It’s about damn time.
I feel like I’ve promised these for quite a while now. Like I made them way back in December for christmas presents. and it’s almost Valentine’s day.
So basically I’m saying give these blondies out instead of valentine’s. Move over power rangers or hunger games or whatever else is cool for kids this year.
Spoiler alert: It’s the hunger games.
Put something witty like “I wish Cupid was as good as Catniss with that arrow of his so we could win in this life of love we call the Hunger Games.”
Just kidding, sort of.
I’m not 100% smitten with the idea of Valentines day. I feel like you should tell people you love them more than once a year, right?
Has anyone else seen that Hallmark commercial where all those people keep saying tell me you love me or say that I’m beautiful and you’re all like uhh, I think you guys need more than a valentine, stop trying to toy with my emotions. Then there’s that one chick in there that’s chasing down the car saying tell me you’ll never let me go and you know that’s a first date and the guy said he had to pee but instead snuck out to leave in his cab but she won’t let him ’cause she’s crazy and you’re all like uhh, I think you need more than a valentine.
Maybe an espresso blondie? or a therapist?
Espresso blondies involve what I think might just be the perfect blondie recipe with a few teaspoons of instant espresso powder thrown in. I found the recipe in an old Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook and tweaked it just a little bit.
For Christmas gifts I gave out chocolate chunk and cashew blondies, and I made another batch that involved white chocolate, cashews, and cherry craisins. Classic chocolate and walnuts might just be my favorite though.
Bon Appetit said they’re a food trend for 2013, and I LOVE THEM. They’re chewy and taste like a giant toffee hug, if that’s a thing. (it is)
I’ve tried many a recipes, and most involve a ton of butter and creaming. This one involves melted butter and takes about 5 min to throw together. There is total potential for a one bowl creation here. I opt for a small saucepan and a bowl because my microwave more than sucks at melting butter.
Now, let’s make some blondies.
Stellar Blondies
Makes 1 9×13″ pan
3/4 c ( 1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted and slightly cooled
2 c brown sugar
2 eggs
2 t vanilla
2 c flour
1 t baking powder
1 t kosher salt
Mix-Ins:
Classic Chocolate Chunk Blondies: 1 1/2 c each chopped semisweet chocolate and walnuts (or cashews or pecans).
Espresso Blondies: 1 T instant espresso powder whisked into melted butter + 2 c chopped semisweet or white chocolate added at end
Milano Cookie Remix: The zest of an orange and 2 c chopped chocolate
Buckwild: just 2 cups of whatever you want. peanut butter chips? (hello new friend) butterscotch chips? pistachios? craisins? chocolate covered sunflower seeds?
Preheat oven to 350
In a large bowl, mix together melted butter and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla.
Sift in the flour, baking powder and mix until it’s all combined.
Add in any of those optional mix-ins above at this point.
Spread batter out into a greased 9×13″ pan and bake for 20 – 25min, until lightly browned. Remove from oven and let blondies cool completely in pan before removing and cutting into squares. I sort of invert the giant blondie out like an ice cube onto a cutting board and cut on that.
You can also use a heart cookie cutter to cut out the blondies and be a creepy secret admirer, but remember to hide a lock of your hair in one of them.
