Peanut Blondies

Here's a great recipe for peanut lovers.   I got this recipe from a magazine, but don't know which one. It's a little different because it includes white-chocolate. It's a great combo! Now, I admit I am NOT a fan of white-chocolate. It's not even real chocolate, it's candy. I don't know why they call it any kind of chocolate, but so be it. So the fact that I like these bars is saying something! They are very easy to make too.

Peanut Blondies
Makes ~18 bars

2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened (or use salted butter and omit the 1/4 tsp salt)
1/3 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
1-1/4 cups packed light-brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts, chopped
1 11-12 oz bag white-chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350-F.  Grease and flour (or use PAM baking spray) a 13x9x2" baking pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.  In a large bowl, beat butter and peanut butter for 1 minute, until blended. Add brown sugar; beat for 2 minutes, until smooth.  Beat in vanilla.  Add eggs; beat until smooth, about 1 minutes.

Stir in the flour mixture and 3/4 cup of the nuts.  Spread the batter evenly into the pan.  Bake for 20-25 min. or until lightly golden. Keep an eye on them because they will be dry if you over-bake them. Remove from oven.  Immediately sprinkle the white-chocolate chips over the top.  Let stand 5 minutes or so until the chips are soft enough to spread.  Spread over the top; sprinkle on remaining 1/4 cup chopped nuts. Cool in pan. Cut into bars.

Happy Baking!