Blondies

Zingerman's bakehouse makes the best pecan blondies. We found this recipe online that is supposed to be the Zingerman's recipe. We made a few tweaks but they came out pretty darn good!

INGREDIENTS

BATTER

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 tablespoons dark rum or whiskey
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

PRALINE

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup pecan pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup, plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS

• 1
  1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• 2
  2. Line a 8“ x 8” baking pan with parchment paper.
• 3
  3. Make the Praline: first, brown the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Then add the pecan pieces, salt and vanilla extract and toss to coat. Stir to combine.
• 4
  4. Put the hot buttery pecans into the 8 x 8 pan and place into the oven at 300 degrees F for 10 minutes.
• 5
  5. When the nuts are just out of the oven, put the granulated sugar into the saucepan and melt it over medium heat. Bring to a boil stirring minimally and let the sugar caramelize to a nice light brown color. Immediately add the pecans (which are still warm from the oven) and then pour the mixture back onto the parchment paper. Let cool. *** Be careful not to burn the sugar*** Take it off the heat immediately after it turns brown.
• 6
  6. Turn the oven up to 325 degrees F.
• 7
  7. Make the batter. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. 
• 8
  8. Add the butter to the brown sugar. Then add the rum (or whiskey) and vanilla extract. 
• 10
  9. Add the eggs after the mixture is cooled.

  
  10. In a separate container or bowl, combine the flour, the salt and the baking powder, using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Add the brown sugar mixture to this mixture.
• 12
  11. Break up the cooled praline and add to the bowl in chunks. Stir.
• 13
  12. Pour the batter into the 8x8 pan lined in parchment paper.

  
  

  13. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center is nearly clean.14. Remove from the oven and cool on a cooling rack. Cut into 16 squares.
• 
  

  Adapted from:http://www.tastebook.com/recipes/2233222-Praline-Blondies?full_recipe=true