Brown butter vanilla bean blondies are rich, gooey, and completely decadent. If you’re looking for a vanilla blondie recipe that stands out from the rest, look no further! People request this recipe from me all the time!
This morning I was in the mood to make blondies. I pulled out my recipe for Chocolate Pretzel Peanut Butter Blondies and wondered how I might change it up.
I had no chocolate pretzels, peanut butter chips OR bittersweet chocolate in the house (sadness). But I wanted to work with what I had.
My pantry is overflowing; I shouldn’t be constantly running to the grocery store to jam it with additional baking ingredients.Â
I looked inside my overflowing pantry and immediately spied vanilla beans. Perfect.
I looked at the recipe and when I read “one stick of butter” my brain immediately went to brown butter. Done and done.
Did I want to add any other spices? Nope- keep it plain, simple and sweet. So there we have it: brown butter vanilla bean blondies.
They’re rich, gooey and decadent. I ate 2 straight out of the oven, savoring the rich, brown butter and sweet vanilla flavor and then immediately gave the rest away.
I could have eaten the entire batch without blinking an eye. That’s how good these are.
Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Blondies
Ingredients
- 4 ounces unsalted butter
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 vanilla bean
- 5 ounces all-purpose flour (approximately 1 cup)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x8 pan.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter is completely melted, turn the heat up to medium high and whisk constantly for several minutes until the butter has browned (watch carefully during this process to make sure it does not burn). Allow to cool for several minutes.
- Use a paring knife to split the vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the browned butter, egg, vanilla extract and brown sugar until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vanilla seeds, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Stir the dry ingredients into the wet until evenly combined. Pour into the greased pan, spreading the mixture evenly.
- Bake for 20-23 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool before serving.
Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!
Nutrition
Recipe Troubleshooting
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Renee @ Awesome on $20 says
I absolutely love vanilla. I think it’s a shame that people assume vanilla means plain. Not if you’re doing it right. These sound so good!
Jackie {Domestic Fits} says
Vanilla and brown butter are such a perfect match. Beautiful job :)
Julie @ Table for Two says
Beyond amazing!! Your photos are so gorgeous too!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
Brown butter and vanilla bean are a powerhouse combination!
Tieghan says
These look awesome! Brown butter and vanilla anything I am always game for!
natalie @ wee eats says
The rich, nutty flavor of browned butter mixed with the subtle vanilla sounds beyond amazing right now. And gorgeous photos, as always :) Thanks for sharing!
Jen L | Tartine and Apron Strings says
Once I see the words “brown butter” and “vanilla bean”, you’ve got my undivided attention. They are the simplest yet most delicious things in the world that can elevate an otherwise plain dessert bar like this. Hello? yum.com called and they s aid this recipe is awesome!!! :)
Laura@bakinginpyjamas says
I love the simplicity of these Jen, they are wonderful! I love blondies, having recently discovered them.
Carolyn says
I just bought vanilla beans for the first time. I might have to try a LC version of this! :)
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Oh man, these look incredible! I can only imagine how wonderful the flavor is. Also, beautiful photos!!
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie says
Let’s see…I love…
Brown butter…
Vanilla…
Blondies…
Yup, these are a triple threat! :)
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
Jen! I love these! love the vanilla + brown butter combo! yummm! and totally agree with you on the NOT constantly running to the grocery store to jam the pantry with additional baking items. . my pantry is crazy!!
ashley - baker by nature says
Oh Jen, these look 100% INCREDIBLE!
Yvette says
These look pretty darn incredible! Yum!
Kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts says
Jen,
I like the new logo/header–very fresh and pretty!
The blondes? I wish you’d given them away to me!