Peanut Butter Blondies

By jojomail1

Nice bars, from Family Circle Reader's Exchange.

Ingredients

• FROSTING:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 pound packed brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup chopped peanuts
• 1 pound confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup hot water

Details

Servings 48

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat two 13 x 9 x 2 baking pans with cooking spray. In a bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl beat shortening, peanut butter, and brown sugar on medium high speed for 3 minutes. Add eggs, beat 3 minutes more. Add vanilla. On low speed beat in flour mixture. Stir in the peanuts. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool slightly.

Frosting:
Beat confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, shortening, salt and vanilla. Add hot water, little at a time. Beat until smooth. Spread over blondies while still warm.