I think I must really be getting old because all I ever talk about is food and the weather……sigh But it’s not my fault…..really! First of all I’m a chef and food blogger, what else am I going to be talking about, and if this weather ever gets any stranger, I think one of us needs to start building an arc! The only thing that’s been consistent about the weather this year has been its inconsistency, and that’s just not right…lol Seriously, New Years day almost hit 60, and it was 13 degrees Wednesday Morning. Now the forecast for Friday is a high of 52 degrees. Now I’m not really complaining about the warm weather, but OMG it was cold! San Diego is really sounding good right about now….sigh
But your not hear to listen to me ramble, well not today at least, because it’s Guest Post Friday!! And today my friends you are in for one sweet treat, and that of course would be Lauren from Keep it Sweet! For those of you that haven’t already met Lauren, let me tell you that girl can bake, and bake she does, one incredible creation after another, it was my pleasure to be able to meet her in person at the Foodbuzz Festival this year in San Francisco! Lauren can be found in her small New York kitchen where as she puts it she keeps her life in balance by baking, eating healthy and exercise….sigh, I knew there had to be a catch! Lauren will not only wow you with her baking ability, but as she shares her life with you, you’ll begin to realize that you’ve just made a new friend. So be prepared when you visit Keep It Sweet , your going to get a healthy dose of family , friends, sweet treats and life in New York City.
So sit back, relax, put your feet up and prepare to enjoy a sweet treat, as I give you Lauren and……..
Keep It Sweet
I am so excited to have the opportunity to share a post with all of you! I’ve been reading Chef Dennis’s blog for a long time for delicious recipes and helpful tips. It was through the “Ask Chef Dennis” posts that I learned how to become active and get more out of Foodbuzz. So when I got the chance to meet Dennis at the Foodbuzz Festival this past fall, I was excited to see that he is just as warm and friendly in person as he is on the blog. Of course I couldn’t pass on the opportunity to do a guest post here!
I blog over at Keep It Sweet about, well, sweets! My blog is full of recipes for cookies, brownies, cupcakes and really anything else your might crave. My regular readers can attest to my sweet tooth and huge love of peanut butter and cookie dough.
For today’s post I wanted to share with you what I deemed the “best blondies ever.” These Chewy Gooey Cinnamon Toffee Blondies have haunted me since the second they came out of my oven. Within minutes of letting them cool turning off the oven, I cut myself a small piece to do some quality control taste testing. Within minutes of that first taste, I had eaten my way around the edges of most of the pan. I kid you not, these are that good. Gooey and sweet with a hint of spicy from the cinnamon, this is a blondie that won’t disappoint. So I apologize in advance for ruining your New Year’s resolution, but trust me on this one, they are worth it.
| Chewy Gooey Cinnamon Toffee Blondies (aka the best blondies I’ve ever had) |
|
- 3 cups light brown sugar firmly packed
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 8-ounce bag (~1 1/3 cup) toffee bits
- 1 cup cinnamon chips
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
- Line a 13×9 pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray; set aside
- In a medium saucepan, heat brown sugar and butter over medium heat and stir constantly until melted into a thick golden brown mixture; set aside
- Whisk flour, salt, baking powder and cinnamon in a medium bowl; set aside
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs and vanilla until combined
- Whisk in brown sugar butter mixture
- Slowly whisk in flour mixture just until combined
- Stir in toffee bits and cinnamon chips
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 32-37 minutes or until top begins to crack and a knife or toothpick comes out clean
- Allow to cool before slicing into a 6×4 matrix
Don’t say I didn’t warn you! These blondies are truly decadent, they’re going on my list of things to make at school, I know my girls are going to love these beauties! Now, I know your in a sugar frenzy right now, but before you go and satisfy that sweet tooth, please take a few minutes and head on over to Keep it Sweet and say hi to Lauren, just remember to tell her Chef Dennis sent you, and make sure you bookmark Lauren’s blog , because you’re going to be back time and time again, because nobody Keeps it Sweet like Lauren!
Have a wonderful weekend, and don’t take those New Years Resolutions so seriously, at least the ones concerning food, there’s always next year!
Cheers!
These look amazing! Thanks for sharing!
I am only 21 and I feel like all I ever talk about is food and the weather!! But Lauren these look sooo delicious, they would definitely satisfy this sweet tooth I have had lately!
I hear you Chef Dennis, it’s the same here. One day it is freezing but then it’s warm again. Today was beautiful. The down side is with the rain the horses are a horrendous mess of mud. Lol!
Lauren this looks wicked good. I was sick over Christmas so I didn’t get enough of my bake on. I might have to fix that with these decadent looking blondies. They look so amazing and gooey which is my fave way to eat these kinds of treats. And hot out of the pan of course. Then curse myself when I burn my mouth, yet it never seems to stop me. Lol!
Hope you both had a great holiday season! xx
Oh wow, these look just fabulous! Can you pass half a pan this way? lol!
YAY, Lauren! These are stunning and I can see why you had to do so much Quality Control! Chef Dennis – another GREAT guest blogger…I’m a fan! Lauren DOES make the most amazing sweet treats! Have a GREAT weekend and stay warm!
Wow, you are not kidding. Oooey, gooey is right! I can almost taste those from here and am now craving a glass of milk. Thanks, Dennis, for introducing us to Lauren.
