Peanut Butter Banana Blondies with Bacon, aka Elvis Bars
Dense, moist, and fudgy Peanut Butter Banana Blondies are drizzled with a Maple Glaze and Sprinkled with Bacon! If you like the Sweet and Salty combo, you’ll love these Bars!
I’ve been unable to kick this cold in the butt and have been laying low this week. My dear friend Allie from Baking a Moment was so willing to come over and help on a last minute notice. If you are not already familiar with her blog, she writes an amazing dessert blog and I just love her unique eye for great flavor combinations! She is just as sweet and adorable in real life as she sounds on her blog. I was fortunate to meet her a few weeks ago on a clandestine trip to DC. She welcomed me and Mr. J graciously into her home where we hung out with her cute boys and husband. She is just the best and is here today to share with you her love for peanut butter as well (we all know how you love your peanut butter!).
Here’s Allie!
*******************************************************************************
Did you guys see Zainab’s last post? What am I saying, of course you did! Blahnik Baker has the best readers ever and I know you guys would never miss a post.
Could you even get over that peanut butter pie??? Oh my good lord…!
Well I got a little bit nervous when I first saw it, knowing that I’d be guest posting today, and already having my recipe baked up for you guys.
Right? So, that’s two peanut butter recipes in one week.
But according to Zainab, you guys love peanut butter and can’t get enough! Which is great because I’m totally on a pb kick right now. Look for another peanut butter recipe on Baking a Moment next week 😉
For now, I just have to share this crazy (but delicious) concoction I somehow dreamed up!
Don’t ask me where this came from. Long story short, I kinda had peanut butter on the brain, and then I saw some guys making a chocolate and bacon dessert on Cooking Channel, and well… the rest is history.
I’m sure you guys have heard the legend about Elvis Presley and his favorite comfort food. If not, spoiler alert: it was fried peanut butter, banana, and bacon sandwiches. I can remember thinking, “How gross!” the first time I heard that, but you know? That guy knew what was up!
These blondies have an uber moist texture. They are almost fudgy. Like peanut butter fudge, oh yes! With a hint of sweet banana, so good!
They are on the sweeter side, which leads me to say that the bacon is not optional. Just kidding of course, you can leave it off if you’re so inclined, but just know that the blondies will be sweeter than the kinds of desserts I usually prefer. But I’m a little weird. Obvs. I mean, I am showing you a bacon dessert, after all.
But seriously, when you taste it with the bacon it’s not even the slightest bit weird. It all makes sense. The salty plays off the sweet like whoa. And it provides just the right kind of crunch to accentuate the dense, gooey blondie.
When I went looking for blondie recipes to tinker with, I saw that a lot of people were having trouble finding a blondie that’s not dry or crumbly. This one is nowhere close to dry or crumbly. So, so, fudgy and moist! Soft in the middle, and chewy around the edges. Blondie perfection! Make sure you pour yourself a big glass of milk to go along with these babies! They are a hunka hunka burnin’ love. Sorry. Couldn’t resist.
Get well soon, Zainab! And thanks for the opportunity to post on Blahnik Baker! I hope all you guys enjoy the Elvis Bars!
Peanut Butter Banana Blondies
Dense, moist, and fudgy Peanut Butter Banana Blondies are drizzled with a Maple Glaze and Sprinkled with Bacon! If you like the Sweet and Salty combo, you'll love these Bars!
Ingredients
For the Topping:
- 6 slices thick cut bacon, cut into small pieces
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
For the Bars:
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1½ bananas, mashed
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ¼ cup milk (I used 1%)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
Make the Topping:
- Saute the bacon over low heat until crisp and brown. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside.
- Combine the powdered sugar and maple syrup in a small bowl, stirring until smooth. Set aside.
Make the Bars:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a square baking dish (mine was 9x9 inches) with a sheet of parchment
- Stir the peanut butter and bananas together in a large bowl.
- Add the oil, milk, and vanilla, and stir until well combined.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients, and pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes, or until soft in the middle but beginning to brown around the edges.
- Cool completely. Top with the maple glaze and bacon. Cut into bars and serve.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a square baking dish (mine was 9x9 inches) with a sheet of parchment
- Stir the peanut butter and bananas together in a large bowl.
- Add the oil, milk, and vanilla, and stir until well combined.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients, and pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes, or until soft in the middle but beginning to brown around the edges.
- Cool completely. Top with the maple glaze and bacon. Cut into bars and serve.
Thank you very much Allie for these delicious blondies. Mr. J already said we should head back down to Philly for a quick day trip and clean out your kitchen. I guess I just have to make them for him ASAP. For more fabulous recipes, follow Allie below to stay in touch!
Oh my word. These just look too good.
Thanks Bintu!
Holy. Cow. I can’t even right now! Allie, this has everything I love in the world in one magnificent bar. And I love seeing you here on Zainab’s lovely blog!
Haha I know Amy, that was my reaction too. Allie makes the best desserts.
Aw! I love Allie! how sweet of her to step in while you’re sick (FEEL BETTER!) These look INSANELY amazinggggg!!
