Peanut Butter Coconut Blondies |Cooking With Amanda

I hear you... when you think about flavors that pair well with peanut butter, coconut isn't the first one to come to mind. Or it didn't come to your mind at all. It wasn't even in the top 100.

Yes, yes, chocolate, bananas, marshmallow. All the usual suspects. I almost forgot to include jelly. Although, does anyone really eat peanut butter with grape jelly anymore? For the most part, people prefer strawberry jam to grape jelly these days, right?

If the coconut flavor in these bars was really strong, I could see how it would compete or overtake the peanut butter, or even downright clash with it. Instead, it accentuates it. I learned this about coconut after I tried this recipe for chocolate peanut butter protein balls out of a magazine. The recipe called for a little coconut extract. I thought it was strange and I almost left it out. What could that add to chocolate and peanut butter, a duo that is already top notch and tough to beat? The answer is: EVERYTHING.

Okay, not everything. Again, chocolate and peanut butter are a stellar combo. Still, the coconut extract really made these protein balls stand out in a sea of a million other chocolate and peanut butter snacks!

I was shocked at the difference that the coconut flavor adds to those little energy balls, and it got me thinking that I should base an entire peanut butter dessert (because I don't have enough of those) around the idea of combining the two.

Starting with a buttery and brown sugary blondie base, adding a boatload of peanut butter, and some shredded coconut, you end up with a thick, soft, and chewy peanut butter blondie bar with a touch of coconutty goodness. Topped with rich and creamy peanut butter buttercream, and a smattering of shredded toasted coconut, you have the perfect balance of peanut butter and coconut flavors.

My S.O. was initially a skeptic about the flavor combination in these blondie bars, but he was a quick convert once he tried them, and he truly couldn't stop eating them. As with most desserts in this household, they disappeared quite quickly!

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Peanut Butter Coconut Blondies Recipe

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Ingredients

For the Blondies:

1 1/4 cups creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons coconut extract
1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 cup shredded coconut

For the Buttercream:

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream, or milk

For Topping:

1 cup shredded coconut

Directions

To Make the Blondies:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, and sugar.
Beat in eggs, vanilla, and coconut extract.
In a large bowl, combine the flour and baking powder.
Add it to peanut butter mixture alternately with the milk.
Mix in the shredded coconut.
Spread batter into a greased 9x13-inch pan.
Bake at 325°F for 28-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, and edges are golden brown.
Cool completely on a wire rack.

For the Buttercream:

In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, peanut butter, vanilla, powdered sugar, and milk.
Beat until light and fluffy, about 5-7 minutes.
Spread over blondies.

For the Topping: