Chocolate Chip Blondies

Is there anything better than a big, still-warm-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookie? This cookie is a classic for a reason, and it’s a staple at backyard parties, holiday dinners and, of course, bake sale tables. But if you’re one of those last-minute bakers like me (these 15-minute recipes have been my saving grace), baking up a few batches to feed a crowd can become time-consuming.

Luckily, we’ve got the perfect solution: chocolate chip blondies! It’s all the comforting flavors and texture of a chocolate chip cookie combined with the convenience of simply spooning a blondie batter into a 13×9-inch baking dish. Plus, these chocolate chip bars can be cut to any size, making them a great option for potlucks and bake sales.

If your mouth is already watering, check out this chocolate chip blondies recipe, plus some helpful tips below. And afterwards, check out these other bake sale recipes that’ll bring in the big bucks.

What is a blondie?

Think of blondies as the vanilla version of brownies. Instead of cocoa powder and chocolate, these bars use brown sugar and vanilla extract for flavor. Many blondies are served plain, but our Test Kitchen pros love this recipe sprinkled with the best chocolate chips. When they’re made with chocolate chips, you can also refer to them as “chocolate chip cookie bars” (“blondies with chips” and “cookie bars” are also the same thing!).

Ingredients for Chocolate Chip Blondies

• Brown sugar: Either light or dark brown sugar is fine here—use what you got! Dark brown sugar will deepen the flavor and darken the color a touch more than light brown.
• Butter: You can use salted or unsalted butter for this chocolate chip blondie recipe. If you go the salted route, omit 1/4 teaspoon of the salt in this recipe.
• Eggs: Room-temperature eggs are imperative. Cold eggs would seize up the melted butter, negatively impacting the texture of the blondies.
• All-purpose flour: We’ve found that all-purpose flour imparts the softest, chewiest texture in these blondies.
• Chocolate chips: Warm morsels of chocolate chips dotted throughout the batter are simply heaven.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the batter

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Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, melted butter, eggs and vanilla until they’re just combined.

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In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Stir the flour mixture into the brown sugar mixture until a thick, brownie-like batter forms.

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Fold in the chocolate chips until they’re evenly distributed throughout the batter.

Editor’s Tip: Don’t overmix once the dry ingredients are added to the wet ingredients. No one wants a tough blondie!

Step 2: Bake

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Grease a 13×9-inch baking pan. Spread the batter evenly in the pan. Pop the pan into the oven, and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bars comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes.

Step 3: Cool and cut

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Pull the baked bars out of the oven, and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cool, cut the bars, and serve.

Editor’s Tip: Sprinkle flaky salt on top of these blondies to balance out the sweetness.

Chocolate Chip Blondies Variations

• Use browned butter: Learning how to brown butter is easy, and what you’re left with is a toasty, nutty butter that deepens the entire flavor of your blondies. You can brown the amount of butter that’s in this recipe, but know that you’ll lose some of the liquid while cooking the butter, so you may need a few extra tablespoons of melted butter to make up the difference. Make sure to measure!
• Change the baking chips: Swap the semisweet chips out completely, or make a fun mix of different baking chips! Butterscotch, peanut butter, white chocolate and dark chocolate chips would all go so well with these blondies.
• Sprinkle in nuts: Chop up peanuts or toasted walnuts or pecans, and fold them into the batter for a nutty and crunchy treat.
• Break open candy bars: Unwrap a myriad of different chocolate candies, and add them to the batter or the tops of the prebaked blondies. M&Ms, Reese’s, Snickers and similar treats work well here! This would be a perfect way to use up leftover Easter candy or chocolates from Valentine’s Day and Halloween.

How to Store Chocolate Chip Blondies

Once completely cooled to room temperature, chocolate chip blondies should be stored in an airtight container. You can keep these at room temperature for up to five days.

Can I freeze blondies?

Yes, you can freeze blondies. Allow them to cool to room temperature, then place the blondie slices in an airtight container. If you want to freeze the whole slab, leave the blondies in the pan, and wrap the pan tightly in a few layers of storage wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze the blondies for up to one month.

To thaw, place the blondies in the fridge overnight, then give them a quick refresh in a 325° oven until the blondies are heated through, 5 to 10 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Blondies Tips

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Are blondies meant to be gooey in the middle?

Yes, blondies can be gooey in the middle if that’s your style. Think of blondies like a classic chocolate chip cookie. Some folks like theirs fully baked, while others prefer them to be just barely cooked through. You can also cook them a bit longer for a firmer bar.

Why do my blondies taste like cake?

If your blondies have a texture like cake, they are overbaked. We always recommend an oven thermometer for temperature monitoring so nothing gets over- or underbaked.

How do you serve blondies?

Blondies are an unfussy dessert. Just cut up these dessert bars, and enjoy with a glass of milk. If you want to take them to the next level, transform chocolate chip blondies into a blondie sundae with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and your favorite toppings like caramel and nuts.