I know she is so sweet!! Of course you will be on board with peanut butter 🙂
Thanks so much for having me over today, Zainab! I’m so happy to see that Bintu, Amy, and Kayle like the bars and I hope that your other readers do as well. Feel better, soon, friend! 🙂
Thank you very much dear for the great post!! Everyone is loving on these bars and I can’t wait to try them for Mr J. You are a great friend and I am so lucky to have you 🙂
Whoa, all I can say is whoa! These are amazing, Allie! Almost like pb banana fudge? I’m sold. I’ve never tried the bacon dessert thing, but these bars are too gorgeous to pass up! Oh, and Zainab, I’m so sorry you aren’t feeling better! Being sick is the worst. Praying you let this cold know who is boss asap! 🙂
Right? Whoa!! Allie is killing me! I can’t wait to try these. Thanks for the prayers and thoughts. I did kick that cold’s behind 😉
Allie, you are the master of creative desserts. I am not a bacon fan but I still want to try these!
Zainab, feel better soon!!
holy moly guacamole, these look amazing! My oldest son loves bacon but not peanut butter, maybe these would make him see the light 🙂
Stopping by from #SITSBlogging
Sweet and salty perfection! I love these bars, Allie. I cannot get enough peanut butter and banana lately!
Hi Allie! So nice to meet you!! …and OMG. I cannot believe what I am seeing. My friends and I were just debating the other day whether or not bacon belongs in dessert. We came to the conclusion that everything tastes better with bacon!
These blondie bars look amazing. Sweet & Salty is one of my favorite combos…not something though I get to indulge in often…but I love the smokiness that Bacon brings to the table. Just a fabulous combo for sure. I’m going to skip over to your blog right now…
—
Feel better Zainab!!! I’m sure this weather isn’t helping…I think it’s giving me cabin fever x( …anywho I can’t wait until your back on your feet and baking again. Sending big hugs your way~~~
Toodles,
Tammy<3
I hope you feel better soon, Zainab! I had the worst flu in January that had me bedridden for two weeks so I can commiserate. Bundle up, rest lots and make sure Mr. J waits on you hand and foot. I adore Allie – I had the pleasure of meeting her at the International Food Conference in Seattle back in September. She truly is one of the sweetest people ever. And her desserts are fabulous, as evidenced by these amazing Elvis Bars! Love the bars and the photos. And I agree – the bacon is NOT optional, lol.
Hi! Stopping by from Eat. Create. Party! I love this!!! That combo of sweet and salty is perfection, can’t wait to give it a try! ~ Angela from LeMoine Family Kitchen
Zainab, I hope you feel better!!! And Allie, these look amazing!!! That bacon on top?! OMG! And your photos are stunning!!
Oh my goodness!! Maple and BACON!! These look fantastic!! Zainab, I swear your photos get better with every post you make. These pics are GORGEOUS!!!!
Hope you feel better soon, Zainab! Beautiful photos and a very interesting recipe from your guest blogger … I’ll be off to check out her baking blog! I’ve seen brownies with bacon added before but not blondies – it does sound weird but I trust all the good reports!
Wow I’ve heard of this combination but it sounds like it would taste amazing! On a side note, I hope you feel better soon.
These bars look great! I am sure not just Elvis would love them 🙂
Never thought about peanut butter and bacon before but these really look good! Stopping by from the SITS girls comment love. http://www.LivingHappierAfter.com
Wowza…these are AWESOME! Elvis would definitely be proud!!
Love Allie and all her stunning creations including these bars – they look amazing! Love the sweet and salty combo and peanut butter and bananas are always awesome together 🙂 Hope you feel better soon Zainab and that you still have a lovely Valentine’s Day with Mr. J today 🙂
You had me at Bacon! I never would have thought to have bacon on something sweet. This is a new twist! Glad that I found your blog through The SITS Girls
These are incredible looking!
I’ve been wanting to try bacon as a dessert ingredient. Pinning this to try!
So clever and cute. My niece shares a birthday with Elvis, so I’m going to make these for her. #SITSBlogging
I’m a HUGE Elvis fan since I lived not too far from him and bacon can be incorporated in almost anything. I’ve heard about these bars but have never made them before. They do look so yummy. Will pin this recipe for later. Thanks for sharing.
I hope you feel better soon, Zainab! These blondies look dangerously good. They have the perfect blondie texture and pb + maple + bacon is always a winner!
wow…this is just wonderful!
Shoot–dang!! These look fantastic!!
I love sweet and salty combos Zainab – these are yummy looking! Thanks for sharing this with us at our Marvelous Monday Party! Pinning!
LOVE this combo 🙂
I love bananas and peanut butter but not the bacon. I am totally making these without the bacon. I think they will be just fine. They sound fantastic.
Can’t. Even. Handle this awesomeness. The ultimate! Long live the King — in blondie form 😀
Holy cow, Zainab…I love everything about these bars! There’a a reason I’ve always been an Elvis fan, aside from his music, of course. 😉 I’m always so impressed by your creative twist on recipes. Thanks for linking up with us at Moonlight & Mason Jars…and I’m totally pinning this because WOW! 😉
But within the last few years, IPTV has dwarfed the quality of DVD and
Cable TV. s no secret that illegal file sharing remains
to be rampant in numerous countries, such
as US, however, may possibly not be government interference that eventually leads for
the end in the age of illegal downloads. Body Language is nonverbal, usually unconscious, communication by making use of postures, gestures, and facial
expressions.