Saturday, December 5, 2015

Gooey Honey Blondies and Holiday Baking



One of the things I love about this time of year is getting to try all kinds of new recipes and pretend it's because I'm giving them as gifts.  This year I'm actually trying to get on top of everything a little sooner and get my list of things to go in the goody bags early so I'm not scrambling with the baking AND planning the day of.  The first thing I do is reach for my copy of Ovenly by Agatha Kulaga and Erin Patinkin.  This is probably my absolute favorite bakery-type cookbooks.  The recipes are unique and interesting and the results are unbelievably amazing.  One thing that I know will be going in the bags this year is one of my favorites -  Gooey Honey Blondies.  I may be making an extra batch just for me!


Gooey Honey Blondies

1 stick plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 c (packed) brown sugar
1/2 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup chopped raw pecans

Preheat the oven to 350.  Grease an 8x8 inch baking pan with softened butter and dust the pan with flour

In a small saucepan over low heat (or in a small microwave safe bowl in a microwave oven), melt the butter and set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, sugars, honey, egg, salt and vanilla extract until smooth.  Add the flour and chocolate chops and mix together with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula.

Spread the batter in the prepared baking pan.  Smooth out the top and edges, and then top with the pecans.

Bake for 25 minutes, or until the center is just set and the edges are barely golden.  The blondies will be fully set when cool.

Cool completely before cutting the blondies into 16 2 x 2 inch squares.

I'm also hoping to try a few new recipes off Pinterest including:
Biscoff Chocolate Chip Cookies from Chef in Training - mostly just to see if I can actually do something with Biscoff other than eating it directly out of the jar
Cranberry Orange Almond Shortbread from Craving Something Healthy
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge from Favorite Family Recipes
Chocolate Covered Mint Patties from Mom on Timeout

I'm linking up with Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads

11 comments:

  1. I haven't even seen this cookbook before, it had a gorgeous cover. The honey blondies would be a welcome treat for anyone to receive. Great that you are planning ahead because that certainly makes things easier. I still need to wrap and Mail a few items.
    Please post a photo of your end result with the blondies. I bet they will be mouth wateringly delicious!

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  2. I haven't seen this cook before either! I'll have to look for it and will definitely try the Blondies - yum!

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  3. I too am unfamiliar with this book. Must track down a copy. Those honey blondies sound awesome ... And there's still plenty of time for holiday baking!

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  4. Oh yum! Must try this recipe too :)!

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  5. Yum, and that cake on the cover looks yummy too! This book is new to me also.

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  6. Oh I will be adding that book to my christmas wish list!!! That recipe sounds fabulous!

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  7. You are a temptress! Cheers from Carole's Chatter!

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  8. I have never heard of this book. The cover is lovely. Tell you what I will make your General Mao and you can make me blondies. Have a great day.

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  9. Yummy! I also like the sound of the Cranberry Almond Orange Shortbread! Good luck with your planning and baking!

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  10. The cookbook sounds a must read!

    I love blondies... and often use butterscotch chips instead of chocolate chips.

    Now I simply must go check out the Cranberry Orange Almond Shortbread recipe :)

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  11. Oh that sounds fantastic! Love a yummy cookbook like that and blondies. Mmmm

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