#10 Blondie Ambition Bars

Ben & Jerry Cookie #10 Blondie Ambition. "A buttery brown sugar ice cream with blonde brownies and butterscotch toffee flakes." This is my interpretation; a browned-butter toffee blondie. A traditional recipe that is taken up a notch by adding a depth in flavor by browning the butter. Are you drooling yet?  

Tips:

Watch it - Be sure to keep an eye on your butter while cooking because, just like toast or sun tanning, a little too much color can be a problem (BURN).
Coated add-ins- If you're wondering why the toffee and nuts are added in with the dry mixture, the explanation is: by tossing the nuts and toffee in flour, it helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the pan.

Oven Temperature: 350 degrees
Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
Bake Time: 35-40 minutes
 Servings: 12, 3" bars

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup toffee bits
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract


Directions:

1) Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

2) In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the butter to a  boil. Continue to cook the butter, scraping the sides and stirring occasionally, until it turns golden brown. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let cool for at least 5 minutes.

3) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

4) In a medium sized bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, toffee bits and walnuts..

5) In a large bowl, combine browned butter and both sugars and stir until smooth. Add in the eggs and vanilla. Whisk or with a mixer on medium-high speed, beat until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes). 

6) Add to the bowl the flour mixture. Mix until thoroughly combined. 

7) Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Spread the batter out evenly.

8) Bake  for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (do not overbake). Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. After cool, cut blondies into squares. Blondies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

Adapted from Martha Stewart