Description
Delicious Valentine’s Day M&M Blondies that are easy to make and perfect for sharing.
Ingredients
Scale
- ⅔ cup (151 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (440 g) brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (130 g) chocolate chips
- ¾ cup (130 g) Valentine M&M’s
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing the parchment to overhang the sides for easy removal after baking.
- Step 2: In a mixing bowl, blend the softened butter and brown sugar together until the mixture is smooth and creamy. If the mixture appears grainy, continue to cream until fully smooth to help create a chewy texture.
- Step 3: Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar. Stir until the mixture is fully combined and moist throughout.
- Step 4: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt thoroughly. This step evenly distributes the leavening agents for consistent texture throughout the blondies.
- Step 5: Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined. Avoid overmixing; some lumps are acceptable to prevent cakey blondies, preserving chewier results.
- Step 6: Stir in the chocolate chips and Valentine M&M’s into the batter. Reserve about ¼ cup (33 g) of M&M’s to sprinkle on top before baking for visual appeal.
- Step 7: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Use a spatula to spread it evenly and gently tap the pan on the counter to eliminate any air bubbles and promote an even bake.
- Step 8: Bake the blondies for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Do not open the oven door during the first 20 minutes to maintain a steady rise. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. If edges brown too quickly, cover them loosely with foil halfway through baking to prevent burning.
- Step 9: Remove the pan from the oven and let cool for about 15 minutes in the pan. Then lift the blondies out using the parchment paper overhang. For easier cutting into heart shapes, let the blondies cool for up to 20 minutes before transferring to a wire rack for handling.
Notes
- Room Temperature: Store blondies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Refrigeration: Keep blondies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain texture.
- Freezing: Wrap blondies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Mix wet ingredients separately before folding in dry ingredients if blondies seem too cakey to preserve a chewy texture.
- Reserve about ¼ cup of M&M’s to sprinkle on top before baking for a colorful finish.
- Tap the pan on the countertop after spreading batter to remove air bubbles and even out the bake.
- Cover edges loosely with foil during baking if they brown too quickly to avoid burning.
- Use room-temperature eggs to ensure smooth mixing and better texture.
- Reheat leftover blondies gently in a microwave for 10 to 15 seconds or until warm, taking care not to overheat and dry them out.
- Serve warm or at room temperature alongside vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a creamy contrast.
- Sprinkle crushed pecans or other nuts on top for added texture.
- Use blondies as a base for sundaes, dessert nachos with fruit, or layer in a trifle for a festive dessert.
- Drizzle with chocolate or caramel sauce or dust with powdered sugar for extra sweetness and visual appeal.
- Substitute Valentine M&M’s with seasonal or themed M&M’s for other occasions.
- Add ½ cup chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, for extra crunch.
- For a vegan adaptation, substitute butter and eggs with plant-based alternatives (not specified in recipe but suggested in expert notes).
- Use fresh all-purpose flour for best structure and chewy texture.
- Unsalted butter allows control over sweetness and supports moistness.
- Light or dark brown sugar can be used; molasses content in brown sugar helps retain softness.
- Regular-sized M&M’s provide crunchy texture and bursts of color; select flavors to match your preference.
- Pure vanilla extract enhances flavor depth significantly.
Nutrition
- Calories: Not specified
- Sugar: Not specified
- Sodium: Not specified
- Fat: Not specified
- Saturated Fat: Not specified
- Unsaturated Fat: Not specified
- Trans Fat: Not specified
- Carbohydrates: Not specified
- Fiber: Not specified
- Protein: Not specified
- Cholesterol: Not specified