Chewy, Chunky Blondies
These chewy, chunky blondies are filled to the brim with add-ins like chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, walnuts and coconut. They’re the perfect bar cookie for someone who loves lots of “stuff” in their desserts!Â
Ahh blondies. They may represent the one instance in life when blondes get overlooked for a brunette. Brownies are by far the more popular of the two, but blondies have made quite a name for themselves recently, and with all sorts of varieties cropping up, they allow for infinite creative experiments. These chewy, chunky blondies were only the third blondie recipe I had EVER made wayyyyy back seven years ago (after experimenting with coconut chocolate chunk blondies and snickerdoodle blondies), and they officially cemented my spot in the blondie fan club.
The combination of brown sugar and butter create a velvety butterscotch flavor that is slightly sweet, rich, and a perfect canvas on which to lay your favorite combination of flavors and ingredients. In this case, we’re layering on TONS of flavors and ingredients, and they are absolutely sublime.
One of the things I love most about brownies is how simple they are to throw together and the minimal amount of equipment and time needed. Although most blondie recipes I have come across do require you to beat the butter and sugar with a mixer, it’s just as easy as regular cookie dough, and in fact, even easier because there’s no shaping or dropping needed – you just spread the dough right into the pan and pop it into the oven.
I love this combination of semisweet chocolate, butterscotch, walnuts and coconut, but you could substitute any of your favorites… white chocolate, peanut butter chips, toffee pieces, etc. I do love the addition of the nuts in this recipe – they add a bit of crunchy texture and break up the sweetness. Again, use your favorite – pecans, almonds, peanuts, etc. I can’t wait to see the variations that you come up with!
Q: Do you have a favorite blondie recipe?
One year ago: Nectarine and Honey Slab Pie
Four years ago: Blueberry Buttermilk Sherbet
Five years ago: Blackberry Gin Fizz Float
Chewy, Chunky Blondies
Ingredients
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon (0.75 teaspoon) baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) baking soda
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1½ cups (330 g) light brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (180 g) semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup (170 g) butterscotch chips
- 1 cup (117 g) coarsely chopped walnuts
- 1 cup (90 g) sweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9x13-inch baking pan; set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- With a stand or hand mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Add both sugars and beat for another 3 minutes, until well incorporated. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until fully incorporated after each addition, then beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture, mixing just until they disappear into the batter. Using a rubber spatula, stir in the chips, nuts and coconut. Scrape the batter into the buttered pan and use the spatula to even the top as best as you can.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center of the blondies comes out clean. The blondies should pull away from the sides of the pan a little and the top should be a nice honey brown. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool completely. Cut into bars; store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
This recipe was originally published on August 18, 2010.
This recipe is verbatim from Dorie Greenspan. It would be good to give her credit, otherwise it’s plagiarism.
Being a household of one, it’s dangerous to make a whole pan of a dessert. So I quartered the recipe & baked it in a small 7 x 4″ loaf pan in the air fryer at 320 degrees for 15 minutes. Because I was only using 1/4 cup of the add-ins, it gave me the chance to use up some bits I had sitting around – namely peanut butter chips instead of butterscotch. Also had some leftover green-colored coconut from a long-ago baking project, so in it went. They came out perfectly & are delicious with a crunch outside. And you can’t even see the green coconut!
They had no butterscotch chips at the Supermarket, and so I bought salted caramel chips, which sound like a great substitute. However, how much of the half teaspoon salt should I delete from the recipe, since the chips have salt? Also, is it okay to use dark brown sugar, which is what I have on hand?
Thanks!
Hi Gloria, I don’t think the chips will impart so much saltiness that you’d need to reduce the salt in the dough. If you’re worried about it though, you could cut it in half. And yes, you can use brown sugar… you’ll get more of a butterscotch flavor!
I tried these tonite. They look and smell wonderful!
I hope these are like the chewies from the Black Dog on Martha’s Vineyard!
Oh no! I did everything you said. Knife in the center. Came out clean. Shut off oven, cooled them. Cut into them and they weren’t done. I’m so so sad. Rats! Next time. I will do it my way. Dang it!
I made these to take to work this week to treat my boss for his birthday. Everyone loved them and they were gone fast. They were so chewy and delicious! My daughter and daughter-in-law need to eat gluten free. Bar desserts are so easy to sub out the regular flour with King Arthur’s gf flour. Of course, you have to make sure the add-ins are gf also, but that is easy to do. I told my daughter I would make them for her birthday. She loves everything butterscotch. Thanks for your wonderful recipes and also the stories and pictures of your beautiful children. It always brightens my day!
