These blondies are the ultimate dessert with the ideal combination of smoky, salty, and sweet! The addition of bourbon is optional, but we highly recommend adding it. The smokiness of the spirit is the perfect complement to the bacon topping, and the alcohol cooks out during baking.
Another optional ingredient is the maple extract in the frosting, giving it a double dose of maple flavor. You can find maple extract in most grocery stores or online but feel free to leave it out if you’d like.
Serves 12
Active time 20 minutes
Total time 40 minutes (plus cooling time)
Ingredients
For the Bourbon Blondies:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. cornstarch
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- ¼ tsp. baking soda
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 Tbsp. bourbon (optional)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
For the Maple Frosting:
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp. whole milk
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- ½ tsp. maple extract (optional)
For garnish:
- 4 slices MOINK bacon, cooked and crumbled
Cooking instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square metal baking pan and line with parchment paper, allowing 2 inches to extend over the edges to use as a handle for lifting the blondies out of the pan after they bake.
- Make the Blondies: Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.
- Whisk together the brown sugar and butter in a large bowl. Add the egg and whisk until mixture is smooth. Add the flour mixture and stir until combined. Stir in the bourbon, vanilla, and walnuts.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake at 350°F for 20 to 24 minutes or until the blondies are browned and set. Let the blondies cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing from the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. (Use the parchment paper as handles.)
- While the blondies bake, make the Maple Frosting: Combine the butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, and milk in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer 1 minute or until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat, and stir in the extracts. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and refrigerate, stirring occasionally until the mixture thickens and is a spreadable frosting. (About 1 hour.)
- Spread the frosting onto the cooled blondies and sprinkle with bacon. Cut into squares to serve.
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