilla extract
280g
(2 c.)
plain (all-purpose) flour
250g
(9oz) milk chocolate, cut into small chunks (or chips)
1/2 tsp salt

For ganache:
250g (9oz) milk chocolate, cut into chunks (or chips)
120ml (1/2 c.) double cream (a litle milk worked for my -admittedly half quantity- version)
1 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

Preheat oven to 180C (350F). Butter a 13x9" baking pan, then line bottom of pan with parchment paper and butter parchment.

1. Beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until mixture is light and fluffy, then add peanut butter and beat until incorporated. Beat in whole eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla. Reduce mixer sped to low, then mix in flour until just combined. Mix in chocolate chunks/chips then spread batter in baking pan, smoothing top. (It will be thick, almost like cookie batter.)

2. Bake until blondies are deep golden, puffed on top and a wooden pick inserted in center come out with some crumbs adhering, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a rack, like I ever cool anything completely.

3. Make ganache: Put chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring cream to a boil in a small saucepan, then pour over chocolate and let mixture stand for one minute. Gently whisk in butter until it is incorporated, chocolate is melted, and a smooth mixture forms. Spread ganache on cooled blondies and let stand until set, about 15 minutes.


peanut butter blondie tin

30 comments:

Clair said...

WARNING!!
These are highly addictive! I think I ate about 6 of them on Friday night....soo niice!
I love you moomin for providing such beautiful fooood.
xxxxx

Maili said...

That pretty much means Ni was the most likely to have got the dog hair one...hahaha OH WELL she said she didn't care though!
These were gorgeous darling and I would eat them again and again and then the obesity would start to creep in.
goodtimes.
xxxxxxx

Navita (Gupta) Hakim said...

oh girl....these are awesome....i am drooling at the pics..esp the one you've bitten into...it just looks oh so tempting...it should be a crime!;p

thanks for sharing.

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Great stuff! This story should come with a warning though! ;) May induce crazy peanut butter and chocolate cravings!

♥Rosie♥ said...

Alert–alert-alert P.B. Blondies, oh my Indigo, how can resist I’m a sitting duck here in the presence of these babies!! They look divine.

Rhyleysgranny said...

These look gorgeous. I totally agree with your inclination for brown sugar. I use it always with anything that smacks of caramel. You have a gorgeous blog. Your photography is so good. Thanks for popping into mine :)

Celeste Maia said...

You know how to hurt...how can I resist those heavenly peanut butter blondies? I am going to try making them on Thursday for a group coming for tea. My mouth is watering...thanks for the recipe!

lisaiscooking said...

These look amazing! The chocolate chunks and the ganache make these irresistible.

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean. I could eat peanut butter and chocolate together, just straight out of a bowl. These photos look beautiful and delicious.

Nurit "1 family. friendly. food." said...

What gorgeous photos! Especially the top one, Oh Goodness. I never made Blondies (can you belive it???) - will definitelly have to add it to my to-do list.
And thanks for visitng my blog.

Pam said...

Totally drool worthy. Excellent photos too.

grace said...

pesky dogs. :)
these bars look phenomenal, and i've never been one to pass up a chocolate-peanut butter treat. your photos are stunning--i particularly enjoy the teeth marks.

Kerstin said...

Oh wow, these look absolutely amazing! Who doesn't love PB and chocolate? Your photos are gorgeous too!

Deborah said...

Oh, my goodness - I wouldn't be able to resist these!!

Jennifer said...

Oh YUM!!! i love blondies and this peanut butter kick is great!! thanks for sharing this great recipe :)

Carolyn Jung said...

These look amazing! And no worries. Peanut butter is full of protein. So in my book, that makes these bars healthful. ;)

Reeni said...

These are sinful delights! My favorite combo - and I love to eat blondies cold.

Ingrid_3Bs said...

MMMM, to say I love blondies would be an understatement!! You were correct in calling these blondies and I think you're also correct in yout thoughts that light brown sugar would add to these.
~ingrid

Adam said...

Wow, beautiful job, and I don't even see the dog hair :)

Kudos to your friends for helping you out with eating them... I mean what are good friends for?

I hope you're accepting new applicants :)

NKP said...

They do look very addictive. I am so craving sweets right now. You had better send me a care package. :)

morgana said...

Mmmmmmmmmmm.

Thank you for this recipe. Adapted or not. Some things are good enough to just repeat them again and again and still enjoy them. And I have a peanut butter jar somewhere in my kitchen waiting for me to use it in a sure and good way...

Here, in Spain, peanut butter is not well known, peanuts are a matter of appetizer but not a matter of baking and I have no opportunity to experiment, but you gave me a good reason to go ahead and lead spanish people to a new world of peanuts goods.

Well... Yes, I think I'm a little too ambitious. Perhaps. It looks like I'm going to dominate the world. I'll be happy if just my boyfriend says: "Mmmmm. These peanut butter blondies are yummy. I want more".

Anonymous said...

These look soooo good! And sounds so rich! Ah, now I need to go get a jar of peanut butter and whip this up. Don't you have any leftovers to ship to Singapore? *bats eyelashes*

Maria♥ said...

OMG, those look absolutely amazing! I need to make these without a doubt.

Maria
x

Justin said...

omg a dog hair... you must have real photoshop skills. i have to say, these look insanely good.

alexandra said...

Oh yum. These look dangerous. Seriously. I don't think I should have these around. peanut butter and chocolate are maybe my favorite two foods. Yikes!

Lori said...

Wow- these look amazing! I am pretty sure I could eat a tin full! OMG

Sam said...

Growing up within driving distance of Butterwood, I can attest to the absolute deliciousness of these blondies!!! Seriously addictive. Great to have the recipe, now that I live far away!

Pixie said...

aahhh amazing my head just exploded with chocolatey goodness! I made with brown sugar, and they are to die for!

Pranoti said...

Your blondies look soooo good... I am a newbie to baking and I really want to make these... But I was thinking of doing a combination of white chocolate and milk chocolate. Do you think I should get a little adventurous or just stick to the original?? Please do tell :)

tifleur said...

it's look delicious!

Thans for the receipe!