Craving something rich and satisfying, but not too chocolaty? Brown butter blondies are the perfect middle ground- full of buttery and caramel flavor with just a hint of chocolate to keep it tasty!
Honestly, I am a big fan of chocolates and classic brownies. But even I have those days when I am just in the mood for something light, maybe a tad bit buttery and sweet, and definitely not drowning in chocolate. And that’s exactly whattoday’s brown butter blondies are all about. With rich, buttery goodness and just the right touch of caramel sweetness, these treats are absolutely too good to resist!
Now that you know what blondies are, you might be wondering- how do you get that amazing gooey texture and rich flavor without any chocolate?
Well, the secret lies in browning the butter just right to give the blondies a nutty, caramelized flavor and the perfect chewy texture! To add to the magic, brown sugar brings a toffee-like sweetness while vanilla adds a warm and comforting vibe to the mix.
Not sure what to toss in? Just a handful of walnuts and chocolate chips are all you need to round out the flavor with some crunch and melty, gooey bites of brown butter blondies!
What Is A Blondie?
A blondie, also known as a blond brownie or butterscotch brownie, is basically a brownie minus the cocoa powder. Instead of the chocolate flavor, blondie relies on the rich, buttery goodness of the brown sugar!
Despite skipping the cocoa powder, blondies are never boring. Enriched with the deep caramel notes of brown sugar, melty chocolate chips, and buttery goodness, these treats are packed with flavor in every bite. And of course, there is always the possibility, if you want to, of tossing in extra goodies like white chocolate bits, toffee, marshmallows, toasted hazelnuts, etc.
Wanna hear a fun fact?
Blondies have been around longer than brownies! Chocolate brownies actually became a popular thing around the early 1900s. Before that, the brownie recipes didn’t have chocolate, so all the originals were basically a blondie recipe!
Why You’ll Love This Brown Butter Blondies Recipe
- Toasted, nutty flavor that feels gourmet.
- Warm, caramel-like sweetness.
- Melty chocolate bites in every mouthful.
- Crunchy bits from walnuts balance the sweetness.
- Soft as butter, yet crisp like a cookie!
How To Make Brown Butter
Before we go further into today’s recipe, let’s do the most important step first- making brown butter!
Browning the butter is such a simple process, yet the rich, nutty, and caramel-like flavor it adds is totally worth the extra few minutes. All it really involves is letting the butter melt and cook gently until it foams and sizzles to perfection!
With these 3 easy steps, your brown butter will be ready to use:
- Place a small saucepan on the stove over medium heat and add the unsalted butter to it.
- Melt the butter and continue cooking until it turns brown and smells nutty. This should take around 5 minutes.
- Pour the browned butter into a mixing bowl and let it cool slightly.
All done- your brown butter is ready to use in the recipe!
Variations You Can Try To Make These Brown Butter Blondies
Want to go beyond the classic approach? Luckily, blondies can be customized in so many ways- you can turn them sweet, salty, or spicy with just a few simple mix-ins or flavor twists.
Blond and Spicy!
Blondies can definitely get spicy with warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and clove! Make sure you balance the spices with a good dose of brown sugar and vanilla to keep things sweet and comforting.
Fall-Inspired Blondies
Nothing says fall-themed dessert like pumpkin spice. Add pumpkin puree and a generous dash of pumpkin spice to your blondies to bring in that warm, seasonal vibe.
Campfire Blondies
Planning to go camping soon or want to bring the campfire magic indoors?
Load your blondie batter with mini marshmallows, crushed graham crackers and chocolate chunks and bake as usual. For that perfect toasted finish, torch the top or pop it under the broiler for a minute to get a golden and gooey marshmallow crust!
Caramel Crunchies
Drizzle some store-bought(Or homemade? Even better!) caramel sauce over the batter and sprinkle sea salt on top for a sweet and salty combination.
Brew Blondies
Love coffee too much to swap it for a dessert? Enjoy both in a single dish by mixing a touch of espresso powder into the blondie batter! Drizzle some espresso glaze over the blondies while they are still warm and let it slightly soak for extra flavor.
