Peanut Butter and Honey Blondies

I happened to turn on the TV one day back in August to check the weather, and saw Grant Melton on the Rachel Ray show making these blondies.  He is an over-the-top personality and I wondered if he was all show or if his recipes were any good.  He does clever adaptions of classics, and kitchen "tricks" like using saran-wrap in his measuring cups for sticky ingredients.

So, I finally got around to trying this recipe this week, and made them as gifts for some guys who were helping me with a carpentry art project. 

Tom says he really likes them, and he doesn't usually like peanut butter in things, such as Reese's peanut butter cups.  I will definitely make these again.  I think our grandkids would like them. 

---Barbara

Peanut Butter and Honey Blondies
(Grant Melton on the Rachel Ray show)

Makes 16 

3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter, melted
1/4 cup honey
2 eggs
1.5 cup flour
1 t. salt
1/4 t. baking powder
1/2 cup honey roasted peanuts, chopped for sprinkling (I used dry roasted and did not chop)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 8-inch square baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper, leaving a 2 inch overhang. (This will help with removing the baked blondies.)  I used aluminum foil, and greased the foil with the butter left on the butter wrappers.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk butter, sugar, peanut butter and honey.  (Grant uses plastic wrap in his measuring cups when measuring sticky ingredients.)  Whisk in eggs until well combined. 

Using a large spatula, fold in the flour, salt and baking powder.  Pour batter into a baking pan and spread into a flat layer.

Sprinkle chopped nuts on top and bake until edges start to become golden brown, 20-25 minutes (Mine take to 30-35 minutes.  Don't take them out too early.)  Let cool, then remove blondies from the pan and cut into 16 squares.

---Barbara