Pecan-Chocolate Chip Blondies

This whole-grain chocolate chip blondie recipe has half the amount of brown sugar and butter as a traditional recipe and is made with 100% whole-wheat flour. The results: scrumptious toffee-flavored treats with fewer calories and less added sugars per serving.

Prep/Cook Time: 20 Minutes, Servings: 24

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups white whole-wheat flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup toasted pecans, chopped, divided
• 3/4 cup chopped semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips, divided

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or foil, allowing it to slightly overhang opposite edges. Coat with cooking spray.
2. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling often, until fragrant and starting to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Whisk in brown sugar; let cool for 15 minutes.
   
3. Meanwhile, whisk flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
   
4. Whisk eggs and vanilla into the cooled butter mixture until well combined. Add the flour mixture in two additions, gently folding until just combined. Reserve 2 tablespoons each pecans and chocolate chips; fold the remaining pecans and chocolate into the batter. Evenly spread the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the reserved nuts and chocolate on top.
   
5. Bake the blondies until light brown around the edges, 18 to 22 minutes. They will appear slightly underbaked in the center; but will firm up as they cool. Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, about 2 hours. To cut, grab the overhanging parchment or foil and transfer the whole batch to a cutting board, then cut into 24 bars.
   

© Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission.