Blondies

I follow the "Dessert for Two" Blogger Christina Lane because she has some great recipes that can be made in small batches.  My Little Lemon Cakes came from her blog and we loved them. These came together really easy and satisfied my sweet tooth. 

The small batch was enough for our family and some friends I shared them with.  All the ingredients were on hand.  Give these a try and let me know your thoughts.

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk*
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips and/or 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and ensure a rack is in the middle position of the oven.
2. Line a 8" square pan with enough parchment paper to overhang the sides and make handles for lifting the blondies out.
3. In a medium bowl, stir together the melted butter and brown sugar with a wooden spoon until well blended. Add the vanilla and salt, and stir to combine.
4. Next, add in the whole egg plus egg yolk; stir to combine.
5. Sprinkle the flour and baking powder evenly on top and fold it together. Do 50 brisk strokes with a wooden spoon to incorporate the flour and activate the gluten.
6. Finally, stir in any additions, like chocolate chips and nuts (if using).
7. Bake for 24-26 minutes. Use a toothpick to test for doneness—you don’t want the toothpick to come out dry; some moist crumbs clinging is what you’re looking for. Let the blondies cool in the pan, and then slice into 9 pieces and serve.