Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chunk Blondies

On Christmas, my family and I went to a community dinner sp0nsored by the USO.  Lots of people brought side dishes and desserts to the dinner and one in particular stood out to me…

It was a food of sorts. A cookie bar. Inside it had chocolate and marshmallow… and it got me to thinking, why haven’t I made more blondies before?

Since I had these two beautiful  jars of homemade peanut butter that I had just whipped up… I knew this was a perfect opportunity to make some peanut butter blondies!

The grocery store had a huge sale on it’s holiday bags of chocolate… so I picked up a couple bags of Hershey’s Chocolate Chunks for only $1 each today… so I knew I had to include some chocolate with the peanut butter!

This recipe makes a ton of peanut butter chocolate chunk blondies…. so be prepared to share!

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chunk Blondies
Makes 12 large squares… more if you cut them smaller

1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 cups light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 cup homemade peanut butter (see my recipe!)

2 eggs
1tsp vanilla

1/4 cup milk

2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1 cup + 1/4 cup chocolate chunks

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F degrees.  Great a 9×13 metal pan with shortening or butter.
2. In a medium sauce pan, melt together the butter and brown sugar on medium heat… whisking often.
3. Once melted, remove from heat and whisk in the peanut butter.  Whisk until all the peanut butter has melted.  Set aside to cool as you prepare the flour.
4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
5. Whisk the eggs and vanilla into the butter/sugar mixture.
6. Make a well in the middle of the flour and pur the butter/sugar mixture in.  Using a spatula, fold the butter/sugar into the flour about 6-7 strokes.
7. Add the milk and fold 4-5 more strokes.   You just want to barely combine the ingredients, making sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.
8. Dump in the chocolate chips and fold until combined.
9. Pour the thick batter into your prepared pan and spread to the edges.  Top with the remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate chunks.
10. Bake 25-30 minutes or until the top and edges have turned a golden brown.  Allow to cool in the pan before cutting into squares.
11. Drizzle with extra peanut butter, serve with a big glass of milk and enjoy!