Snickerdoodle Blondies

Tonight was National Night Out, so I whipped up these awesome bars last night after work. I had completely forgotten I needed to make something for the get together until late Monday morning, so I had to quick scrounge for a recipe that would appeal to people of all ages. I chose these Snickerdoodle Blondies because a) they looked delicious, b) they were super easy (and quick!), and c) I had all of the necessary ingredients on hand (very important since I did not have time to run to the grocery store).

These blondies have made their rounds on the blogosphere and for a very good reason. They are divine, amazing, fantastic, mouth watering.... well, you get the point! If you enjoy snickerdoodles, then you will love these bars. They are soft and chewy on the inside with a crunchy cinnamon-sugar topping. I think I might have under baked them a tad too much because these were a little too chewy for my taste (which is saying a lot since I normally like my cookies and bars very soft and chewy).

I’m going to make these again soon, especially because there are no special ingredients involved, just the basics and some cinnamon and sugar.

Snickerdoodle Blondies
(Source: One Ordinary Day & My Baking Addiction)

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter, room temperature
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
a pinch nutmeg

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease or line a 9×13″ baking pan.

2. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt; set aside.

3. In large bowl, beat together butter and brown sugar for 3-5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, then vanilla. Beat until smooth.

4. Stir in the flour mixture until well blended. Spread evenly into prepared pan with greased spatula or hands. Combine topping: granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Evenly sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over top of batter.

5. Bake 25 minutes or until surface springs back when gently pressed. Cool.

Makes 24 bars.

Peanut Butter Cup Blondies

And the peanut butter-chocolate experiment continues...

This week in the form of a bar. A blondie, to be more precise. I put my own twist on a recipe I found over at Smitten Kitchen by not only mixing chopped up Reece's Peanut Butter Cups in the batter, but also pressing whole Peanut Butter Cups into the tops of the bars when they were fresh out of the oven.

Peanut Butter Cup Blondies
(Source: Smitten Kitchen)

8 Tbsp butter, melted
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 Cup Flour
1 cup Reece's Peanut Butter Cup Miniatures, chopped
16 Reece's Peanut Butter Cups

1. Grease and 8x8 pan.

2. Beat melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in egg, and then vanilla.

3. Mix in salt, baking powder, and flour. Gently stir in 1 cup chopped Reece's peanut butter cups.

4. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, or until middle is set.

5. Remove from the oven and press whole peanut butter cups into the top of the bars.

6. Cool on rack before cutting them.

Make 16 bars.