The Easiest Blondie Base

Easy Blondie Base

Being a social butterfly and all, I get invited places with some degree of frequency. And when I’m attending a party or gathering at someone’s house, it’s pretty likely I’ll be asked to bring dessert.

I guess it makes sense. After all, I’m the dessert girl. But every now and then, could I bring a bottle of tequila instead? Sharing is caring, ya know.

Oh, well. When I’m asked last-minute to bring a dessert somewhere, an old faithful recipe is the one to save me every time. No, I’m not talking about passing off slice and bake as my own, though that’s tempting. I’m talking about an easy bar cookie. These blondies are chewy, thick, easily customized and, most important, fast.

Easy Blondie Base

With all the stuff that gets thrown at us, we need easy solutions. After my flu drama of last week, I woke up with pinkeye a few days ago. On a scale of 1-10 of gross ailments that can inflict a human being with 10 being the highest, I’d rate pinkeye about a 5. On the one hand, it’s pretty yucky. On the other hand, I’ve seen much worse. Mainly on TV in zombie movies, but in real life as well.

While we’re on the subject, I’m not down with this whole zombie trend that seems to be stretching into oblivion. I had just gotten used to vegetarian vampires when zombie stuff started popping up everywhere. It’s been a few years now and people are still obsessed. When is there going to be a cute kitten and rainbow trend? Can someone get behind that?

Easy Blondie Base

See, I’m a very visual person, and I have a somewhat photographic memory. Once I see an image, it gets burned into my brain for all time. If it’s a scary image, I can’t drive it out of my head. That’s why I avoid horror movies, the evening news, and medical shows on TV. I really don’t want to be lying in the dark with disturbing images doing a loop in my head.

Maybe that’s the reason dessert is so appealing to me. It tastes good, sure, but it’s also a feast for the eyes. I always take a moment to appreciate how beautiful my blondie is before I eat it. That is the opposite of being scared senseless by a zombie.

Easy Blondie Base

The base here is easy to make. I had a video, but my camera died during filming. Saddest story ever. So you have to imagine seeing that, and also understand that you can put in any old thing you’d like. Well, mix-ins, that is. I wouldn’t be dumping wine in there. Drink it on the side!

Nothing is more convenient than having a bunch of go-to recipes for when people assume you want to make dessert on short notice. That way you can rise to the occasion. Also, you can keep the bottle of tequila at home and enjoy it as you bake. Just don’t watch The Walking Dead at the same time!

 

The Easiest Blondie Base

Ingredients

1 and 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mix-ins of choice (I used chocolate chunks and white chocolate chips)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350. Line an 8 x 8 pan with foil, leaving enough to overhang the sides, and coat in cooking spray.
  2. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. Take a larger bowl and mix the brown sugar, melted butter, eggs and vanilla until just blended. Add the dry ingredients gradually and mix until incorporated. Fold in the mix-ins.
  4. Spread the batter in the prepared pan.
  5. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the edges are browned. The middle might jiggle slightly, but it will harden as the bars cool. Do not overbake. Cut into squares with a sharp knife and store in an airtight container
http://justaboutbaked.com/the-easiest-blondie-base/

Mir

I fulfill many roles in life: wife, mother, teacher, everlasting learner. This site is dedicated to one role that expresses my creativity in ways that I find consistently challenging and rewarding: baker. Inventing new ways to enhance food, especially if that food involves chocolate or peanut butter (or both!), is a passion of mine. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you.

This Post Has 18 Comments

  1. Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg

    These blondies look so decadent, Mir. My students are obsessed with “The Walking Dead” and I do have to admit that I watch it to. There actually are a lot of connections that the students make to literature; I’m teaching “Lord of the Flies” now, so the themes are relevant. I totally agree with you on the gore though. Sometimes, I wake up in the middle of the night from terrible dreams. Anyhow, I need to try and make this blondie recipe soon. Feel better! The flu is definitely going around.
    Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg recently posted…Mint Oreo Thin Cheesecake TrufflesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I’m sure it’s super great with lit connections, but not worth the nights awake with scary dreams! I cannot. 🙂

  2. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    I am definitely not into the zombie trend, either! I just don’t get it. Vampires, too…I feel like that should be over and done with. This blondie base sounds delicious, Mir! I’m like you and always fall back on a trusted recipe to bring whenever I go to a party or gathering. This looks perfect and so easy to customize!
    Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Turkey, Bacon and Guacamole PaniniMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I wish it were over and done with. The whole vampire thing is so over!

  3. annie@ciaochowbambina

    I say yes to kittens and rainbows or puppies and more puppies…. So happy you’re over the flu, but man, have you been hit! Hopefully this is the last of the ailments for you! Thanks for sharing this simple little recipe – it needs to become a staple in my house! Have a great weekend, friend!
    annie@ciaochowbambina recently posted…Italian Chicken with Basil Pesto & Grape TomatoesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Oooh, puppies!! We need lots of puppy movies out there.

  4. Amanda

    The only zombies and vampires that interest me are the old gothic tales from the Victorian period…so pretty much the exact opposite of the kind of vampires and zombies that people like now.
    Recipes like this are so great. I love having bases like this that you can whip up fast and that taste great. Looks wonderful!
    Amanda recently posted…Old Fashioned Peanut Butter CookiesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Oh, those are some cool vampires. The modern ones are just not the same!

  5. Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks

    I do not get the whole zombie attraction either, my friend. I’ll take kittens and rainbows and maybe a few unicorns any day of the week. It’s certainly great to have an easy go-to recipe that can be whipped up at the last minute. This blondie base is perfect and I love that you can throw anything in there. Well, I guess not the booze, so I’ll just have to have wine and tequila on the side!
    Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks recently posted…Pork Loin Roulade with Mustard Pale Ale SauceMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I’m all about easy recipes, but the booze can always be on the side! You manage to put yours inside, though. I need to work on it!

  6. Manali @ CookWithManali

    We all need a good blondie recipe in life so thanks for sharing this Mir! 🙂
    Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…Whole Wheat Banana Caramel PancakesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Yes, we do. Thanks, Manali!

  7. Medha @ Whisk & Shout

    These brownies look fabulous! So dense and delicious 🙂 No need for slice and bake with these!
    Medha @ Whisk & Shout recently posted…Vegan Caprese Ciabatta Pizza with Yellow Tomato SauceMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Nope. Never!

  8. Aria

    Ugh, yes, no zombies! I’ll start the kitten trend for ya 😉
    These blondies look delicious! Having a base recipe that everyone loves is a life-saver. For my mom in the fall, it’s gingerbread. She also has one spring dinner recipe that I can guarantee she’s used a thousand times.
    Aria recently posted…Flowering TreesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Oh, I need your mom’s base gingerbread recipe. That sounds amazing!!

  9. Michele @ Alwayzbakin

    Haa! Haa! “I wouldn’t be dumping wine in there”. You should not have given me the idea! This is awesome. Who doesn’t need a perfect blondie base? I have to admit, I was on the vampire train and now I’m on the zombie train. I’m just addicted to the characters on The Walking Dead. NOT the zombies though. 🙂
    Michele @ Alwayzbakin recently posted…Orange Yogurt CakeMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I’m just too much of a scaredey cat, Michele!

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