Browned Butter Blondies

I found this recipe last week and it immediately went to the top of my to-bake list.  I had all the ingredients, so this morning I made these to take to working wardrobes with me.  We have a big event coming up on Sunday called Blue Jeans & Swing if anyone lives in the Orange County area and wants to attend a great fundraiser that helps men and women in crisis get back to work.   Ill be there volunteering and will probably whip up a yummy treat to bring with me.  Anyway, back to the recipe, its amazing!! It has a very nutty aroma and flavor but it sweet and gooey.  I have only every made 3 types of Blondie's but I think this one is the best!  Its amazing with the toffee bits and walnuts and the browned butter and all the sugar... and vanilla!  You seriously cant go wrong with that flavor combination.  So good!!  I think everyone who tried one today will agree with me...

Browned Butter Blondie's - Adapted from Indulge Bakery
Yield - 24 squares
Ingredients:
1 1/4 Cups (2 1/2 sticks) Unsalted Butter, plus more for pan

2 1/4 Cups Flour, plus more for pan
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 1/2 Teaspoons Salt
2 Cups Light Brown Sugar, packed
1/2 Cup Sugar
3 Eggs
2 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts (about 4 ounces)
1 Cup Toffee Bits

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper; butter and flour parchment paper.  I just baked it in the pan.
2. In a saucepan over medium heat, cook the butter until it turns golden brown; this happens quick so be cautious, remove from heat, and let cool. 
3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. 
4. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine browned butter and both sugars; stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Attach bowl to mixer; add eggs. Using the paddle attachment, beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. 
5. Add vanilla, and beat to combine. Add flour mixture, walnuts, and toffee bits. Mix until thoroughly combined, and pour into prepared pan.  Smooth out with a spatula.
6. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes (do not over bake). Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before turning out of pan onto a cutting board. Peel off parchment paper; cut Blondie's into 2-inch squares.
7. Enjoy!!

Snickerdoodle Blondies

I had a day off, so I baked of course.  I found this recipe for Snickerdoodle Blondie's last week and it quickly moved its way to the top of my "to-bake" list!  I love recipes where I don't have to go to the store and buy special ingredients, and this is one of them.  Its very simple and easy, but taste amazingly delicious.  Its basically just a snickerdoodle cookie but in bar form.  Who doesn't love snickerdoodles?? Cinnamon and sugar is the 2nd best combo after peanut butter and chocolate.   I brought these into both Working Wardrobes and Nordstrom and everyone loved them!!  Here is the recipe and I hope you all enjoy them as much as I did!

I have currently misplaced my card reader, so this photo is from my iPhone...

Snickerdoodle Blondie's - Adapted from Alpineberry
Yield: 18-24 depending on how big you cut the squares
Ingredients: 2 2/3 Cups Flour
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
2 Sticks or 1 cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Eggs, at room temperature
2 Teaspoons Vanilla

Cinnamon-Sugar Topping
2 Tablespoons Sugar
2 Teaspoons Cinnamon


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly butter a 9 x 13 x 2 inch baking pan. You can also line the pan with buttered foil or parchment paper.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Set aside. 
3. In large bowl, beat together butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth.
4. Add the flour mixture and mix until the flour is just incorporated. The batter will be thick like cookie dough.
5. Scrape batter into your prepared pan and spread evenly using a spatula or your hands
6. Make the topping by combining the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar topping evenly over the top of the batter.  It is a lot but it makes a nice crust.
7. Bake  for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean and the edges are just a little crispy. Cool slightly before cutting.
8. Enjoy warm or at room temperature!

Blondies

Two days ago was a good friends birthday.  I had completely forgotten about it until facebook reminded me.  I had about an hour to whip up a fantastic treat for her so I quickly got to thinking what I could make with what I already have.  I asked her what her two favorite ingredients were and she said anything with chocolate chips would be wonderful.  I didn't want to do just plain chocolate chip cookies, so I decided to make chocolate chip blondie's.   (We are both blonde's too, so naturally it made sense)  I found this recipe on Smitten Kitchen and I loved how it was a base recipe that you could add whatever mix-ins you wanted to it.  I added 1 cup of chocolate chips and 1 cup of peanut butter chips, but you can mix-in anything your heart desires.  This is a great quick recipe because you don't need room temperature butter, and it all takes place in one bowl.  Plus there are only 6 ingredients, all stuff that you usually have on hand.  Needless to say these were delicious and the birthday girl was very pleased!! 

Happy Birthday Monica!!

Blondie's Recipe- Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Yield about 16 small squares depending on how you cut it.

Ingredients:

1 Stick Butter, unsalted and melted

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Egg

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

1 Pinch of Salt

1 Cup Flour

1-2 Cups of Mix-ins - chocolate chips, nuts, banana, dried fruit, and more!

Directions:

1. Butter or grease a 8x8 pan and preheat oven to 350.
2. Mix the melted butter with the brown sugar and beat until smooth.  Add in the egg and vanilla.
3. Stir in the salt, and flour.  Add any mix-in's.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth out with a spatula.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and a tooth pick comes out clean.  
6. Cool before cutting into pieces.
7. Enjoy!!