I interrupt your regularly scheduled post on Blog is the New Black to bring you… me!
Hi there food-craving people! My name is Erin and am visiting today from The Spiffy Cookie. After salivating over Liz’s chicken pad thai and her mint chocolate brownies, I jumped at the change to guest post.
Did you realize that Valentine’s Day in less than a month away? I haven’t adjusted to writing 2012 yet and already have to also remember it’s almost a new month again. So in order to prepare myself for this change I decided to bake my first Valentine’s Day treat. Have you started thinking about what you want to make for your sweetie? Or maybe you like to pass out some yummy treats to family, friends and co-workers.
Heck, baking something and eating the entire pan by yourself may even be justified.
Just make sure to hide the evidence, mmmmmk?
In case some of you think it’s still a little early to be making festive treats, these blondies are only festive in their flavor. I used cherry chips and chopped almonds to ease you into the Valentine’s Day spirit. I had never seen cherry flavored baking morsels until I discovered them on an end-cap at Target. They definitely shine through in these blondies and were the perfect match for the almonds so don’t leave them out (unless of course you are allergic or really don’t like them – strange). I may have under baked mine… but that just makes me love them even more!
ALMOND CHERRY CHIP BLONDIES
Makes 16 two-inch bars
Ingredients
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1/2 cup butter, melted (I used MELT)
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1-2/3 cup packed brown sugar
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1 egg
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1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
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1 tsp salt
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1 cup all-purpose flour
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1/2 cup cherry flavored baking morsels
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1/2 cup chopped almonds
Directions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8"x8" pan with parchment paper, and grease.
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In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter and sugar. Add the egg, vanilla and salt and stir again.
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Gradually mix in the flour until just combined. Fold in the cherry chips and chopped almonds.
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Pour the batter into greased pan.
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Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown.
Source: Adapted slightly from Lovin’ From the Oven, originally from Eat, Live, Run.
