Best Blondies Recipe

Name: Best Blondies Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: ½ cup salted butter (melted); ¼ cup granulated sugar; ⅔ cup light brown sugar (packed); 2 eggs; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour; ½ teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon fine sea salt; 1 cup mix-ins ((chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, pecans, walnuts, dried fruit, etc.))

By Laura

Posted Mar 02, 2022, Updated Feb 19, 2024

5 from 14 votes

6 Comments

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The best blondie recipe! These blondies are buttery and chewy with a shiny top and rich vanilla flavor. They are easy to make in one bowl with 8 ingredients.

front view of a blondie with a bite taken out of it

This blondie recipe is a classic dessert that’s easy to make (no mixer required). They are buttery and chewy with a shiny top and rich vanilla flavor.

Have a loved one who doesn’t enjoy chocolatey desserts (like the best homemade brownies), then make them a pan of these blondies with their favorite mix-ins!.

You all know brownies are my favorite dessert, but these blondies hold a special place in my heart. I have vivid memories of going to my best friend’s house in junior high and baking blondies after school.

We both had blonde hair and were thrilled when we opened up her mom’s cookbook and found a recipe titled “blondies.” So we worked together to create this special treat (then her brother came and ate half the pan – boys)!

So I had to share this blondie recipe with you, which has become one of my family’s go-to easy desserts.

overhead view of 16 blondies cut into squares

Blondie Recipe Ingredients & Substitutions

overhead view of the ingredients in this blondie recipe

Salted Butter. Unsalted butter works well in this recipe.
Granulated sugar. you can use organic cane sugar instead of white sugar.
Light Brown sugar. If you like a deeper, molasses taste, use dark brown sugar.
All-purpose flour. For a gluten-free version, use an all-purpose gluten-free baking flour.
Fine Sea salt. If you use table salt (iodized) I recommend halving the salt.
Vanilla extract. This ingredient is key in this recipe. You could replace it with vanilla bean paste or the seeds of one vanilla bean, if necessary.
Mix-ins. You can choose your favorite mix-ins – or leave them out entirely because these blondies taste amazing without them. Suggestions include (but are not limited to): chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, dried fruit (cranberries, cherries etc.), nuts (pecans, walnuts), cinnamon chips, etc.

9 blondies cut into squares, three laying on their side so the inside is showing

How to Make Blondies

This blondie recipe is quite simple, but as always we’ll walk through how to make blondies step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Begin by preheating the oven and lining an 8×8” square baking pan with parchment paper. Then set it aside.

Next, you can combine the dry ingredients (minus sugars) in a small bowl. Or you can wait and just add them on top of the wet ingredients later in the recipe, it’s up to you.

two photos showing how to make blondies - combining the dry ingredients

Then, melt the butter in a large, microwave safe bowl (glass).

Whisk or stir in the brown sugar and granulated sugar and stir until the mixture is smooth and there are no lumps.

two photos showing how to make blondies - combining the sugars and butter

Then add the eggs and vanilla to the butter/sugar mixture and stir until the mixture is smooth.

two photos showing how to make blondies - whisking in eggs and vanilla

Next, add the dry ingredients and stir until they are just combined, be careful not to over-mix the batter.

two photos showing how to make blondies - adding dry ingredients to the wet ingredients

Fold in preferred mix-ins until evenly distributed. Suggestions include (but are definitely not limited to):

Chocolate Chips (milk, dark, light, etc.)
Walnuts
Pecans
Cinnamon chips
White chocolate chips
Blueberries
Dried fruit (cranberries, rasins, etc.)
Swirl of peanut butter or Nutella
Unsweetened coconut

two photos showing how to make blondies - adding chocolate chips and white chocolate chips

Bake

Now it’s time to bake. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden-brown and shiny (If you like fudgier blondies bake for 25 minutes, for cakier blondies bake for 30 I recommend 25).

Once the blondies are finished baking, put the baking pan on a wire cooling rack and let them cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes (preferably longer, they hold up better as they cool).

two photos of blondies in the pan before and after baking

Cut & Serve

Use the parchment paper to lift the blondies out of the pan, then cut into squares and serve.

Store

Store any leftover blondies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Serve at room temperature or slightly warmed in the microwave to restore the fresh-from-the-oven texture.

Freeze

Freeze individual blondies by wrapping them in plastic wrap and then storing them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature slowly.

12 blondies cut into square with chocolate chips and white chocolate chips

Blondies Recipe FAQs

How do you cut blondies cleanly and evenly?

If you’re cutting these to add to a cookie tray or serve to a crowd, here are my tips on getting clean, even squares:
Let the cookie bars cool all completely to room temperature before cutting.
Use a very sharp, long knife.
Dip the knife in warm water and quickly dry it off before the first cut. Then wipe it clean, dip it in warm water, then dry again before each subsequent cut.
Use a ruler to measure equal pieces. If cutting these cookie bars into 16 squares, you’d want each bar to be 2″ x 2.”

Can I double this recipe?

Yes. Double the ingredients and bake in a 9×13″ baking dish for 20-25 minutes (or until the edges are golden brown and the top is lightly browned and set).

What is the difference between a brownie and a blondie?

Cocoa powder, leavening agent.

Are blondies supposed to be gooey?

This is a personal preference – gooeyness can be altered by adjusting baking time

Why did my blondies turn out cakey?

Over-baked or incorrectly measured flour.

How are blondies different than cookie bars?

Admittedly they are similar desserts, but they are different from chocolate chip cookie bars because this blondie recipe calls for melted butter and different ratios of sugar.

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