Last night my hubby needed some cheering up. While we were both in less than stellar moods after finding out some unfortunate news, Brandon was particularly upset.
After the proper hugs and kisses, I made us a couple of French bread pizzas (check out that recipe now!), popped in a work out tape that helped get out our frustrations, and then decided to bake one of our favorite new treats: Chocolate Chunk Blueberry Peanut Butter Bars.
If it sounds like an odd combination… I thought so too. But let me just say that Lauren from Keep It Sweet knows what she’s talking about! These bars are SO scrumptious!
I only made a couple changes; I cut out the white sugar and replaced it with agave nectar (using 2 less tablespoons of sugar than the original recipe). I also replaced half the white flour with whole wheat. These changes were so small and truly did not impact the final product! They tasted the same as the original version!
You can’t even imagine how good these are until you try them! They definitely got our mouths smiling! Brandon even put a big glob of homemade ice cream on top of his! (Oh the possibilities!).
Go make these NOW!
Chocolate Chunk Blueberry Peanut Butter Bars
adapted from Keep It Sweet
Makes ~9 (large) bars
- 1/4 c. whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/4 c. + 1 T All-purpose flour
- 1 1/8 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 c. natural peanut butter
- 1/4 c. agave nectar or other natural sweetener
- 1/4 c. + 2 T brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 c. dark or milk chocolate chunks (I chose dark)
- 3/4 c. frozen or fresh blueberries ( I used frozen)
In a medium bowl, mix together flours and baking soda. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, combine peanut butter, agave, and brown sugar. Mix on medium with an electric mixer until semi-fluffy. Add egg and vanilla. Mix with mixer again until incorporated.
Slowly add flour mixture, mix with electric mixer on low. Do not over mix. Dough should be crumbly.
This photo is Lauren's from Keep it Sweet. Mine did not turn out very well. Poor lighting!
Incorporate chocolate and blueberries with a wooden spoon. You almost have to cut the add-ins in to the dough. Spread evenly in an 8 x8″ pan coated with spray. Bake at 350 degrees for ~18-20 minutes.
This photo is Lauren's from Keep It Sweet.
Nutritional Profile (per 1 bar): 137 calories, 3.7 g fat (2 g sat.), 27 g carbohydrate, 1.1 g fiber, 14 g sugar, 2.5 g protein, 175 mg sodium, 97 mg potassium
If you love Peanut Butter recipes and uses definitely check out our blog, “1001 Ways to Use Peanut Butter” (http://pnutbuttalvr.tumblr.com/)! Also, follow us on Twitter @PnutButtaLvr!
[...] of peanut butter love, I made Erin‘s Chocolate Chunk Blueberry Peanut Butter Bars earlier this week. Um… hello [...]
These bars look like the perfect way to cheer someone up! I totally want to make them with blackberries!
mmm These look delicious! I’m aure they cheered your husband right up
I’m not much of a baker but just may start. Delicious. Sorry about the bad news.
Yes, these sound completely random!! BUT, oh SO GOOD! I mean, chocolate, BB, AND peanut butter?! This would definitely cheer Nick up too, no matter what was going on….and me, of course.
I hope everything is ok, and the news wasn’t something truly significant.
Thanks for the recipe!
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh.
Sending prayers your way…I hope you guys are doing okay. I know that food can be a huge comfort, and these bars look so very good. Hugs and love from Austin.
Yes ma’am! I will most definitely make these this weekend!
Also, hope everything is okay. Know that you have a supportive community here that has your back.
Aww, guys!!! I hope it wasn’t too bad of news!!!!
I would definitely be drowning my sorrows in those bars! The sugar isn’t too too terrible in them, if you only have a portion (which I am not sure I could do hahaha)
HUGS!
I hope everything is okay, Erin. I’ll keep you and Brandon in my thoughts and prayers this week!
These bars look absolutely scrumptious! I’ve always enjoyed chocolate-fruit combinations, but have never tried doing it with blueberries. I have no doubt that I’d love this recipe though…Especially because it contains peanut butter!
Blueberries and Chocolate are great together! I love your recipe changes. I’m going to make one more change to “veganize” this and try it out. Hope your bad news was not tooooo bad.
I hope everything is OK! I’ve been anxious to click on this all day because I knew I was going to want to make them immediately and I was right!
I hope everything’s okay and you’re both feeling better soon
These look delicious.
I’m liking to combo of chocolate and blueberries. These bars sound delicious!
Hope everything is ok! I’ll keep you two in my thoughts.
Those bars look delicious!!!
Those look great. I hope everything is okay. You seem like a good cheerer upper:)
at first glance, i thought, yes – that is an *interesting* combination…hmmm…but upon further reflection, these squares sound really delicious! glad you could there for your husband.
You just combined my 3 favorite things(peanut butter, blueberries and chocolate) into one amazing spending creation!!! I can’t wait to make these!!
Yum, these look incredible! I haven’t had much blueberry/chocolate combo in the past, but I’d definitely be willing to try.
So sorry about your bad news – hope everything is okay. Sending you good thoughts!
These do sound like an odd combination but I’ll take your word for it! I’ve been having an itch for healthy baking so I must get to it soon!
Ooh yum, I think it’d be almost impossible to be unhappy with one of these in your hand! I hope everything is ok.
Yum! having just finished lunch and now seeing this, I want something sweet!
Sweets are great mood booster! You’re right – blueberries & PB are not a combo I would normally try, but these look delish!
Oooh I don’t have any blueberries but I wonder if I could use bananas instead?! They look delicious!
And ps (hit “submit” too fast) – I hope everything is ok with you and your husband.
Oh my god! I am SO MAKING THESE!! DROOLING over here, haha!
Ooo I’m digging the PB and Blueberry combo — yum!
Hope that the news wasn’t too bad and that your moods are improving! Hugs to you!
Those look delish!! Love your website too Erin!!
Lauren, I have not made these with frozen blueberries yet, but I have used them in pancakes and muffins successfully. I try to thaw them a bit before using them though. I usually buy fresh blueberries in bulk and freeze what I don’t use right away. The kids live the frozen berries in the summer and I always have done on hand for treats like these!
Erin, I hope whatever you’re going through gets better. I added a prayer for you both at church this morning.
Major yum! I know you have the nutritional information up there, and normally I’m thankful for that. However, this time, I think it’d be worthless to me since I’d eat the entire pan (or at least half!)
I hope everything is OK, but I’m glad these bars can be used to cheer up you and your husband! Good to know that they taste just as good when you make them a little healthier! I also was wondering how they’d work with frozen blueberries in case I “needed” these in the middle of winter:-)