My husband has started a new thing where he hosts a poker night over at our house each month.  This is great for me because it gives me a chance to try out new goodies and appetizers and things for him to serve to his poker buddies.  This morning, I tried my hand and these amazing peanut butter cup blondies.

Because who doesn’t like peanut butter cups? Am I right, or am I right?

Also, I don’t know what it is about guys, but they seem to be particularly fond of them.  Anyway.

The other reason these beauties were absolutely perfect was that they took me 5 minutes to pop into the oven, most of which was spent unwrapping peanut butter cups, so it almost doesn’t even count.

I just whipped up the batter, plopped in some peanut butter cups,

Covered them up with more batter,

And then “wham bam thank you ma’am.  Beautiful, delicious, dense, fudgy, blondie perfection.

Enjoy.

Recipe very slightly adapted from Skip to my Lou

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar (next time I make these, I will add less- probably just a cup)
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
16 Reeses Peanut Butter Cups (the big sized ones, not the minis)

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350°. Line an 8×8 baking dish with a foil sling and spray with non-stick spray. In a mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar.  Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well.  Add the flour and salt and stir until just combined.

Place half the batter in the bottom of the pan and spread evenly.  You may have to use your clean, damp hands as it will be sticky.  Place the peanut butter cups in 4 rows across, and top with the remaining batter.

Bake for 20-25 minutes (do not overbake) until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Cool completely before cutting into squares.  Enjoy!