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Blonde Brownies

Sweet and irresistible Blonde Brownies are like brownies but without the cocoa! These vanilla blondies are studded with white chocolate chips and crunchy pecans for an easy, packable treat.

A cutting board of blonde brownie squares with a bowl of brown sugar next to it.

Why You’ll Love This Blonde Brownies Recipe

  • Fun Take On A Classic: If you love brownies, I bet you’ll love blonde brownies! Instead of chocolate, the overriding flavors are vanilla, brown sugar, and white chocolate chips for a different version of the classic chocolate brownie.
  • Easily Adaptable: My blonde brownies recipe is easily adapted to whatever you wish to include! You can swap the pecans for walnuts, throw in some chopped candy bits, or even chocolate chips. Use it as a base for all sorts of adaptations.
  • Great for Lunches: These sweet bars pack up wonderfully to tuck into school lunches or to bring along on picnics. I also love to take them to bake sales or class birthday parties.

What Are Blondies?

Blondies are like brownies in that they are baked in a bar shape and have a similar texture. But they don’t contain any cocoa powder. I like to think of blondies as a kind of vanilla brownie that features vanilla and white chocolate rather than dark chocolate. Another difference is that blondies typically contain brown sugar, while brownies call for white sugar.

The ingredients for blonde brownies are shown portioned out: flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, vanilla, brown sugar, melted butter, eggs, pecans, white chocolate chips.

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s an overview of what you’ll need for this blonde brownies recipe. Scroll to the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts and detailed instructions.

  • Butter: I normally use unsalted butter in my baking recipes.
  • Eggs and Egg Yolk: Use large eggs.
  • Brown Sugar: You can use light or dark brown sugar.
  • Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract will give the best flavor.
  • All-Purpose Flour
  • Cornstarch: Cornstarch helps to give the batter a little extra binding and structure.
  • Baking Soda
  • Salt
  • White Chocolate Chips: Or use a bar of white chocolate and chop it up as shown in the direction photos.
  • Pecans

How to Make Blonde Brownies

Ready to whip up some delicious blonde brownies? Let me guide you through each simple and fun step to get these sweet treats baking in your oven!

  • Prepare. Preheat the oven and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Melt the butter.
  • Whisk. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, then whisk in the brown sugar and vanilla.
  • Add butter. Whisk in the melted butter.
  • Combine. Whisk batter until smooth.
  • Combine. Add in the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt.
  • Mix. Whisk the batter until just combined.
  • Add add-ins. Fold in the white chocolate and pecans.
  • Bake. Spread the batter in the baking dish and bake until the blondies are golden and a tester comes out clean.
  • Cut. Cool the blondies on a wire rack, then slice them into squares and serve.
A side view of a blonde brownie on top of more brownies.

Tips & Variations

  • Use Parchment Paper: Using parchment paper to line the baking pan ensures a clean and easy removal of the blondies.
  • Make Ahead: Blonde brownies keep well, and you can make these up to 2 days before you want to serve them.
  • Add Chocolate: White chocolate is lovely in these blondies, and dark chocolate is even better! You can swap semisweet or even milk chocolate chips for the white chocolate or do a combination.
  • Substitute Nuts: If you don’t have pecans, you can substitute an equal amount of other chopped nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, or pistachios. Or, try a combination of different nuts.
  • Other Add-Ins: Kick your blonde brownies into high gear by throwing in some sweet add-ins like chopped candy such as Snickers, Milky Way, or Mars bars. You can also stir in some mini M&Ms, chopped peanut butter cups, or Reese’s pieces for a flavor boost.
A stack of three blonde brownies with white chocolate chips and pecans visible.

Proper Storage

  • Counter: Store blonde brownies in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days.
  • Fridge: Place brownies in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 1 week.
  • Freezer: Wrap each brownie in plastic wrap, place them in a freezer-safe bag or container, and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the brownies thoroughly in the fridge before serving.

