These rich, buttery blondies are an all-time favorite dessert bar for good reason.

Blondies are often calledbrownieswithout chocolate, which I find silly.

Blondies are a dessert with their own unique deliciousness and personality.

Overhead view of blonde brownies on a counter

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

What Is a Blondie?

Since brown sugar is the critical flavor here, I suggest using dark brown sugar.

That said, using light brown sugar is also fine.

Blondies bars, neatly cut with butterscotch chips scattered on top

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

More Blondies, like!

If you’d like to make more blondies, double the recipe and bake in a 9x13-inch pan.

Extend the baking time to 25 to 30 minutes.

Side view of blonde brownies in a stack with a glass of milk

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

They will keep for about a week.

Freeze for up to three months.

Thaw at room temperature.

Whisking ingredients in a bowl to make a blondie recipe.

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

More Great Bars to Try

Is Brown Sugar a Must?

In short, yes!

What if you could’t find any brown sugar in your pantry?

Adding an egg and whisking ingredients in a bowl to make a blondie recipe.

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

you could easily make your own dark brown sugar.

All you have to do is combine a cup of regular white granulated sugar with 2 tablespoons of molasses.

(To make light brown sugar, just use 1 tablespoon of molasses.)

Blondie batter being whisked in a glass bowl

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Too easy, right?

By the way, we’re talking about brown sugar in America here.

Remember that’s different from brown sugar in other parts of the world.

Mixing dry ingredients to make a blonde brownie recipe.

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

The Perfect Blondie Texture

The comparison to brownies can be confusing.

You’ll see that this blondie recipe only contains 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and 1/8 teaspoon baking soda.

They are not meant to rise much at all.

Mixing dough with butterscotch chips in a glass bowl

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

And the brown sugar gives the blondies almost a toffee-like flavor.

For The Best Blondies, Brown Your Butter!

For an especially nutty flavor, brown the butter when you melt it.

Butterscotch chips being folded into the dough with a spatula

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Whisk together the melted butter and sugar in a bowl.

Add the egg and vanilla extract and whisk to combine.

Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, and mix it all together.

Scooping blondie batter into a baking dish

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Add the butterscotch chips or other mix-ins (up to 1 cup total).

Pour into the pan and spread evenly.

Bake for 18 to 25 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.

Testing blondies with a toothpick to see if they are done.

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Cut into squares or rectangles and serve.

Overhead view of a pan of blondies cut into squares.

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker