Blondies

This last Monday our daughter invited several of her college roommates over to watch the Premier of the Bachelorette. Including our family there were 9 of us gathered in front of the TV waiting with bated breath to catch the first glimpse of the bachelors that were chosen. I was nervous just sitting on the couch watching them get out of the limo, I can't imagine how they felt. Some were goofy while others were cocky but we all agreed that she made the right choice by giving "Roberto" the first impression rose; he seemed to be the most at ease with himself.

I made Blondies a couple of hours before so we'd have a little something sweet to snack on. I baked them for 25 minutes and tested them when they came out and all looked good. I turned the oven off and waited until they cooled a bit. About 45 minutes later I cut into them and they were not fully cooked in the middle. I turned the oven back on and cooked them for 15 more minutes, checking every 5 minutes or so. I have to say they turned out fabulous! The top of them browned with spots, not sure why that happened but the taste and consistency couldn't have been better. The only disappointment I had was that I put them in the fridge to hurry the cooling process and I forgot about them. When the show was over I realized this but it was too late and they had already left. 

These bars taste like chocolate chip cookies on steroids. They are a little salty yet sweet; gooey and dense yet have a crunch to them. They literally tap into all the senses giving you complete satisfaction. I can only describe them as "Deliciousness".

This is my rendition of Bobby Flays Blondies that he had done on a Throw Down.

*  1 1/2  sticks butter (I used salted, but you can use unsalted)
*  1 2/2 cup flour
*  1 teaspoon baking powder
*  1/4 teaspoon salt (if using unsalted butter, increase to 1/2 tsp)
*  1 1/2 cup brown sugar
*  2 large eggs (room temperature)
*  1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
*  3/4 cup milk chocolate chips (can add more if desired)
*  1/4 cup english toffee with milk chocolate (chopped)
*  1/2 walnuts (if desired)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and line 9 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing a overhang to use as handles to get it out. I butter the pan itself before putting the parchment down so it will stay in place.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan; add both sugars and whisk until combined and sugar is melted, about 5 minutes.

Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and let cool slightly. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract until well combined. (If you add the eggs when the mixture is still hot, you will end up with scramble eggs). I crack my eggs into a separate bowl then add to the mixture incase of egg shells. That's not the "crunchy" you want in these.

Add the flour and whisk until just incorporated.

Fold in the chocolate chips, english toffee and nuts and transfer mixture into the prepared pan.

Bake for 25 to 37 minutes or until the top cracks slightly and is firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the center comes out with moist pieces clinging to it.  Remove to a wire rack and let cool completely. Remove the bars from the pan using the parchment handles, transfer to a cutting board and cut into 2-inch squares.

These were such a hit with my family that they were gone the next day. I think I'll go make another batch right now and freeze them for later.