• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Kickass Baker
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Let's Work Together!
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Work With Me
  • Baking Resources
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Bars & Brownies

    Chocolate Chip Blondies

    May 29, 2020 By Kimberlee Ho 16 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Chocolate Chip Blondies| kickassbaker.com pin for pinterest
    Easy Chocolate Chip Blondies recipe | kickassbaker.com pin for pinterest 2
    Easy Chocolate Chip Blondies recipe | kickassbaker.com pin for pinterest with text
    Easy Chocolate Chip Blondies recipe | kickassbaker.com pin for pinterest with text 2

    Here's your new go-to dessert recipe. Easy Chocolate Chip Blondies that you can throw together in a snap, bake off and serve in just about 30ish minutes start to finish.

    Best part? These Chocolate Chip Blondies are ooey, gooey, packed full of chocolate and are soon to become a family favorite in your house and the most requested among your friends.

    Stack of brown butter blondies with melted chocolate poured on top.

    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • What are chocolate chip blondies
    • Ingredients & substitutions
    • Brown butter vs. melted butter
    • How to make easy chocolate chip brownies
    • Pro tips 
    • FAQs
    • More recipes
    • Chocolate Chip Blondies Recipe

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • Brown butter is the secret ingredient for super-chewy, butterscotchy blondies
    • Part cookie and part brownie, no one can resist this classic sweet treat
    • Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to take buttery-soft blonde brownies over-the-top
    • The perfect easy and quick dessert that’s practically no-fail
    Blondies are made using one bowl and no mixer needed.

    What are chocolate chip blondies

    Sure, you could take your tried and true Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe (here’s my best one, if that’s what you’re looking for!) and spread the batter in a pan rather than scoop into individual cookies.

    However, this usually doesn’t turn out so well in that the cookie bars are dry and tough.

    Chocolate chip cookie recipes are created with the intent to bake cookies individually.

    And without the browning that occurs from baking them individually, you end up with dry and tough cookie bars.

    So what makes these chocolate chip blondies special, you ask? Lemme tell ya.

    For starters, they contain no leavener like in cookies, such as baking soda or baking powder, so they have chewy edges and gooey centers.

    Adding leavener would make these more cakey and we are going for the opposite of that. Chewy blondies all the way.

    Blondies made with chocolate chips are easy and delicious.

    This recipe starts with brown butter.

    Now, the brown butter is optional (you could just melt the butter instead), BUT the brown butter brings a delicious nuttiness to the chocolate chip blondies that is really something special. (see more on the brown butter below). And for a full tutorial on How to Make Brown Butter, click here!

    Lastly, there's a good amount of brown sugar in this blondie recipe and no granulated sugar, which provides a chewy texture, rich caramel flavor and helps maintain moisture in the final baked cookie bar.

    So, to be straight with you, these easy chocolate chip blondies are nothing short of buttery, dense in the best way possible, gooey deliciousness you need to bake ASAP.

    Blondies take less than 30 minutes to make start to finish.

    Ingredients & substitutions

    • All-purpose flour and salt
    • Chocolate chips: My favorite is semi-sweet chocolate. Or change up the flavor and mix and match any kind you like: milk chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, white chocolate chips and butterscotch chips
    • Butter: I like unsalted best 
    • Brown sugar: substitute light brown sugar if you don’t have dark
    • Egg: you’ll only need one large room temperature egg
    • Vanilla extract: use a good quality pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla. You can tell the difference!
    Need a go-to easy dessert recipe? Chocolate Chip Blondies are it.

    Brown butter vs. melted butter

    Butter is essential. It makes everything in our lives taste so much better.

    But when you melt it and brown it, these chocolate chip blondies get taken to a whole other level.

    Like, I wanna eat the entire bowl of batter now cuz the it’s just so damn good level. But, I won’t do that (well, maybe just a little…).

    That’s cuz the browned butter, for one, gives the blondies a chewier texture which is what moves them out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary category.

    And, brown butter makes the flavor of these blondies slightly nuttier tasting and full of butterscotchy goodness.

    A flavor that goes oh-so-well in this recipe.

    Browning the butter takes just a few minutes and is worth its weight in gold, if you ask me.

    The brown butter adds an extra layer of nutty flavor that you wouldn’t otherwise achieve with plain melted butter.

