Lloyd’s favorite flavor combo is mint and chocolate without a doubt, but a close second is anything with cinnamon, specifically coffee cakes or breakfast pastries.  I can see why- the smell and taste of cinnamon is homey and comforting.  I recently realized I had cinnamon chips hiding out in my pantry, leftover from making these cinnamon chip scones.  I dug out a recipe for blondies that I had printed awhile ago, knowing Lloyd would love it. 

You might be wondering, “What actually makes a blondie a blondie?” 

The answer is not bleach.  At least not as far as this post is concerned.  For all you “blondies” out there, we already know your secret! 

After a quick internet search, I learned that blondies are classified as dessert bars resembling brownies, with brown sugar (not chocolate) as the main ingredient.  I’m so glad I made my first batch!  They require only a few ingredients, and come together quickly.  Lloyd enjoyed them so much that I was forbidden from bringing them to work to share with my co-workers. 

Banana Cinnamon Chip Blondies

Print this recipe!

From Beantown Baker as seen on Erin’s Food Files

Ingredients

• 6 tbsp butter
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup banana puree
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup cinnamon chips
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a nine-inch-square baking pan.
2. Cream butter, add sugar and beat in egg. Stir in banana puree & vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. Add dry ingredients to wet until just combined.
4. Add cinnamon chips and walnuts and bake for 25 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and allow to cool before cutting into squares.

Because I used my (not-so) Amazing Brownie Pan, the bars came out much thicker than they would have with a regular pan.  I appreciate the perfect symmetry of the goodies, but I always find that I have too much batter to fit in the pan, and brownie batter is usually very thick at that.  Instead of chewy bars, they were reminiscent of mini bites of my favorite banana nut bread! 

All jacked up, that is! 

They were like banana bread’s hip, younger cousin. 

The blondies were dense, moist and packed with rich flavor.  I enjoyed the deviation from your standard, all-chocolate brownie.  The cinnamon chips were a super addition.  I liked how they didn’t melt completely, so that every few bites you’d be met with a burst of cinnamon.  Mouth-watering and highly addictive, this is a great alternative to ordinary banana bread!