Butterscotch Blondies
You guys- THANK YOU. Thanks for being an awesome blog family. Thanks for not judging the amount of butter and cream cheese we consume here. And thank you for loving me in spite of my rambling and grammatical errors. Y’all are great.
One of my goals for 2018 was to spend more energy on gratitude- to live out days overflowing with thanksgiving. I know, I know, we talk about that a lot here, but it’s primarily because I require so many reminders to be thankful. Life tends to beat us up sometimes; I can’t help but wonder if a heart filled with gratitude might somehow manage to find the gold, even in those moments. Don’t you think so?
Gratitude
My mom bought me this book called “The Five Minute Journal.” As its name suggests, the journal requires just a few daily moments spent creating a few lists of gratitude: 3 Things I’m Grateful For, 3 Things That Would Make Today Great, 3 Awesome Things That Happened Today, etc. I’ve now spent 26 days jotting on those pages, and I have to tell you- I LOVE IT.
As humans, we dwell on the negative. Sometimes we get discouraged, kicked down, blown off. We guilt trip ourselves over the things we did wrong, the areas we failed, and in doing so, we completely miss the beauty that was scattered throughout the process. We lose sight of the tiny bits of hope and joy and goodness that are chalked all over our days. In the end, we forget to make the next day better.
Admittedly, some moments are harder than others. Weeks pained with illness and anger and loss and exhaustion are no stranger to humans. The realities of this world are a heavy burden to bear, even for the strongest of souls. But what if, even in the midst of trial, we were set on finding the good? What if we squinted and searched through the dark to find a glimmer of light that may have, even if only briefly, cast its warm glow on our story? Wouldn’t it feel good to be reminded of the sweet spots in our days?
Your Turn
So “The Five Minute Journal” has been really good for me. It’s challenged me to be thankful (when I feel anything but) and find the right (when all I see is wrong). I would challenge you to do the same: share some gratitude today. Love on someone or something who makes your world pretty and don’t miss the opportunity to swell with hope from all of the lovely things that are sitting right under your nose. My guess is that you have a lot to smile about if you’re willing to look hard.
Butterscotch Blondies
Things I’m grateful for this morning: these butterscotch blondies. Buttery, sweet, and salty blondies filled with butterscotch chips and toasty pecans are just about the best thing to sit on my kitchen counter in months. These taste like comfort food to me, and on cold, bleak January days, they’re about all I need to stay warm.
Making the Blondies
To make these butterscotch blondies, we start with butter. First, cream butter with the sugar. Next, eggs and vanilla add to the mix, followed by a few dry ingredients. Finally, before baking, butterscotch chips and chopped pecans stir in with an extra sprinkle of salt. That’s it! Butterscotch blondies might be the easiest thing you make all week.
After baking, these butterscotch blondies keep well in the freezer, maybe forever, but will otherwise be cozy in an airtight container for 2-3 days. I find that butterscotch blondies are best shared with a friend or two, so maybe make a double (or triple?) batch and love the crap out of your neighbors. Give these yummy treats a try, and if you’re looking to share the love, I hope you’ll pour it out with a healthy dose of thanks. I love y’all- have a great weekend.
If you like these butterscotch blondies, be sure to check out:
Brown Butter Blondies: Two Ways
Pretzel Shortbread Peanut Butter Brownies
Butterscotch Blondies
These butterscotch blondies are a sweet and salty treat, loaded with toasted pecans and perfect for sharing!
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12
Ingredients
- ½ cup (113 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ¾ cup (150 gm) packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (130 gm) all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (175 gm) butterscotch chips
- ¾ cup (75 gm) chopped pecans
- Extra salt for sprinkling, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray an 8” square baking pan with baking spray.
- In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and brown sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat to combine. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt and stir until just combined. Fold in the butterscotch chips and pecans. Sprinkle with additional salt, if desired.
- Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted just barely comes out clean. Do not overbake. Slice and serve!