Browned butter blondies

Name: Browned Butter Blondies with Pecans
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 85 min
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter; 1 cup chopped pecans (you can buy whole or halved pecans and chop them); ⅓ cup light brown sugar; 1 cup Lyle's Golden Syrup; 2 large eggs; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 2 ¼ cup AP flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; ¾ cup powdered sugar; ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon half and half (substitute milk); ½ teaspoon cinnamon

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Bake a pan of these rich and delicious Browned Butter Blondies with Pecans for dessert and see why I have become a bit obsessed with them. These bars bake up soft and buttery with delicious toasted pecans and a spicy cinnamon glaze that are just a bit decadent and so, so good!

A plater of butter pecans blondies cut into diamond shapes. — Glazed Butter Pecan Blondies

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If you love the classic flavor of butter pecan, then you will love these easy-to-make tender buttery blondies, which I feel is the ultimate blondie recipe. And if you are a pecan lover try this pecan pie or these mini pecan tarts; both of the recipes are classics and always a favorite dessert.

If you are a cookie bar lover, bake these easy Paula Dean Pumpkin Bars for a delicious fall treat.

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Why are blondies called blondies?
🧾Ingredients
What is Golden Syrup
What is brown butter?
Why use brown butter in blondies?
Toasting pecans
🥣Let's bake this easy blondie recipe
Making the glaze
Variations
Blondie questions?
More recipes with pecans
Try These Recipes Next
Recipe

Why are blondies called blondies?

Blondies are considered a brownie without chocolate and have a butterscotch or caramel flavor from brown sugar. To me, a blondie is more like a chocolate chip cookie without the chips—just my thoughts on the subject.

And just in case you are wondering, blondies are considered a bar cookie and just for fun, you can call them Blonde Brownies!

🧾Ingredients

What is Golden Syrup

I wanted to try this recipe because it calls for Lyle's Golden Syrup which I had seen in stores but never knew what to use it for. So now I'm intrigued by this ingredient and found a jar of this syrup while shopping in Napa.

Lyle's Golden Syrup is a British staple used in cooking and baking. It's a light golden brown, velvety syrup made from refined sugar with an amazing buttery caramel flavor that adds a rich flavor to these blondies. You can substitute honey, light, or dark corn syrup, but the flavor and texture of these blondies will taste different.

So where else can you buy Lyle's Golden Syrup? I started looking everywhere I shopped; after all, I can't go to Napa every time I run out. Well, I could, and I would like to, but someone would pitch a fit because if I go to Napa, that would include lunch, wine tasting, and more shopping. So closer to home, I have found the syrup at Whole Foods, Walmart, and Cost Plus World Market, or you can buy Lyle's Golden Syrup here.

What is brown butter?

Browning butter is a technique of cooking melted butter until the water evaporates in the butter, leaving the milk solids, and as the milk solids cook and get toasted, those solids turn brown.

Why use brown butter in blondies?

Well, brown butter makes everything taste better by adding an extra rich nutty, caramel, and buttery flavor you can't get with just melted butter. It's a step that is well worth doing.

These blondies would be good with just melted butter, but the brown butter takes these blondies up a notch in flavor.

Toasting pecans

Just like browning the butter, toasting pecans intensifies their flavor and makes them extra crunchy. Normally, you toast pecans in the oven or a pan, but for today's recipe, you will be toasting the pecans in butter, which makes them insanely delicious.

This step is so worth it because it brings out the pecans' intense, rich flavor. Nibble on some before putting them in the batter, and you will know what I mean.

🥣Let's bake this easy blondie recipe

Browning the butter and toasting the pecans

Step 1. Add the unsalted butter to a medium-size saucepan and cook over medium heat to melt the butter.

Step 2. Keep stirring the butter until it is completely melted.

Step 3. Add the chopped pecans to the butter, stir and cook over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes. During this time, the butter will start to brown and get foamy, and the pecans will get toasted with a deliciously nutty aroma.

Step 4. Set a strainer over a bowl and pour in the pecans and stain the butter. Set the butter in the refrigerator to chill for 20 minutes.

Butter in a small saucepan. — Melt the butter

Toasting pecans in a small saucepan. — Toast the pecans

Melted butter in a saucepan. — Melted butter

Straining butter from pecans. — Strain the butter

Making the batter

Step 5. Add the chilled browned butter and brown sugar to a large mixing bowl, and beat on medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.

Step 6. Add the golden syrup and mix on medium speed to incorporate.

Step 7. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, and beat this mixture until completely incorporated and a smooth batter forms.

Eggs, and vanilla in a cake batter. — Mixing the wet ingredients

A mixed blondie batter in a glass bowl. — Mixed butter and eggs

Step 9. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and toasted pecans to the creamed butter mixture.

Step 10. Mix with a rubber spatula until well incorporated.

