Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, browned
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs (room temperature)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar (optional)
1 cup mix-ins (optional): white chocolate chips, chopped pecans, or walnuts
2 tablespoons granulated sugar + 1 teaspoon cinnamon (for topping)
Instructions
1-First Step: Prep and Brown the Butter Start by lining a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper and preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Cut 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter into chunks and melt it in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat, swirling constantly until it foams and the milk solids turn golden-brown, which takes about 8 10 minutes. Transfer the browned butter to a heatproof bowl right away to stop the cooking process, and for vegan versions, use plant-based butter browned carefully.
2-Second Step: Combine Sugars and Wet Ingredients While the butter cools to warm, whisk 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar with 2 large room-temperature eggs in a large bowl until smooth, about 1 2 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla and slowly mix in the browned butter. For lower-calorie adaptations, reduce sugar by up to 30% and replace some butter with applesauce.
3-Third Step: Mix Dry Ingredients Separately In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar if using. This step helps distribute the ingredients evenly for a consistent Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Blondies texture.
4-Fourth Step: Fold Dry into Wet Add the dry mixture to the wet in two parts, folding gently until just combined to avoid toughness, then stir in up to 1 cup of mix-ins like white chocolate chips. For gluten-free batter, use a 1:1 GF blend and mix carefully as it might be thicker. Here are some benefits of brown butter you might enjoy: benefits of brown butter for added depth in your baking.
5-Fifth Step: Transfer to Pan and Finish with Topping Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and sprinkle with a mix of 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Add extra chips or nuts on top for a nice look, and for vegan or low-sugar versions, opt for coconut sugar.
6-Sixth Step: Bake and Monitor Doneness Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20 25 minutes, rotating the pan halfway. Check from 18 minutes; the edges should be golden while the center is slightly soft. A toothpick with moist crumbs means they’re ready, and for chewier Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Blondies, bake on the shorter side.
7-Seventh Step: Cool and Set Let the blondies cool in the pan on a wire rack for 45 60 minutes to set properly, which helps with slicing. If you’re in a rush, chill in the fridge for 20 30 minutes, especially for gluten-free versions.
8-Eighth Step: Slice and Serve Lift the cooled blondies from the pan using the parchment and cut into 12 squares or 16 bars with a sharp, warmed knife. Serve at room temperature or warm briefly for a gooey bite, and for make-ahead, store as outlined later.
9-Final Step: Adapt and Experiment Once comfortable, tweak the Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Blondies for your needs, like using flax eggs for vegan options or reducing sugar. Always monitor the bake to adjust for changes, as these blondies are great for personalization. For more brown butter ideas, check out this brown butter cookie recipe.
Notes
🌡️ Watch the butter carefully when browning – it can go from perfectly golden to burnt quickly, so remove it from heat as soon as it turns golden brown and smells nutty
🍪 For the best texture, don’t overmix the batter once you add the flour – overmixing can make the blondies tough instead of chewy
⏰ These blondies taste even better the next day as the flavors meld together and the cinnamon sugar topping becomes slightly caramelized
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cooling Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 blondie
- Calories: 195
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