Coco-Nutty Bars
Want to munch on something chewy, nutty and full of tropical flavor? Easy-peasy! Add a handful of shredded coconut and your favorite nuts to the batter and wait for the blondies to bake into golden, chewy perfection.
Tips To Make The Best Brown Butter Blondies
Need a hand to perfect your best blondies? Here are some tips to get that chewy, gooey, and absolutely delicious batch every time!
- Browning the butter is an easy but quick process. One moment it’s nutty and golden- next, it’s burnt! Keep a close eye and remove it from the heat as soon as the butter is ready.
- Once you add the dry ingredients to the batter, do NOT overmix, as that might make your blondies tough instead of chewy.
- Gently fold in any extra add-ins you use to prevent the batter from deflating.
- Let the blondies cool completely before cutting to serve clean slices.
- Bake the blondies just until the center is set for a gooey and chewy texture.
- Use metal pans to bake the blondies to prevent them from getting underbaked or burnt.
Brown Butter Blondies Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup / 113.5 g Unsalted butter
- 1¼ cup / 156 g All-purpose Flour
- ½ tsp / 2 g Baking Powder
- ½ tsp / 3 g Kosher Salt
- 2 Eggs
- 1 tsp / 5 ml Vanilla Essence
- 1 cup / 220 g Brown Sugar
- ¼ cup / 50 g Granulated Sugar
- ½ cup / 90 g Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
- ½ cup / 58.5 g Walnuts
Instructions
Preheat The Oven and Prepare The Pan
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 degrees Celsius.
- Grab a 7×7-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper.
Mix Wet Ingredients
- Into the cooled browned butter you prepared earlier, stir in the brown sugar and granulated sugar, and whisk to combine the butter and sugar.
- Crack the eggs and mix with a whisk or hand mixer until the mixture has thickened slightly.
- Add the vanilla essence and mix until well combined.
Add Dry Ingredients and Mix-Ins
- Sieve all-purpose flour, baking powder, and kosher salt into the mixing bowl with the wet ingredients.
- Using a rubber spatula, mix until combined.
- Toss in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and walnuts and mix until fully combined.
Bake, Cool, and Serve!
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and level it evenly with a spatula or the back of a spoon.
- Bake the blondies in the preheated oven for about 25 to 30 minutes or until the top looks golden.
- Once baked, allow the blondies to cool completely in the pan.
- Using the parchment overhang, remove the blondies from the pan.
Brown butter blondies are the perfect example of how simple things can become extraordinary, given the right touch. A little extra step, like browning the butter, takes the recipe from basic to bakery-worthy. The nutty brown butter, the lack of overpowering chocolate, the perfect chewy texture, the touch of vanilla- yeah, that’s what makes this dessert truly awesome!
Is there no downside to this recipe, then?
Well, here’s something I should probably warn you about. The smell of browning the butter is so insanely good, you might seriously get addicted to it while baking these blondies!
Seriously, once you start browning butter, you will want to use it in everything. Think brown butter pasta sauces, brown butter banana bread, brown butter waffles, and even brown butter frosting- the possibilities are pretty much endless. So, be ready, once you make these blondies, you might never want to go to regular butter again!
Recipe FAQs
Can I Use Regular Butter Instead Of Brown Butter?
Yes, you can use regular butter, but the recipe’s signature nutty flavor strongly depends on browning the butter first!
Why Do My Blondies Have Sunken Centers?
Your blondies may sink in the center if you have over-whipped the batter or cooked them for a longer time. Make sure to bake the blondies until the center is just set and avoid overmixing.
How Do I Store The Leftover Blondies?
Keep the blondies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. For longer storage, store them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week and in the freezer for up to 2 months.
What Other Types Of Chocolate Can I Use For This Recipe?
Apart from semi-sweet chocolate chips, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate chips, or chocolate chunks are suitable for this recipe.
Why Do My Blondies Taste Bland?
Use high-quality vanilla to get the best texture and flavor. Also, don’t skip the brown sugar or swap it with regular white sugar- it’s what gives the blondies their signature caramel taste.
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