These look so yummy, but to answer your question, I really love Smitten Kitchen’s blondie recipe (https://smittenkitchen.com/2006/11/blondies/) because of how easy and fast they are to make. They’re definitely one of my go-to last minute dessert recipes because they use pantry ingredients, are SOOO adaptable with add ins (like yours), and they come together super quickly in one bowl. I think you’d definitely like them. :D
Thanks so much for sharing, I’m going to check them out!
they are delicious….Â
So glad you enjoyed them, Phyllis! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!
I made two different blondie recipes tonight, this one blew the other out of the water!! Delicious flavor!! Baked a little longer than recipe says! But great recipe!!
That’s awesome! So glad you enjoyed them!
My 6 year old granddaughter, Kaylee, was just asking if we could make blondies since she is a blondie. These look awesome! We will have to try your recipe. Lol
Aww how cute! I hope you enjoy them!
Would you say it’s important to stick to the 4 cups of add-ins?  Or would leaving out a cup alter the consistency too much  or change the baking time?
They look so beautiful! Â How did you get such clean cuts?
Hi Lorr, You could certainly leave out a cup, I don’t think it would have any negative effects whatsoever.
And thank you! I used my big chef’s knife and just went straight down, no sawing.
I would love these, but my husband does not eat coconut!! Can I leave it out or substitute something else?
Hi Karen, You could definitely just leave out the coconut.
I was never a huge fan of blondies, but there was a bakery around here that would make monster cookie blondies and they were amazing. They had chocolate chips, m&m’s, and a few other things, but the add in that always left the biggest impact on me was the Oreo bits. They just went so well with the blondie. I’ll have to try to recreate that with this recipe.
That sounds amazing!
I made these blondes today for the first time and made a few changes. Instead of the butter I used all natural chunky peanut butter and coconut oil. I reduced the total amount of sugar to 1 cup and I used coconut sugar. I added a mix of milk and dark chocolate chips and raisins along with toasted coconut. They turned out fantastic and my husband said that they are his new favourite bar. Thanks for a great recipe
These were easy to make and delicious to eat…everyone loved them :)
Just made these and I only have one thing to say……YUM!!!
Hi, if I wanted to halve this recipe and bake it in an 8x8inch pan, I was wondering how much baking soda and baking powder I would have to use to get the same results? And also what the baking time would be? Thanks!
Hi Joanna, Just use half as much as the recipe calls for. I haven’t tried cutting these in half so I’m not sure exactly what the baking time would be, just keep an eye on them!
Had no coconut, walnuts so butterscotch so made with pecans, chocolate chips, and slivered almonds and filberts- hope they turn out!
Hi, recipe looks absolutely fab! Can we minus butterscotch chips?
Absolutely!
Found this when I was searching your site for a bar cookie recipe I could whip up quickly (always find reliably awesome recipes on your site)! These turned out great! Yummy, chewy, just the texture I like! Great mix of flavors – i didn’t have butterscotch chips so used a combo of semi, bittersweet & white chocolate chips along with the coconut & nuts. Brought them to a work meeting & received many compliments! Thank you!!
Amazing recipe Michelle!! I made it yesterday and they turned out beautiful just like your pictures my hubby couldn’t stop eating them.. Thank you for posting it
My kids love these blondies. They always beg me to make them! They are now my go to treat to bring to parties.
I’m always looking forward to finding new recipes to make online, so i was very happy when i found your website. The only problem i have is with all these comments. They all write about how wonderful it looks and how it sounds good but none stating that they’ve actually tried the recipe. I have tried two so far, this recipe being one of them, and they were amazingly decadent and delicious. I would really appreciate comments from people who have actually tried the recipes. Thanks :O)
how do you get 36 bars? may i ask how many inches did you cut per bar? thank you!
Did you double the recipe. I loved the blondies but mine turned out thinner than how your appear in the picture. I was hoping they might be more the size of a brownie.
Hi Todd, I did not double the recipe. I would check to make sure that your baking powder and baking soda aren’t expired. Also, be sure not to overmix.
These blondies are just so sinfully delicious. Every time I have made them I have got a ton of compliments. Thanks for posting this delicious recipe! Tonight I made a lighter version of blondies, maybe not as delicious as the originals, but still pretty tasty! http://thesweethealthylife.com/?p=77
Just made these. They are incredibly yum!!!
Made these for my parents, they loved them! If you are in the mood for a yummy treat, make this recipe (: !
Finally got these ones made after being in my recipe stash for far too long! My whole family loved them. Posted my results on my blog. Thanks for sharing!
These were amazing!! Didn’t have nuts or coconut so just left them out but they were still great! had to cook for an extra 7 min to get the right consistency. These were simple and delicious! Thanks!
Do you need to put the coconut in the recipe?
Hi Lauren, No, you can omit the coconut if you wish.
