You all know how much peanut butter blondies rock, right? What if they were in muffin form? What then?
If you are getting excited, join me. I’m pretty psyched about these. You see, I’ve never been much of a muffin girl. To me, a muffin is a cupcake without frosting. Yes, I know that’s technically wrong, but whatever.
When a muffin gets to emulate one of my favorite dessert bars, though, I’m down. These are the best dang muffins I’ve had in many a day.
Breakfast is very much about sweet cravings for me. I went through a period of making little egg muffins that were super-healthy and packed with veggies for my morning meal. They were definitely satiating, but there is a huge difference between being full and being satisfied.
Ever wonder why you eat when you’re full? It’s because you’re not satisfied, and that is very much an in-your-head kind of problem. I spent years chomping on sugar-free gum to get that sweet fix after a meal when it would have been much more practical to eat some chocolate. It just took me a while to realize that being full doesn’t mean that I should automatically be happy with my meal.
Every day, I see people at work eating the lunches they think they should eat, not the lunches they want to eat. The result? A lack of satisfaction, of course, which leads to after-work snacking and dinners that are less than ideal. We’re so busy thinking about what we should be eating that we’ve forgotten to listen to our own bodies.
My body wants sugar in the morning, so I finally gave up the egg muffins and usually, breakfast is a protein bar that has either chocolate or peanut butter flavors, if not both. The protein bar is processed, but it fills me up and, more important, I don’t feel like running toward the nearest cookie after it’s eaten.
Not that I don’t eventually get my cookie. I’ve learned that listening to my cravings is essential for keeping things in balance. But if I can have a cookie with lunch, and some chocolate between lunch and dinner, I don’t need that gum.
Believe me, I’m no dietary expert or nutritionist. But common sense dictates that saying no to food will send you rushing toward forbidden fruit faster than a Kardashian rushes to a plastic surgeon.
And I can’t say no to all the food I make. These peanut butter blondie muffins are a classic example. I bake them and think they’ll be great but resistible, and then I try them. Needless to say, when I shared these at work, they went fast. One coworker kept trying to eat pieces, and then she threw in the towel and ate the whole muffin. And maybe another one. Because that’s what dessert demands!
These are a one-bowl deal, and about as easy as it gets. But  be advised: these muffins are not healthy. They are based in peanut butter chips, not peanut butter. So don’t for a second think that you’re getting your daily protein. Nope. That’s for your meals. This is dessert!
If I’d frosted these, they would have been cupcakes, maybe. But they also would’ve been too much. These have just the right amount of sweetness, and they’re packed with both milk chocolate and peanut butter chips. If you can stop at one half, you have more self-control than I do.
Eating is a delicate balance, but I have to believe that the right way to begin is by saying yes. Yes to being satisfied, yes to being happy, yes to being open to possibilities. Otherwise, the joy of food disappears. And that is just a shame.
Peanut Butter Blondie Muffins
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 cups peanut butter chips, divided
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 and 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners. Set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and 1 and 1/2 cups of peanut butter chips for 40 seconds. Stir. If not melted, heat another 25 seconds and stir again until smooth. Cool for a few minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar with the eggs and mix until smooth. Stir in the vanilla.
- Add the egg mixture to the butter mixture and mix until well combined. Add the flour, baking powder and salt and stir until a smooth batter forms. Fold in the milk chocolate chips and the remaining 1/2 cup of peanut butter chips.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, filling each cupcake liner 3/4 of the way. Bake until golden, anywhere between 18-22 minutes.
- Cool and enjoy!
3.1
http://justaboutbaked.com/peanut-butter-blondie-muffins/
You are so spot on! I was never able to put my finger on why I don’t love muffins. I agree! They are like cupcakes with no frosting! These totally don’t look like naked cupcakes though and I’m fairly certain they do not disappoint! I would not think twice about putting these in my lunchbox!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks recently posted…White Chocolate Pudding
I’ve really struggled with muffins, Rachelle. They have as much (or more) caloric content as cupcakes, but they masquerade as health food. I’d rather just eat a cupcake!
Peanut butter blondies rock. That’s actually my next post! I’m def at a point in my life that I just eat what I want. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. Lol These muffins sound like my kinda breakfast for sure!
Michele @ Alwayzbakin recently posted…Book Review: The Blender Girl Smoothies
Can’t wait to see them, Michele! I think eating what you want is good. Definitely good. 🙂
You have uncovered the reason why I don’t really like muffins. I have never really thought about it before, but it’s because it is missing the frosting.
But, I can make exceptions and the exception is when it includes peanut butter. Nothing that has peanut butter in it can be bad, right?
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Apple and Cinnamon Loaf by Dannii
Exactly. If a muffin isn’t rich or it’s dry, what is the point?
I totally agree with your logic on what you eat . . as I’ve grown older, I know my body better . . what fills me up and what makes me feel bloated etc. . I try my best to balance it all but yes, like you, I need my sugar! I love these muffins and hey, gimme a muffin that’s packed with milk chocolate and peanut butter chips any day! love these, Mir! Happy weekend!!!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Roasted Butternut Squash Pizza
Sugar isn’t all bad, even though the media would have us think otherwise. When I tried to cut it out, life was so gray and sad. Now it’s fabulous. Have a happy weekend too, Alice!
I totally agree Mir! I live by this philosophy, I eat a piece of chocolate after my lunch because if I wont I will not feel happy and satisfied. If you want chocolate and PB in the morning, so be it! love these muffins! Have a great weekend 🙂
Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…Pumpkin Spice Pecan Shortbread Cookies
That piece of chocolate after lunch is so important, Manali!
Blondies in muffin form make me want to do a happy dance. What a genius idea! Yum.
Amanda recently posted…Tea Latte
Dessert always gets my happy dance going, Amanda!
You always make me laugh, girlfriend. The Kardashian thing totally had me giggling. 😉 I’m a seriously weird individual who was born without a sweet tooth… Like I don’t really EVER crave something sweet without the savory mixed in. I know. I DID say I was seriously weird. So muffins are totally my jam, and these look FABULOUS! I think I told you blondies are also my jam (because cocoa allergy). Obviously you taking TWO things I love and packing them into ONE makes my knees weak! I could totally eat these for breakfast! And lunch, dinner and snack time! 😉 Pinned! Cheers, lovely!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Lox & Everything Hummus {Plus- How to Cook Chickpeas in the Slow Cooker}
Oooh, muffins are your jam AND they’re good with jam! Har har. Little baking humor there for ya. Thanks, C!