Blondies

These are so easy to make and absolutely delicious!

Ingredients:

• 1 stick butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup flour
• 1 1/2 cups mix-ins of your choice (see list of ideas below)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Butter an 8×8-inch baking pan, or line the bottom and two sides of one with parchment paper, buttering the exposed parts.
2. Melt butter. Pour into a medium or large bowl 
3. whisk in sugar until smooth. At this point, it should be cooled to lukewarm, but if it’s not, let it rest for a few minutes until it is
4. whisk in egg, vanilla, and sea salt.
5. Stir in flour and additions of your choice.
6. Scrape into prepared pan and smooth with spatula; the batter is thick and will take some nudging.
7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned at edges but looks a tiny bit underbaked. 
8. Let blondies cool in pan, or just let them cool in it for 10 minutes and use the parchment sling to slide them onto a cutting board. 
9. Cut into 16 or more squares.

Ideas for additions: chocolate chips, Chopped nuts, toasting them first for better flavor; 2 tablespoons espresso powder; 1/2 teaspoon mint or almond extract in place of the vanilla; 1/2 cup dried fruit; 1/4 cup bourbon, scotch or other whiskey (increase the flour by 1 tablespoon); a mix of chopped chocolate or candy bars (toffee bits would be fantastic here); peanut butter chips instead of chocolate chips.

**you can double the batch and bake in 9X13