More Easy Desserts

A stack of three blonde brownies with white chocolate chips and pecans visible.
Print Recipe
5 from 7 votes

Blonde Brownies

This sweet and irresistible Blonde Brownies recipe features blondies studded with white chocolate chips and packed with crunchy pecans.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Cooling Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 40 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: blonde brownies, blonde brownies recipe, blondies, homemade brownies
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 409kcal

Ingredients

  • cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
  • cups light brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with a small amount of butter, ensuring an even coating. Set the prepared dish aside.
  • In a separate container, melt the butter and allow it to cool slightly.
  • In a large mixing bowl, use a whisk to beat the eggs until achieving a smooth consistency. Add in the light brown sugar and vanilla extract; whisk to incorporate. Gradually add the slightly cooled melted butter, continuing to whisk until smooth.
  • Add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt to the wet mixture. Whisk the ingredients together until just combined, making sure not to overmix.
  • Gently fold the white chocolate chips and chopped pecans into the batter until evenly distributed.
  • Pour the batter into the baking dish.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 to 30 minutes or until the blondies are golden and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out mostly clean. Remove from the oven and let the blondies cool completely before slicing (2 to 3 hours or overnight).
  • After the cooling period, use a knife to carefully slice the blondies into squares and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 409kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 319mg | Potassium: 146mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 386IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 1mg

14 Comments

  • Gina
    Jan 23, 2024 at 12:05 pm

    5 stars
    Oh the vanilla and brown sugar flavors with the white chocolate chips and walnuts were sooooo delish. They didn’t last long here.

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina
      Jan 24, 2024 at 10:51 am

      Thank you so much! I’m very happy you enjoyed the mix of vanilla, brown sugar, white chocolate chips, and walnuts!

      Reply
  • April
    Jan 23, 2024 at 2:33 pm

    5 stars
    So yummy! they were all gone in record time!

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina
      Jan 24, 2024 at 10:49 am

      I’m happy to hear they were a hit and disappeared quickly! It’s always a good sign when treats are enjoyed that fast. Thank YOU! 🙂

      Reply
  • Beth
    Jan 23, 2024 at 4:32 pm

    5 stars
    These are so delicious, and the texture is so rich! I made these, and they were gone so fast. I’m already making another batch tonight!

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina
      Jan 24, 2024 at 10:48 am

      Thank YOU! I’m glad you found the recipe delicious and that it was a hit! It’s great you’re making more tonight. Happy baking! 🙂

      Reply
  • Janelle
    Jan 23, 2024 at 4:44 pm

    5 stars
    I love the flavor and texture combo here! These were so good!

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina
      Jan 24, 2024 at 10:45 am

      I’m happy you liked the flavor and texture of the brownies! Thank YOU! 🙂

      Reply
  • Amanda
    Jan 23, 2024 at 6:12 pm

    5 stars
    The texture of brownies are hard to get just right but this recipe nailed it!

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina
      Jan 24, 2024 at 10:44 am

      Thank YOU! 🙂 I’m glad to hear that the recipe delivered the perfect texture for your brownies! Achieving the right consistency can be a challenge, so it’s great that this one worked out well for you!

      Reply
  • Sandra
    Jan 23, 2024 at 8:58 pm

    5 stars
    These brownies are so good! My kids loved them!

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina
      Jan 24, 2024 at 10:40 am

      I’m thrilled to hear that the brownies were a hit with your kids! It’s always great when a recipe is both delicious and kid-approved. Thank YOU! 🙂

      Reply
  • Catalina
    Jan 24, 2024 at 9:13 am

    5 stars
    Baked these Blonde Brownies over the weekend, and they were a delightful change from the usual chocolate. This recipe is a new favorite in my household.

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina
      Jan 24, 2024 at 10:39 am

      I’m glad the Blonde Brownies were a success and are now a favorite in your home. Thank you! 🙂

      Reply

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