Question – I made these blondies in a glass 9X13, checked them at 40 minutes and they were not done, went an additional 7 minutes and they appeared done. The edges looked in danger of overcooking. After cooling, I cut into them and the middle was completely gooey. How should I deal with this next time?
Hi Gretchen, First I would make sure that your oven temperature isn’t off (an oven thermometer is great). Secondly, sometimes I can have inconsistent results with glass baking pans. I use a light-colored aluminum pan (Magic Line) – they are fabulous!
Thanks, Michelle. I will get a new pan and try it again. The edge pieces that were cooked enough were delicious!
I made couples dozens of this Blondies bars. Handed them out at work. This blondies bar was gone in less a hour! WORTH MY TIME! I had one and wish I could saved some for myself however I’ll make some for the holidays! Looking forward to make some more! I changed nothing in that ingredients.
So glad these were a hit! Definitely make them again and hoard some for yourself :)
I’ve never had a blondie before! I thought I’d try your recipe since the look so good, thanks for sharing this recipe. I kind of have a thing for sweets.
-Gina-
These blondies look great! I have a good recipe but it makes them realllly thin so I might try this. :)
This is a great blondies recipe! I love blondies…yum!
I never think to make blondies, but the combination of coconut, butterscotch, and walnuts is so tempting.
Do I have a favorite blondie recipe?? I think that would be all of them. Give me a pan straight out of the oven and trouble would start! Yours look amazing. xo
Ha ha! Cinnamon, I agree. I won’t bake with it unless its autumn! The blondies look amazing!
I think I could eat this whole pan! I don’t think I have ever baked with butterscotch before, looks like this will be the first!
These look delicious. LOVE Blondies. Must make these STAT!
I’ve yet to meet a blondie that I didn’t like, but I love ones with a combo of chocolate and butterscotch chips. Also, a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top never hurts either.
I like any kind of brownie as long as it doesn’t have any chocolate in it. I’m a brunette but in this case I’ll take a blonde any day. That does look amazing; very chewy and gooey. Yum.
Another home-run! My mouth is watering!
Ooh… Love all of the “extras” in those brownies… chocolate, butterscotch, walnuts, and coconut? Yum!
These look heavenly! Chocolate, coconut, butterscotch and walnuts-so many of my favorite foods combined into one dessert, so you can be sure I’ll be trying this out very soon!
I don’t like coconut in anything but you make these look good!
Oh Jeez…kill me why don’t ya?? How am I supposed to stay on a diet looking at this stuff?? These look awesome.
Awesome looking blondies. Love all the add-ins!
I am one of those crazy people who likes blondies WAY better than brownies. My favorite are Bittman’s butterscotch blondies…but these are bound to rival those. I made your snickerdoodle blondies and thought they were FANTASTIC.
I think my favorite might be this one!
Yum! I think you are the queen of brownies and blondies. These are a must-try!
Please sign me up for the Blondies Fan Club! I love blondies , I love a old recipe I found years ago for the good old traditional blondies with lots of butter,brown sugar,lot of coconut,and tons of pecans! Thanks for sharing this great recipe!
I totally love blondies, and your mini cake stand. I have the same one, even has the same ribbon.
I don’t bake that often, but I do think these are something I could make this weekend!
I’m a member of the blondie fan club, too!! In fact, I’m a member of the brownie and blondie fan clubs… maybe I have a problem lol
These looks so good. I love how thick and chunky they look!
These are my favorite!! Love them. I even made them for our wedding-for the cookie/candy dessert station!
Chewy, gooey brownies how could you go wrong! Your brownie recipes are the best and give me lots of inspiration to start baking. Thanks for sharing!
These look great! Awesome pictures!
Gorgeous and boy do these look incredible!!
These look so yummy! I never liked blondies much until I worked at Starbucks and they sold a piece of heaven called the “Cranberry Bliss Bar”… I’ve been meaning to try and dupe that recipe for a while. You’ve reminded me to get my butt in the kitchen and figure it out!
I adore blondies. My first taste was at an art movie theatre in Cambridge, MA in the 80’s. Afterfinding them there, I was fascinated but I couldn’t find them anywhere else. I have only tried to make them in the past. They were good but not as good as I remembered. I will try this one soon and see if they match my memories.
i love blondies, possibly even more than brownies. ack! these look amazing!
Wow, they look great. I love blondies, especially Snickerdoodle blondies :)
Katie xox
looks absolutely delicious!
have a nice time!
Paula
You know? I’ve never made blondies! I was looking for a recipe with that something more and I think now I found it! I will have to try this
I’m of the thought that blondies really need something extra in them, like chocolate chips or nuts. The “add-ins” in these look yummy!