These blondies are a jam-packed with things that make me very happy.
A super soft, buttery, brown sugar base, loaded with peanut butter chips, and swirled with Nutella.
I used my go-to blondie recipe that never lets me down. The batter comes together in one bowl, in 5 minutes, without using a mixer.
That’s especially important when you don’t have a dishwasher, and each and every dirty dish counts.
I’m on vacation and don’t want anything fussy or that takes more than 30 minutes from start to finish.
Although I sometimes can’t find tomatoes or cream in Aruba, I spotted a bag of peanut butter chips in the local grocery store. Sold. Never mind that they were $6 dollars. I love peanut butter, what can I say.
Use chocolate chips if you can’t find peanut butter chips, or if you’re feeling more frugal.
Everything tastes better with swirls, especially swirls of Nutella. I was going to use peanut butter, but wanted a pop of chocolate. You don’t even have to dip your fingers in it for this recipe.
If you don’t have Nutella, try Homemade Peanut Butter or Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter. The recipe is highly adaptable, another reason I love it.
While they bake, the butter and brown sugar caramelize, and the bars take on caramel and vanilla flavors.
They’re supremely soft, moist, and dense. No chemical leaveners such as baking powder or soda are used, and you’ll just want to sink your teeth into these softies.
Mine are especially soft and gooey because my kitchen here is un-airconditioned. It was 88F and very humid when these pictures were taken. Everything melts and gets very soft. In more normal conditions, your blondies won’t be as soft and melty.
The peanut butter chips are the perfect flavor nuggets, adding bursts of peanut butter flavor, without overtaking the flavor and making them taste like peanut butter blondies.
Not that that would be a bad thing. There’s a recipe for Peanut Butter Blondies with Nutella Swirls in my cookbook and they’re wonderful.
These were so good. And a little messy.
And that’s what napkins are for.
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Nutella-Swirled Peanut Butter Chip Blondies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 stick, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips
- about 1/3 cup Nutella (Homemade Peanut Butter or Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- In a large, microwave-safe bowl melt the butter, about 1 minute on high power.
- Wait momentarily before adding the egg so you don’t scramble it. Add the egg, brown sugar, vanilla, and whisk until smooth.
- Add the flour and stir until just combined, don’t overmix.
- Stir in the peanut butter chips.
- Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.
- Evenly add and swirl the Nutella. To create the marbled pattern shown, drizzle Nutella over batter in 5 wide, evenly spaced, parallel lines, each spanning the length of the pan. Like 5 rows of long train tracks. Rotate pan 90-degrees. With a toothpick, starting at the top of the pan, “draw” 4 or 5 evenly spaced lines through the Nutella. You’re dragging the toothpick perpendicularly through the first set of lines to create the marbling.
- Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until done. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter. Bars shown in photographs were in 90F Caribbean heat and humidity, and very soft and melty. Allow bars to cool in pan for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving. Bars will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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What’s your favorite fast and easy go-to dessert? Favorite way to use Nutella or peanut butter (chips)?
Mmmmm Nutella is my kryptonite!
This old farm house doesn’t have central air either (although unfortunately it’s not in Aruba). : D But I know exactly what you mean about the heat making things extra soft, and super-scrumptious!! (So glad I’m not the only one!)
These look ah-mazing!!
Most of the time, I love the heat. Except when I’m trying to take food pics. LOL But they sure tasted great!
Averie!!!! I am in love with these blondies! All of your blondies are amazing – I always have your PBJ blondies on my mind. But now the Nutella. Ohhhhh my! There is quite nothing like nutella and peanut butter. The swirls on top are mouthwatering. And they make quite a pretty dessert, too!
Girl. This photoshoot. You know how I have major issues when I’m here. I hated the pics. Nothing, nothing, nothing was working. I was so close to not even posting them. Then I got the 1st square, top row. I was…floored. But all that aside, the TASTE and flavor of these. Sally, I wish I could have shared some with you!!
WHOA! These are definitely making me happy! I’ll be happiest when I bite into them!!
Oh my! Averie. These look incredible! Drooling at my computer. And I love that a mixer is not needed! Hallelujah, amen. :) Definitely want to try these babies soon!
These look and sound amazing, YUM!
xx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
Are you seriously baking while you’re on vacation?! You are so dedicated, you make me feel like a slacker! The ribbons of Nutella in these look absolutely irresistible.
Nuteeeellaaa!!! I love Nutella! This looks amazing, Averie!
Have I done a pb and nutella combo yet?
Gosh I should!
After seeing this!
That first photo is so foodporn!
Absolutely irresistible, Averie! These look SO good!
You’ve just created a recipe perfect for people without dishwasher :D
Peanut butter and nutella sounds like a heavenly combo!
gahhhhh!!! I CAN’T EVEN HANDLE IT! Need need neeeed these
You are just like me…when I see a bag of something I want or need, I don’t even care what the cost is! I love how easy and simple this recipe is, Averie! You know, even with a dish washer…I like to use less bowls to do things– makes it so much easier without a bunch of clutter on the counter. You already have the ingredients out… right?! hehe (=
I need to make these! Can you believe that I have never cooked with Nutella? I’m seeing it everywhere and I’m going to pick up a jar at the supermarket today! Thanks for the inspiration.
Awesome and you’ll be hooked once you try. Lmk how they go!
Nutella and pb is one of my favorite combinations too! And that gooey center looks amazing!! I’m dying!