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Soft and gooey Brown Butter Glazed Peanut Butter Blondies. Made with butter, creamy peanut butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and even some chocolate – if you’d like that too. These bars are generously glazed with a sweet, thick, and creamy brown butter maple glaze. There’s really nothing not to love about these peanut butter blondies. And the true secret? Brown butter and brown sugar. They keep these blondies incredibly flavorful, soft, gooey, and so delicious. They’re sweet, salty, peanutty, made in just 40 minutes, and every last bite is truly delicious.
I know you all know this by now, but peanut butter has always been an ingredient my family loves. Growing up in Ohio, the buckeye state, my mom would often make buckeyes. Also known as chocolate peanut butter balls. And her Special K-Bars (the third recipe I ever posted) well, those were in our weekly rotation. Sometimes two, even three times a week – depending on the week!
My mom kept the desserts very well stocked.
So, yes, peanut butter has always been a staple dessert ingredient. And I love to play around with new ways to incorporate it into recipes, both sweet and savory.
Since we’re in this weird time where we’re transitioning from winter to spring. Lately, I’ve mostly been experimenting with mixing lighter berry-filled sweets with the tried and true classics.
However, it’s been forever since I made blondies, so I thought it would be fun to reinvent them a bit.
Enter these extra peanutty, sweet, and salty blondies. They’re the easiest to make and so delicious. Perfect for the weekend!
The steps
What I love about this blondie recipe is just how simple it is. You don’t even need a mixer!
Melt the butter and peanut butter together until creamy and combined. Add the brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Then stir in the flour with some baking powder and a pinch of salt.
Very simple.
Since we all love chocolate, I stirred in a handful of chocolate chunks before baking. Totally optional.
While the bars cool, make the glaze.
Most blondie recipes are not glazed, but I wanted these to be extra special and a little over the top.
I took inspiration from my apple doughnuts that I shared this past fall. I decided on a buttery maple glaze with vanilla throughout. It’s just browned butter, maple syrup, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Simple, but delicious.
And it really does make these bars.
I kept the glaze drizzly but still thick and creamy. That way it can really sink into all the nooks and crannies of these peanutty blondie bars.
Nothing fancy by any means, but total and complete perfection.
Here’s a little tip, let the bars cool for 10 or so minutes, then drizzle on the glaze and enjoy a few of the bars warm. There isn’t anything better. The glaze melts onto the chocolate chunks and pockets of peanut butter. Every bite is so delicious!
Looking for other peanut butter desserts? Here are my favorites:
Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Homemade Vegan Peanut Butter Twix Bars
Soft and Crinkly Brown Sugar Peanut Butter Cookies
Lastly, if you make these Brown Butter Glazed Peanut Butter Blondies, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Brown Butter Glazed Peanut Butter Blondies
Servings: 24 bars
Calories Per Serving: 232 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) salted butter
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet, dark, or milk chocolate, roughly chopped (optional)
Brown Butter Glaze
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper.2. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt together the butter and 1/2 cup peanut butter, stirring every 30 seconds until melted. Stir in the brown sugar, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the chocolate, if using. 3. Press/spread the dough out into the prepared dish. Bake for 18-22 minutes, until just set in the center. Let cool. 4. Meanwhile, make the glaze. Add the butter to a small pot set over medium heat. Allow the butter to brown lightly until it smells toasted, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the maple syrup, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Drizzle the glaze over the bars. Let set for 5 minutes. Cut into bars…snack and enjoy!
Notes
Storing: these bars keep well for 3-4 days at room temperature or in the fridge.
To cool the bars quickly for frosting: place in the freezer for 15 minutes. Remove and glaze.
The flavor was very good. I found them to be very dry, I baked them 18 minutes. I may try again with less flour, 2 cups seemed excessive.
Hi Pat,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, sorry to hear these were dry for you! xTieghan
I see the recipe calls for salted butter… if I use unsalted should I just add a little extra salt to the recipe? If so can you recommend an amount of salt?
Hi Carolyn,
I would just add 1/4 teaspoon of salt. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
I used leftover brown butter (that I had made for another recipe) in the blondie batter. Gave it a little more depth of flavour. Delicious recipe but a little dry -I should have ck’d doneness at 15 mins. I will definitely make them again.
Hey Susan,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it and sharing your feedback! xx
So yummy! My daughter and I made these today and everyone in the family loves them!
Hi Callie,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it and sharing your feedback! xx
These are the current favorite in my house. And THE GLAZE is soooo good. I subbed bourbon for vanilla. Thank you HBH!
Hi Jessie,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it and sharing your feedback! xx
If you click to print recipe the granulated sugar doesn’t show in ingredients list.
Hi Leigh,
It’s showing on our end, can you try it again and let me know if you are still having issues? xTieghan
It displays now. Thanks so much!
When I printed out the recipe at 12 EST, there was no mention of white sugar so I didn’t know to use it. The recipe still came out yummy. The icing especially is divine.
Hi Linda,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it and sharing your feedback! Sorry about the sugar! xx
I’m excited to try these! How much white sugar needs to be added? Coming from ig stories where I saw the white sugar as well. Thanks!
It’s 1/4 cup – in the recipe ingredients list
Hey Sarah,
You will want to use 1/4 cup of granulated sugar. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
I made these earlier today. They were very good (love the glaze!). But like Nicole said, they were very crumbly. Also, I saw your Instagram story tonight and you added brown sugar and regular sugar. Was there supposed to be regular sugar in the recipe?
Hey Diane,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, sorry to hear they were crumbly! Yes, you will want to use 1/4 cup of granulated sugar. I hope this helps for next time!! xTieghan
I’m not sure what I did wrong but they came out super dry! I only cooked it for 18 minutes but they were super crumbly, I thought the frosting tasted good, but was not a place consistency
Hey Nicole,
So sorry to hear this. Was there anything you may have adjusted in the recipe? Let me know how I can help! xx
These are great! I added the “optional” chocolate (Guittard bittersweet chocolate wafers). Easy and delicious
Hey Margo,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed. Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
Made these this morning for a weekend dessert. Couldn’t wait to try them. They are delicious and so easy to make. Great peanut butter flavor and the maple glaze is perfect. Another HBH recipe I will be making over and over.
Hey April,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed. Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
We’re celebrating my husband’s birthday tomorrow with friends and I planned on making your crinkle top brownies (the BEST!) for the get together. Ultimately more people RSVP’ed than anticipated, and I felt like I needed a second dessert. Thankfully this popped up in my inbox this morning, and I had ALL the ingredients on hand already. I just made them and while I haven’t tried them, they smell amazing. Such an easy recipe, too! Thank you!
Hey Tara,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed. Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
Just made these and they were excellent!! Not sure why some people are saying the bars were crumbly…maybe they did not use enough butter or peanut butter. Mine came out perfect and the glaze was so decadent.
Hey Serena,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it and sharing your feedback! xx
These look amazingly good! May I ask what kind of chocolate bar you used?
Hi Katie,
I really like Hu bars or Chocolove. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Good Morning. Anxious to try. Have to use GM oat flour because of Hubs not eating any starch. I will let you know how they turned out. I cannot eat brown choc so will use white chips. Both needs fulfilled 🙂
Thanks.
I’m in a similar situation…so please do share! 🙂 Thanks!
You can use an equal amount of GF flour:)
Hey Leslie,
An equal amount of GF flour will work well for you here. I hope the recipe turns out amazing for you, let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan