The Best Ever Blondies from America’s Test Kitchen—succinctly: simply the BEST EVER!
The holidays are here, and I’m all about baking and keeping the house stocked with sweet treats. Right before Thanksgiving I baked pumpkin bars, mini pumpkin pies, cookies, and these wonderfully delicious blondies from America’s Test Kitchen (recipe below, adapted from The New Family Cookbook). They were hands-down the best blondies I’ve ever had—rich, chewy, and full of flavor.
I’ve reviewed other America’s Test Kitchen cookbooks before and appreciate how much testing and thought go into each recipe. Their cookbooks are comprehensive, reliable, and packed with clear instructions and professional tips. The New Family Cookbook is no exception—it’s a thorough resource for cooks of any level.
What’s new in this edition:
Format and Design: This edition is a hardcover with updated design and four-color food photography throughout. At 878 pages, it’s even more comprehensive than the original—an all-in-one family cookbook.
1,100 Foolproof Recipes: The book includes new and updated recipes developed in the test kitchen—recipes like Weeknight Roast Chicken, Slow-Roasted Beef, and a Foolproof Pie Dough that replaces some water with vodka. You’ll also find more grain-based and vegetarian entrees and fresh versions of classics.
How-To Tutorials: Sixty illustrated tutorials cover core techniques—making pan sauce, carving a chicken, quiche basics, pot roast, stir-frying tofu, and more—helping cooks master practical skills and improve results.
Shopping Guide: The America’s Test Kitchen Shopping Guide offers no-nonsense ratings for equipment and ingredients so you can make smart purchases, from cookware to pantry staples.
Step-by-step photos: Over 1,000 color photos illustrate ingredient prep and key recipe steps, making techniques easy to follow. This book makes an excellent holiday gift for anyone who loves to cook. On my must-try list are recipes like Heart Lentil Soup, Quinoa and Vegetable Stew, Five-Alarm Chili, Korean-Style Steak and Rice Bowls, Drunken Noodles with Chicken, Pecan Sandies, and Tiramisu.
The blondies below are straight from America’s Test Kitchen and deliver on flavor and texture. The combination of white and semisweet chocolate chips plus toasted pecans creates a rich, nutty bar with a shiny, crackled top and a tender, chewy interior. Highly recommended for holiday baking or any time you want a crowd-pleasing dessert.
Blondies from America’s Test Kitchen
20 mins
25 mins
45 mins
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (7 1/2 ounces) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups (10 1/2 ounces) packed light brown sugar
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup (3 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup (3 ounces) white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350°F. Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with a foil or parchment sling and spray with nonstick baking spray or grease with butter.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk the brown sugar and melted butter until combined. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour mixture until just combined. Fold in the toasted pecans, semisweet, and white chocolate chips.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake until the top is shiny and cracked and feels firm to the touch, about 25 to 30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking.
- Let the blondies cool completely, about 2 hours. Using the foil or parchment overhang, lift the blondies from the pan. Cut into bars and serve.
The recipe is shared with permission from America’s Test Kitchen and appears in The New Family Cookbook (pages 639–640).
I’m pleased to offer one lucky reader a chance to win this cookbook via the giveaway widget on the original post. If you don’t want to wait, The New Family Cookbook makes a perfect holiday gift for anyone who enjoys cooking.
Giveaway
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Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I love America’s Test Kitchen and their cookbooks. The cookbook giveaway is hosted by America’s Test Kitchen.