Decadent Blondie Recipe

Hey everyone! It's Mi (again :)! Today we are going to "spice things up" (ba-dump-ch) with two different Blondie recipe variations. Blondies are basically non-chocolate brownies, or cookies in a sheet pan. First, I'll give you the basic blondie recipe, and then a couple of variations to spice up these delicious treats!

Basic Blondie Recipe

Makes One 9 in. square pan of Blondies

Ingredients 

1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

2 Large Eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

Step #1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and grease a 9 in. pan with cooking spray.

Step #2: Hear butter in microwave until completely melted. 

Step #3: In a stand-mixer bowl -  or large mixing bowl - beat eggs until slightly frothy. Add sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla, until smooth and mixed thoroughly. 

Step #4: Add flour and salt, and mix until smooth and dry ingredients are completely incorporated. Add melted butter, and beat until smooth. 

Step #5: Bake on 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes in 9 in. pan, until toothpick comes out clean. 

Variations

Chocolate Pretzel Blondies

Ingredients

1 and 1/2 cups of hard pretzels

1 and 1/2 cups dark chocolate (chunks or chips)

1 cup whipping cream

Instructions

Step #1: While making Blondies stir in 1/2 cup of pretzels and chocolate (chunks or chips) before baking. 

Step #2: Heat cream to simmer in double boiler (or a heat-proof bowl set over simmering water, improvise!). Pour cream over chocolate, and let sit for five minutes.

Step #3: While the cream and chocolate mixture is sitting, place pretzels in a plastic baggie, and crush with rolling pin, until broken into small pieces (not absolute crumbs, but also not a half a pretzel). 

Step #4: After five minutes, stir together chocolate and cream mixture. Ta-da! You have a ganache! Stir in 3/4 cups of pretzels, Do not refrigerate it for a long period of time before pouring on the Blondies, it will harden, and you will have to remelt it. Pour ganache over brownies, and garnish with the rest of the crushed pretzels. Enjoy!

Spiced Pecan Blondies

Ingredients

3/8 cup pecans (chopped)

1 teaspoon butter

2 teaspoons brown sugar

1/8 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/16 teaspoon allspice

1/8 teaspoon cloves

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 and 1/2 teaspoon syrup

Blondie Recipe

Instructions

1. Begin to toast pecans in a pan over medium-low heat. Toast for a minute or so, stirring occasionally. 

2. Add butter and brown sugar, cooking until both butter and sugar are incorporated and the pecans are lightly browned.

3. Remove from heat and add the remaining ingredients. Stir well until the pecans are evenly coated.

4. Fold pecans into the Blondie batter and bake as instructed.

Optional: The Pecan Blondies may be covered  in a caramel frosting if you desire. They are equally delicious covered in vanilla ice cream. 

Pecan Blondies with Caramel Frosting

Chocolate Pretzel Blondies (baked in a round pan)