Baking Mad with Peanut Butter Blondies!

I looooooove to bake!! (No surprise there!) And if there's anything I like more than baking it's watching a program on the telly about baking. I'm very excited to let you know that on the 5th of March, 2012 on Channel 4 at 12:05 pm the second Series of "Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard" begins!

This new series runs for four weeks, every week day and sees Eric . . . the guru of all things sweet, beautiful and baked . . . at home in his own kitchen creating quick baking recipes along side of his signature glamorous desserts. I think the new series will easily appeal to bakers of every kind from the novice to the expert.



Each episode is 30 minutes in length and will also feature three members of the public who will come to his cooker school, Cake Boy, to demonstrate their baking skills and take part in a "Bake Off!" (I cannot imagine the pressure they must be under!) It promises to be a beautifully produced series which balances inspiration with information, engaging the viewer to try new things to add to their baking repertoire.

This show is sponsored by Bakingmad.com, a wonderful online baking community of over 100,000 members sharing a wealth of information, recipes, hints, tips and advice on everything to do with baking!



I was asked ahead of time to take part in a special challenge. I was given the choice of one of the full collection of recipes that Eric will be making in the 20 episodes to bake at home myself! I did not need to think twice about accepting the challenge. I already own Eric's first book and know first hand how scrummy his recipes are.



I chose to bake the Peanut Butter Blondies recipe, which I baked today and boy oh boy, are they ever moreishly scrummy indeed! Just imagine it . . .



Moist blonde brownies . . . flavoured with chunky peanut butter . . . stogged full of white chocolate bits and toasted walnuts (my idea to toast them, coz well . . . toasted nuts just taste better in my opinion!) . . . and topped with more white chocolate bits, some more toasted walnuts and a drizzle of dark chocolate!



A delicious concoction that smells absolutely fabulous when baking . . . and is oh-so-difficult to resist sinking your teeth into once they come out of the oven . . . but do be patient . . . you will want to wait until you have dressed them with all of the extras!



I dare say I wouldn't have to ask one of you twice if you'd like one would I??? I thought not!!!



*Peanut Butter Blondies*
Makes 12
Printable Recipe

Adapted from a recipe from Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard.

100g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing the tray (7 TBS)
150g crunchy peanut butter (3/4 cup plus 1 TBS)
1 tsp vanilla extract
175g golden caster sugar (15 tBS)
1 free range egg
75g white chocolate, plus extra to decorate (1/2 cup chopped)
75g toasted walnut halves, chopped plus extra to decorate (2/3 cup)
125g plain flour (1 1/4 cup)
1 tsp baking powder
dark chocolate melted, to decorate
white chocolate chips to decorate



Preheat the oven to 170*C/ 325*F/ gas mark 3. Butter an 8 inch square tin with butter and line the base with baking paper.

Cream together the butter and peanut butter until creamy, using an electric hand whisk at medium speed. Beat in the vanilla, sugar and egg until light and fluffy. Chop the white chocolate and stir into the mixture along with the chopped walnuts.

Sift the flour and baking powder into the bowl and fold in using a large metal spoon. Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking tin, smoothing over the top.

Bake in the middle of the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, until it has a nice golden crust but is still fudgy in the middle.

Allow to cool in the tin. Decorate with white chocolate chunks and walnut pieces and drizzle over some dark chococolate. Cut into squares to serve. Store in an airtight container.



If this fab recipe is any indication of the quality of baking which will be showcased during the airing of this series, I, for one, will be following along with great anticipation each week day for the duration of the series!



Here's a teaser! Some of the recipes that will be presented during this series are such delicious sounding concoctions as Blueberry Bakewell Tart and Key Lime Pie to name but two.

Don't forget to tune in on Monday, March the 5th at 12:05 PM on Channel 4 here in the UK. In the meantime why not check out Baking Mad.com.

You can also follow them on Facebook Twitter and YouTube.

Many thanks to Nancy and Baking Mad.com for affording me with this delicious opportunity!