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These chewy brown butter blondies are enhanced with the rich flavor of browned butter and loaded with (optional) nuts and candy pieces. Don’t worry if you’ve never browned butter before, it’s easy and I’ll walk you through the steps below!

I absolutely love an easy dessert! I have a major sweet tooth and can’t resist delicious brownies and blondies. That’s probably why I have so many recipes on my blog. If you are looking for more dessert bar ideas, you’ve got to try these Cherry Cheesecake Brownies, these Neiman Marcus Bars, and these yummy Salted Caramel Butter Bars.

Brown butter blondies stacked on top of each other on a plate.

Browned Butter Blondies

When you hear browned butter, do you automatically think it’s better than the original? Because I can’t help but to think that! After I made these brown butter chocolate chip cookies, I couldn’t help but try a brown butter blondie! The results were every bit as incredible as I’d hoped they’d be. Richly flavored, chewy, and just simply delectable. I then decided to up the ante even further and stir in some chopped walnuts and toffee bits (I have a favorite homemade toffee recipe but kept things simple and used store-bought instead).

Worried about browning butter? Never tried it before? Don’t panic! It’s easy and I’ll walk you through the steps below. It takes a bit more time, but it’s worth it, just look at those beautiful browned butter flecks in the batter! After you try these blondies, you’ll have to try these Nutella blondies next. They are SO good, and now I’m thinking I need to try browning the butter in those too…

Ingredients

A blondie is similar to a brownie, but it doesn’t have any chocolate! They are light in color and super sweet and decadent. I really love a good brownie, and these blondies are perfect for folks who don’t love chocolate or just want to switch things up. The browned butter really takes this recipe to a whole new level. You are going to love it, and it only has a few simple ingredients! You can find the measurements below in the recipe card.

  • Butter: Unsalted is best for this recipe. I teach you how to brown it below!
  • Brown Sugar: Adds to the depth of flavor and gives it sweetness.
  • Granulated Sugar: To sweeten things up.
  • Eggs: You will need a large egg, and an egg yolk.
  • Vanilla Extract: I love the subtle hint of vanilla flavor it adds.
  • All Purpose Flour: Whatever you have in your pantry will work.
  • Salt: A little salt helps to balance out all of the sweetness in this dessert.
  • Walnuts: Chopped into small bite sizes. These are optional, but I love them!
  • Toffee Bits: You can make your own, or grab a bag of toffee bits from the store.
Process photos showing the ingredients being combined in the bowl.

Brown Butter Blondies Recipe

Browned butter (more formally known as buerre noisette, how fancy is that!?) is one of my all-time favorite things to make in the kitchen. It’s so much easier than you might think and elevates any baked good to new heights. Oh, and as a bonus, your house is going to smell amazing. This recipe will also work in a 9×13 metal pan, it will only need to bake about 18-20 minutes. This recipe will work in a glass pan, but the baking time will be longer. Here’s how to make brown butter blondies.

  1. Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9×9 metal baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease and set aside.
  2. Brown Butter: Place butter in a medium-sized saucepan and cook over medium heat until melted. Once melted, turn up heat just a notch above medium and continue to cook, stirring constantly as it pops and sizzles. Once the popping slows and the butter begins to turn brown and fragrant, remove from heat and pour into a large heatproof bowl.
  3. Cool Butter: Allow browned butter to cool for at least 20 minutes before proceeding.
  4. Mix Batter: Once butter has cooled, add both sugars and mix to combine. Whisk in the egg and egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Mix to combine.
  5. Add to Pan: Add the flour and salt and mix until combined. Fold in the chopped walnuts and toffee bits. Add to the prepared pan.
  6. Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean from the center. Let cool completely before serving.
An overhead view of brown butter blondies on parchment with one piece with a bite taken out of it.

Tips for Browning Butter

Browned butter blondies are really special because of the browned butter. You won’t want to skip this step! Here are some more tips to make sure that your butter it browned perfectly.

  • Color Of Pan: For best results, use a light-colored pan when cooking your butter, this will make it easier to see once the butter begins to brown, reducing your risk of burning your butter.
  • Don’t Walk Away: Never, ever, walk away from your butter while it’s browning! Even taking your attention off of it for a second can result in burnt butter, and burnt butter is every bit as awful as browned butter is wonderful. If you burn your butter even a little bit you’ll have to start all over again.
  • Have A Bowl Ready: Have a heat-proof bowl ready for when your butter has finished browning. You’ll want to quickly transfer the butter to this container — it can still burn even after you’ve removed the pan from the heat.
  • Cool Before Using: Your browned butter will be hot! Make sure you let it cool back down to room temperature (or at least close to room temperature) before adding the rest of the ingredients for these blondies.
A close up on brown butter blondies stacked on top of each other.

Storing Leftovers

Brown butter blondies make amazing leftovers! Similar to brownies, they are a low maintenance dessert that will stay yummy for days to come. Here is how to store them.

  • On the Counter: Store your leftovers in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days.

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Brown Butter Blondies

4.34 from 3 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
These chewy brown butter blondies are enhanced with the rich flavor of browned butter and loaded with (optional) nuts and candy pieces. Don't worry if you've never browned butter before, it's easy and I'll walk you through the steps below!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9×9 metal baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease and set aside.
  • Place butter in a medium-sized saucepan and cook over medium heat until melted. Once melted, turn up heat just a notch above medium and continue to cook, stirring constantly as it pops and sizzles. Once the popping slows and the butter begins to turn brown and fragrant, remove from heat and pour into a large heatproof bowl.
  • Allow browned butter to cool for at least 20 minutes before proceeding.
  • Once butter has cooled, add both sugars and mix to combine. Whisk in the egg and egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Mix to combine.
  • Add the flour and salt and mix until combined. Fold in the chopped walnuts and toffee bits. Add to the prepared pan.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean from the center. Let cool completely before serving.

Notes

Originally Posted January 16, 2019
Updated April 25, 2023

Nutrition

Calories: 2065kcalCarbohydrates: 361gProtein: 38gFat: 55gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 2346mgPotassium: 1015mgFiber: 12gSugar: 157gVitamin A: 70IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 287mgIron: 14.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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10 Comments

  1. First let me say they tasted yummy. I wasn’t sure when I put them in the pan if I had made them correctly because the batter was very loose. And while it was baking, it looked like molten lava. I wanted to let it cool enough to be able to cut them. Not sure what happened, but when I went to cut into them, they had turned into cement. Even my very strong husband had trouble cutting them! But they tasted like toffee – delish! I popped them back in a low oven for a few minutes and that seemed to do the trick. Very strange, but fixable.

    1. I double checked on these and the batter turned out to be pretty thick. Also, cooking these any longer than the recommended time will make these turn out hard. If you try them again, let me know what happens! I definitely want to help you out!

  2. Thank you for sharing this recipe. It is looking very delicious. people must try this. Loved to read your blog. It is useful to many.

  3. 3 stars
    This recipe looks delicious, but as a Type 2 diabetic I wish more recipes with either much less sugar or none at all could be printed. Everything these days seem to have tons of sugar in them.