Description

Buttery, golden blondies with a crackly crust and soft center. Customize with mix-ins like nuts or dried fruit. No chocolate, just vanilla perfection.

Ingredients

Scale

1¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
1¼ tsp salt
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 cup unsalted butter (substitute vegan coconut oil if preferred), melted
1 large egg, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract
¾ cup mix-ins (e.g., sliced almonds, dried cranberries, or halvah chunks)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C)
Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving 2-inch overhangs on two sides
Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl
In a large bowl, whisk melted butter, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla until thick and glossy
Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring until a thick batter forms
Fold in mix-ins
Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly
Bake 32-36 minutes until edges pull away and toothpick comes out clean
Let cool completely before lifting with parchment paper and cutting into 16 bars

Notes

For vegan version, use vegan coconut oil and substitute with 1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax + 2.5 tbsp water)
Freeze unbaked batter in zipper bag for up to 3 months
Almond flour substitution: replace 20g flour with almond flour for texture
Parchment overhang method ensures perfect, clean slices every time

Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 35
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 230
Sugar: 15g
Sodium: 180mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Carbohydrates: 26g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 45mg