Awesome guest post Lauren – this blondies look so squidgy and delicious!
Lauren strikes again! These look amazing!
This looks like a really sinful but delicious indulgence! Lauren really knows what good is-great to see her guest posting here. Enjoy the weekend you two.
Thanks again for the chance to guest post! You are so kind and I was excited to share these blondies with your readers:-)
When it comes to brownies/blondies I struggle with getting that sugary crackly sheen on top. These look too good to pass over on that fear basis.
That blondies looks amazing ! Love the crackly top and the gooey center , I’m drooling ! ;D Great guest post again , Chef Dennis
Lauren – Great recipe and photos! Blondies are a childhood treat I’ve never tried making for myself. I am inspired. I love anything that is chewy and gooey at the same time. Beautifully done!
These sound divine, Lauren. I love your site too!
What a wonderful recipe & guest post! Coincidentally, I was searching for a good toffee blondie and this one is the winner, Lauren! Happy Friday, Chef Dennis!
Ohhh, Lauren, I am done for once again. These pictures are making me want to ditch work and go bake ‘em up right now!
Thanks Lauren! Those do certainly look ooey and gooey! My favorite kind of anything really haha. I love gooey brownies, cookies, cakes, just yum!
I hear ya on the weather Chef! It has been jumping all over the place in CT! It was 5 degrees on Tuesday morning and then it was 37 this morning with a high in the 50s today! GAH…my body has no idea what to do haha
Hope you both have a great weekend!
I love Lauren’s blog – there’s always a solid sweet treat over there! I know I’ve made a thing or two from her blog that have kept my fiance happy =)
The title won me over, and then I saw the photos! Oh my goodness do these look delicious! This is one of those desserts I would proudly eat an entire pan of.
I’ve been complaining about the weather and I have absolutely no reason to. (I debated going to the beach yesterday.) These blondies look fantastic. Can’t wait to try them.
Lauren it is so nice to meet you! I wish you lived close by so I could be your quality control tasting assistant.
I’m so glad I found this recipe, I am a recent fan of blondies and I am just NUTS for them! Thank you for sharing this with us.
Dennis, thank you for introducing Lauren to us! It’s been a long time since I have left a comment but I check in on you to see what you’re up to my friend. Thinking of you and I hope you have a good weekend!
You’re not old yet – you haven’t started talking about your illnesses and those of your friends and all the medications everyone is one!! Besides if you’re old I don’t want to think about what that makes me! Great job Lauren!
Holy snap, these brownies look divine! Gooey… just the way a good brownie should always be. Great website, Lauren and Chef Dennis, you by no means are getting old… you’ve only just begun!!
You had me at “chewy gooey” these bars look great Dennis!
I absolutely adore Lauren – both as a person and a cook. Her site is packed with tempting recipes and this is another one to add to my “must make” list.
Wow, I want one of those right now. So much sugar!
These blondies look delicious, but what are cinnamon chips and where can I find them? Once I get all the ingredients I am going to make a batch. Can’t wait to try them.
you can usually find cinnamon chips with the chocolate chips, hersheys makes them and you can also get them from King Aurthurs Flour.
The recipe does sound amazing! Haven’t tried yet, but definitely plan to. Where does one find toffy bits and cinnamon chips? Happy New Year !
Hersheys make cinnamon chips, you can find them where you store has chocolate chips as well as heath bar bits, which are toffee bits! King Aurthurs flour also has cinnamon chips and you could always chop a heath or skor bar for the toffee chips.
I totally agree about the weather, Chef Dennis. If not for El Nina or is that La Nina, I would say time to build the arc indeed. I figure I’ll just go with the flow for now:) After my eye injury, I’m “seeing” the world in a whole new light:)
Thank you for introducing us to Lauren and her awesome, Toffee Blondies. They sure look yummy.
A very Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year to You and Yours!!! Louise.
Thanks Chef D….. I’ve already found the cinnamon chips and the toffee bits! Now, to the kitchen and bake up a batch of heaven!
Blondies may have been the first thing I ever cooked all on my own. Not as fab as these but they will always hold a place in y heart. GREG
Oh my.. Amazing! Only problem is I live in Australia and we don’t have things like toffee bits, any suggestions on alternatives??
hi Lauren
try using skor or heath bars or any toffee candy bar you may have down under, just chop it up or pulse it in a food processor.
Great suggestion, Dennis. You could always make homemade toffee and crush it:-)
of skor or Heath bars either …
We don’t have cinnamon chips either??
I guess my next suggestion if you really want them would be to make your own toffee which isn’t to difficult and you could actually make your own cinnamon chips:
Heat oven to 200F. Combine:
1/3 c granulated sugar
1 1/2 TB cinnamon
1 TB solid all-vegetable shortening
1 TB light corn syrup
Mix with fork until uniform and crumbly.
Spread on foil-lined baking sheet and bake until melted and bubbly. 35 minutes.
Cool completely, then break into small pieces.
Makes 1 cup (approx)
Dennis
These look heavenly, I love blondie and you certainly can’t go wrong with cinnamon toffee. Great post!
I couldn’t wait to try these after looking at the picture. They did turn out like the photo but my family did not like them at all. I think part of the high rating is coming from people rating them based on the photo, not from actually making and tasting them.
sorry your family didn’t like them, what was it about them they didn’t like?