Golden, chewy, and full of rich butterscotch flavor, these one-bowl Blonde Brownies are the perfect no-fuss treat. The brown sugar and vanilla work together to create that classic gooey center and shiny top, while melted butter keeps every bite soft and satisfying. They're ready in under an hour and slice beautifully once cooled ideal for lunchboxes, parties, or a sweet afternoon pick-me-up.
I have to be honest, I love brownies, so much so that I have over 25 brownie recipes on my website. It took me years to come up with my classic chocolate fudgy brownie recipe, one that I base most of my recipes on today!
I love "blondies" basically a cookie bar without the cocoa powder. But I wanted this recipe to be more brownie-like, denser than a traditional blondie. This blonde brownie recipe luckily did not take as long but is just as delicious. The deliciousness comes from browning the butter to create deep caramel undertones, as well as delicious brown sugar, and ratios of ingredients to create a denser bar.
These blonde brownies are not overly sweet, they're soft and chewy, they hit you with some sweetness but don't leave an annoyingly sweet after-taste. Simplicity at its finest.
We love these as is or served warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Brown Butter + Brown Sugar = That Best Blondie Texture
A few notes:
- Browned Butter Adds a deep, nutty caramel flavor and silky richness that makes these bars unforgettable.
- Brown Sugar & Vanilla Extract These work together to give that butterscotch sweetness with a shiny crackly top and chewy texture.
- Melted Butter Helps dissolve the sugars and ensures the batter mixes evenly-milder flavor than cold butter, but key for texture.
- Egg + Egg Yolk Provides structure and richness. The yolk gives extra moisture and chewiness.
- All-Purpose Flour, Baking Powder, Salt & Cornstarch Flour gives structure, baking powder gives a subtle lift, corn starch helps soften the bars, and salt balances sweetness to make every flavor pop.
Variations: I enjoy the simplicity of this bar cookie recipe but feel free to add chopped nuts, I think pecans or walnuts would be beautiful here! Maybe even some dark chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or white chocolate chips. Keep it neutral in color with peanut butter chips!
Stir It All in One Bowl
Check out this post for an in-depth look at browning butter.
★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!
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PrintRecipe Card
Soft and Chewy Blonde Brownies with Brown Butter
Golden, chewy, and full of rich butterscotch flavor, these one-bowl Blonde Brownies are the perfect no-fuss treat. The brown sugar and vanilla work together to create that classic gooey center and shiny top, while melted butter keeps every bite soft and satisfying. They're ready in under an hour and slice beautifully once cooled ideal for lunchboxes, parties, or a sweet afternoon pick-me-up.
- Total Time: 40 Minutes
- Yield: 9 Bars 1x
Ingredients
- 8oz (1 Cup) Unsalted Butter
- 150 grams (¾ Cup) Light Brown Sugar
- 100 grams (½ Cup) Granulated Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 Large Egg + 1 Large Egg Yolk, at room temperature
- 250 grams (2 Cups) All-Purpose Flour/ Plain Flour
- ½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
- ¼ Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Cornstarch/ Cornflour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F/180C and line an 8-inch square or 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, if using foil make sure to spray with non-stick spray then set the pan aside.
- In a light-colored medium-sized pot over low-medium heat add the butter and cook to "brown the butter" This process will take anywhere from 5-15 minutes depending on the size of your post, be careful not to burn it as the butter turns from brown to burnt very quickly. Check out this post for an in-depth look at browning butter. You will start to smell a nutty aroma and the butter will become a golden brown color. Turn off and pour into a heatproof bowl to cool for 5 minutes.
- Add the sugars to the butter and mix to combine. Next add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla whisk together for a minute or two you want the color of the batter to lighten. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and cornstarch, and gently mix until no flour streaks remain. Pour into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 19-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, you do not want to overbake. Let cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before gently removing from the pan and slicing into bars. Store leftovers in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Cook Time: 20 Minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Patricia says
Hi,
I would like to know if your recipe for Blonde Brownie could be made in paper lined Mini cupcake pans?
Thanks for your help.
Patricia
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Patricia, you surely could do that, I personally never have. I would guess to start checking them for doneness at like the 7-minute mark? Please let me know if you try the recipe how you like it. Thank you! XX Liz
Amy says
Yum! Brown butter makes everything delicious! After putting batter in pan, sprinkle with milk chocolate chips and a crushed Heath Bar; 8x8 pan, bake about 30 -35 minutes.
Michele Lopez says
The recipe ends with, “let cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before gently.”
Am I correct that it should continue
…lifting out of pan?
Elizabeth Waterson says
Yes, you are correct Michele! Thanks for letting me know I have updated the recipe card. Please report back if you try the recipe! XX Liz
Joan Bartley says
I just made these. I’m not sure what I did wrong but they came out mushy kind of. Seems like way too much butter. Taste is good but very greasy.
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Joan, I am sorry you had trouble. We've made these brownies multiple times and have not had any issues. Some of the butter will evaporate when you are browning it so if it wasn't browned then that could affect things- maybe the butter needed to be browned a little bit more?
Jessica Hanson says
This recipe was not good. It tasted just like a chocolate chip cookie would only in a large bar form with no chocolate chips. Too sweet!
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Jessica, sorry you felt that way. Some people enjoy the taste of a CCC without chocolate chips. To each their own!