Blondies

Hubby and I decided to send baked goods to our moms on Mother’s Day this year. Of course I was happy to help. I wanted to make something that would travel well and (of course) something I’ve never made. Since we were preparing for our kitchen renovation at the time, I also wanted to use up some of the random half bags of cookie mix ins.

Blondies fit my requirements perfectly. This blondie recipe is pretty well known. I made one batch with just dark chocolate M&Ms and another batch with some white chocolate chips, toffee bits, and chopped walnuts. Both batches turned out great and the one with the white chips turned out better than I expected. That combination of mix-ins tasted like butterscotch.

Blondies – from Blonde Ambition in the Kitchen

6-7 TBS butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking powder (optional, creates lighter blondie texture)

“Add in” (see below)

Preheat oven to 350.
Line an 8×8 pan with foil and lightly spray with PAM.
In a large microwave safe mixing bowl melt the butter. Allow to cool for 5 mintues. Mix the brown sugar with the melted butter and beat until smooth. Beat in egg and then vanilla. Add salt, stir in flour and baking powder (if using). Mix in any additions (some ideas below).

Pour into prepared pan and use a greased spatula to evenly spread mixture in pan and level the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until set in the middle. (I baked for 22 minutes)Cool on rack before cutting.

Add in ideas:
1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate or butterscotch chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans, walnuts, almonds
1/2 cup M&M candies1/2 chopped Reese’s PB cups
1/4 cup toffee pieces
1/2 tsp mint extract in addition to, or in the place of vanilla extract

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13 Responses to “Maple Syrup and Birthday Cupcakes”

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    1
    Brisbane Baker — March 29, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    Mmmmm I love one dish cupcakes!

    http://www.brisbanebaker.blogspot.com

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    2
    Carly — March 29, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    Those cupcakes look delish! Can you tell me more about the “dipping in ganache” technique? Does the ganache need to be a certain consistency first?

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    3
    yumventures — March 29, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    I have seen some maple cheesecake around the blogs, maybe that would be awesome use for the sugar? Or to top maple sugar cookies 🙂

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    4
    Joanne — March 29, 2010 at 5:36 pm

    I made a seriously awesome maple mousse cake to go with Christmas dinner this year and it used maple sugar. It was one of the best desserts I’ve ever eaten. The link to the post is: http://joanne-eatswellwithothers.blogspot.com/2010/01/frozen-maple-mousse-pie-with-chocolate.html.

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    5
    KV — March 29, 2010 at 7:55 pm

    Go Butler!! I think I’m going to use your “go to” cupcake recipe to make some Final Four treats for the office Friday

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    6
    Kelly — March 29, 2010 at 10:05 pm

    Wow that maple syrup event looks really cool, I wish I had known about it- it looks like they only do it once a year!

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    7
    Jen — March 30, 2010 at 1:08 pm

    Carly – I dipped the cupcakes in the ganache while it was still very liquidy. I did it a few minutes after making the ganache and then let it set up on the cupcakes. Hope that helps.

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    8
    Cara — March 30, 2010 at 1:44 pm

    Jen, the maple syrup experience sounds like so much fun and I’ve always wanted to do it! I wonder if it’s too late this year.

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    9
    Lila — March 31, 2010 at 7:50 am

    Those cupcakes look so pretty. Can you tell me what kind of liners you’re using? They stay so nice and bright.

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    10
    stephchows — March 31, 2010 at 1:10 pm

    ooo I love sugar houses!!! The tastings are always the best 🙂

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    11
    Jen — March 31, 2010 at 1:15 pm

    Lila, I get the liners online. Here is the link for the colored ones, and I also get brown liners as well.

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    12
    Memória — April 9, 2010 at 5:02 am

    The cupcakes look beautiful and festive!! I love real maple syrup!

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    13
    Kyle — April 15, 2010 at 2:14 am

    I should have a birthday more often. So good…

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