Strawberry Blondie Recipe
It is strawberry season! At least in this part of the world… We have taking advantage of this by adding strawberries to many of our dishes. A strawberry recipe that we have been making and enjoying has been these strawberry blondies. These strawberry blondies are rich, buttery bars that combine the chewy, dense texture of a traditional blondie with the sweet and tart burst of fresh strawberries. The browned butter, vanilla and brown sugar base gives them a warm, caramel like flavor that pairs beautifully with the bright, juicy fruit.
Ingredients
Butter: This recipe uses unsalted butter. Since the amount of salt in salted butter can vary greatly, it’s best to use unsalted. Brown Sugar: Brown sugar will add moisture and a delicious caramel note to these strawberry blondies. Egg: Eggs help bind the ingredients together and contribute to the soft, chewy texture. Vanilla Extract: Vanilla enhances the flavor of this dish and adds a layer of warmth and depth. All-Purpose Flour: Flour gives the blondies their structure and chew Strawberry Powder: Adds additional strawberry flavor to the recipe without adding extra moisture. It can be difficult to find, so I recommend making your own using freeze-dried strawberries. To make strawberry powder, simply blend the freeze-dried strawberries in a spice grinder. Baking Powder: Will add a bit of height to the dish. Salt: A small amount of salt balances out the sweetness of the dish. I recommend using a fine salt, as it will dissolve more easily and evenly into the batter. Fresh Strawberries: Choose strawberries that are bright red, with no white or green spots. The deeper the red, the riper and sweeter they tend to be. Good strawberries should have a sweet and fragrant aroma. White Chocolate Chips: They provide a perfect contrast to the chewy, caramel-like texture of the blondie base. The delicate flavor of the white chocolate allows the strawberry flavor to shine. However, you can try milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips if you prefer; it will simply overshadow some of the strawberry flavor.
Strawberry Blondie Recipe
Servings: 16
Equipment
- 1 8 x 8-inch Metal Baking Pan
- 1 8 Inch Skillet with a lighter colored cooking surface
- 1 Large Ceramic or Metal Bowl
- 1 Metal Whisk
- 1 Wooden Spoon
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 Stick Unsalted Butter Or 1/2 Cup
- 1 Cup Brown sugar Loosely Packed
- 1 Each Large Egg
- 1 Tbsp Bourbon Vanilla Extract
Dry Ingredients
- 3/4 Cup AP Flour
- 1/4 Cup Strawberry Powder 20 Grams sliced Freeze-Dried Strawberries
- 2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
Mixins
- 1/4 Cup Sliced Fresh Strawberries 2-3 Large strawberries
- 1/2 Cup White Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with a strip of parchment paper, leaving a 2- to 3-inch overhang on two sides. This will create a kind of sling to help release the finished blondies.
- Place an 8" skillet over medium heat and fully melt the butter.
- Optional: If you are browning the butter, simmer it for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, or until it has a nutty aroma and a golden or amber appearance. *Browning the butter is a completely optional step; however, it will take this delicious recipe over the top. If you have never browned butter see below for my tips and tricks.*
- Immediately after the butter is browned or melted, add it to the ceramic or metal bowl.
- Add the brown sugar to the melted butter. Using a whisk thoroughly mix the brown sugar and butter. Set aside the bowl to chill for three minutes. This will help avoid creating scrambled eggs!
- Once the butter and sugar mixture has had a chance to cool slightly, add the egg and vanilla extract. Using a whisk, mix until the sugar is fully incorporated and no longer granular. Add the strawberry powder, flour, baking powder, and salt, mix until mostly combined.
- Using the wooden spoon fold in the white chocolate chips, and strawberry slices. Make sure to stop mixing once all you get a consistent batter (It will be thick). If you over mix at this step it will create a dense and overly chewy texture.
- Spread evenly into the prepared baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
- Even though you may be tempted to eat it fresh and warm, it's best to let it cool completely before cutting. Once cooled for at least 10 minutes, slice the strawberry blondie into sections.
Tips And Tricks
- Ensure to use good quality strawberries for this recipe. Flavorful strawberries will result in a more flavorful strawberry blondie.
- Use a light color pan to brown the butter in as it will make it more visually clear what the progress and the color of the butter is.
- Once the butter is browned, immediately remove it from the heat to avoid burning.
- Ensure you are placing the melted butter into a bowl that will not melt, such a ceramic or metal bowl.
- When folding in the ingredients, mix just until combined. Overmixing can make the blondies dense and tough.
- Ensure you are using an 8×8 metal pan for this recipe. Using a 9×9 metal pan will result in thinner strawberry blondies and a shorter cook time. Using a glass pan will increase the cook time significantly.
- If you want large pieces of the strawberry blondie, cut the finished blondie into three rows and cut each row into three pieces, resulting in 9 large slices. You can cut them into three rows and cut each row four times for 12 medium size portions. If you prefer smaller servings, cut it into four rows and cut each row into four pieces to get 16 slices.
Serving Suggestions
- These strawberry blondies go great with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
- Try these blondies with a scoop of ice cream! Vanilla ice cream, strawberry ice cream, brown butter ice cream, and cheesecake ice cream would go great with these.
- This dessert goes well with many different beverages, including iced coffee, milk, hot tea, strawberry lemonade, or green tea. ( I’m currently enjoying a slice of strawberry blondie along with a cup of matcha as I write this ).