Step 11. Pour the batter into a greased 13-inch baking pan.

Step 12. Bake the blondies at 350 degrees F. for 30 to 35 minutes. Allow them to cool completely before glazing.

A glass bowl with flour and pecans. — Flour mixture

Cookie battter in a cookie sheet. — Spread the batter in the pan

A glass bowl with a blondie batter. — Blondie batter

A pan pf baked blondies. — Baked blondies

Making the glaze

Step 13. While the blondies are baking, prepare the glaze by combining all the glaze ingredients in a small bowl.

Step 14. Stir well until the icing is thoroughly mixed and creamy. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap until you are ready to glaze the blondies.

Step 15. When cooled, drizzle the cinnamon glaze over the blondies with a spoon and let the glaze set.

Step 16. Cut the baked blondies into squares and serve.

Powdered sugar and cinnamon in a white bowl. — Icing ingredients

Glazed butter pecan blondies. — Drizzle with the icing

Cinnamon icing in a white bowl. — Creamy cinnamon icing

Blondies cut in diamond shapes. — The best blondie recipe

These buttery and nutty pecan bars have so many flavors to love that you will be reaching for seconds and maybe thirds.

This browned butter blondie recipe makes a delicious anytime dessert and is always a holiday favorite. Need a dessert for a potluck? Bake a batch of these blondies; I promise you will be asked for the recipe.

A sliced butter pecan blondie. — A classic blondie

Variations

You can always add some additional flavors to change this recipe up...try these additions.

Dried cranberries
Toffee bits
White chocolate chips
Chocolate chips
Candied ginger
Butterscotch chips

Blondie questions?

How can I cut my blondies so they have a clean-cut?

Let the blondies cool completely so the bars firm up, then cut with a sharp knife.

Can you freeze-baked blondies?

Yes, these cookies freeze well. To store them, wrap them well in plastic wrap and then in foil or place them in a sealed plastic freezer bag.

Can I make these butter pecan blondies without browning the butter?

Yes, you can use just melted butter; make sure it has cooled before adding it to the batter.

More recipes with pecans

This is a family favorite, and for good reason. his Sweet Nut Braid Bread recipe is tender inside and studded with chopped pecans with a hint of nutmeg flavoring. You will love a slice of bread for breakfast.
Add a sprinkling of pecans, cranberries, and ginger on the top of this Pumpkin Sheet Cake for a nutty crunchy topping.

Try These Recipes Next

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Recipe

A browned butter blondie on a white plate.

Browned Butter Blondies with Pecans

Jere' Cassidy

These Butter Pecan Blondies are a moist and intensely flavored cookie bar made with browned butter and topped with a sweet touch of cinnamon glaze. The flavor is AMAZING. This is a great recipe to bake for potlucks, parties, or for an everyday snack.

4.99 from 88 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 35

Chill time 20

Total Time 1 25

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings slices

Calories 145 kcal

Equipment

13 x 9 inch baking dish

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup chopped pecans you can buy whole or halved pecans and chop them
⅓ cup light brown sugar
1 cup Lyle's Golden Syrup
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 ¼ cup AP flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Cinnamon Powdered Sugar Drizzle

¾ cup powdered sugar
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon half and half substitute milk
½ teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

Making the cake

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. and grease a 9" x 13" baking pan.
Melt the butter in a medium-size saucepan and add the chopped pecans. Cook over medium-low heat until the pecans are toasted and the butter turns brown, stirring frequently, and cook about 15 minutes. The butter will get foamy and the pecans will start to smell nutty.
Set a mesh strainer over a bowl and strain the pecans from the butter, then chill the butter for about 20 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the chilled butter and brown sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy, for about 3 minutes. Add the golden syrup and mix on medium speed until incorporated.
Beat in the eggs and vanilla until combined and a smooth batter forms.
Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and the pecans and mix with a spatula until just combined.
Pour mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes until nice and golden brown.
Remove the blondies from the oven and let cool completely before adding the glaze and cutting into bars.

Making the glaze

Combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl and stir well to combine. Drizzle over the blondies when cooled.
Cut the bars into squares with a sharp knife and enjoy.
Store the cooled blondies in an airtight container for 3 days. You can also store the blondies in the container for longer in the refrigerator.

Notes

About the pecans, I find it easier to buy the prechopped pecans, but if you cannot find them use the whole or halved pecans and chop them yourself.

To get a clean cut on the bars, make sure the blondies are completely cooled and then cut with a sharp knife. It helps to clean the knife after several cuts.

If you like making bar cookies try these easy-to-make Raspberry Peach Crumble Bars, they are buttery and fruity and so, so good.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 145kcalCarbohydrates: 20gFat: 7gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 134mg

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First published Oct. 14, 2012. Last updated Oct. 2022, for better readability.

About Jere’

From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending. Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing both sweet and savory recipes with all my baking friends.