    For a full tutorial on How to Make Brown Butter, click here!

    To brown butter, place the butter (it can be cold from the fridge) in a saucepan over medium-low heat and swirl the butter around in the pan every minute or so.

    Keep a careful eye on it, as the butter can go from melted to burned, passing right over that perfect browned phase quickly if you’re not paying attention.

    You’ll start to see brown flecks in the butter and smell a nutty aroma. That’s how you know it’s done!

    How to brown butter by melting butter in a skillet
    how to make brown butter by melting butter in a skillet

    How to make easy chocolate chip brownies

    Step 1

    Start by heating your oven to 350°F (177°C) and lining a square baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

    Step 2

    Melt the butter in a medium-sized skillet over medium-low heat. Stir it as it melts until it is barely browned and has a nutty smell. Butter can easily burn, so make sure you keep an eye on it.

    Step 3

    Add the browned butter and brown sugar to a large mixing bowl. Whisk until the mixture looks like wet sand and the ingredients are well blended. Add the egg and vanilla, then whisk until combined. Pour in the flour and salt until just blended. You shouldn’t be able to see any dry spots. Fold in the chocolate chunks. 

    Step 4

    Scoop the blondie batter into the prepared pan. Press the dough into the corners until it forms an even layer. After a baking time of 20-25 minutes, the edges will turn golden brown and the bars will be finished. Remove from the oven and cool the pan on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes.

    Step 5

    Cut the cooled blondies into 16 squares. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.

    Mix in dark chocolate chip to this blondie batter for a delicious dessert.
    Chocolate chip blondie batter is so good with brown butter.

    Pro tips 

    • Browning the butter for this chocolate chip blondie recipe is completely optional. But, it doesn't take long (see above for a how-to) and is well worthwhile for adding an extra layer of flavor to this recipe
    • I recommend baking these just until they seem barely baked in the middle. This will result in that ooey gooey center we're going for. Allow the blondies to cool in the pan for a bit which will continue the baking for a few more minutes in the hot pan. Overbaking these chocolate chip blondies will result in a more cakey texture. If that's what you're going for, then keep them in the oven up to 5 minutes longer than the recipe calls for
    • As difficult as it may sound, allow these to cool for at least 20 minutes before cutting into them. This time will allow the blondies to continue baking a bit and set up or firm up just slightly enough for them to hold together well when you slice them up

    Like this recipe? Follow me on Pinterest for lots more recipes just like this one! And don’t forget to pin this recipe for later by clicking on one of the images below the recipe. Or, click on any of the images in this post to save to Pinterest.

    FAQs

    What is the difference between a blondie and a brownie?

    Blondies are lighter and softer than brownies, with a taste more like chocolate chip cookies. Blondies are bar cookies that use brown sugar and vanilla, while brownies use cocoa powder and melted chocolate.

    How can you tell if a blondie is undercooked?

    When done, the tops of the blondies will turn golden brown and the edges will start to pull away from the sides of the pan. The toothpick test should yield a few moist crumbs but no uncooked batter.

    Are blondies supposed to be gooey?

    The best blondies have gooey centers and chewy edges. If you bake them for 20-25 minutes and let them cool slightly before cutting, you’ll end up with done-just-right bars.

    FOR ALL MY FAVORITE BAKING TOOLS INCLUDING THOSE USED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE, CHECK OUT MY BAKING RESOURCES PAGE!

    Blondies with chocolate chips and brown butter are simple and delicious.

    More recipes

    • Salted Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies
    • Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
    • Milk Chocolate Toffee Cookies
    • Espresso Chocolate Chunk Cookies

    Did you enjoy a KICKASS BAKER recipe? Please share a comment and leave a 5 Star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rating on this recipe! We appreciate you sharing your feedback!

    Brown Butter chocolate chip blondies are a quick and easy dessert.

    Chocolate Chip Blondies Recipe

    These Chocolate Chip Blondies take 30ish minutes to make start to finish. They’re chewy and packed full of chocolate and brown butter goodness!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Course: All Recipes, Dessert, Snacks
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 16 servings
    Calories: 207kcal
    Author: Kimberlee Ho
    US Customary - Metric

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup unsalted butter
    • 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
    • 1 large egg room temperature
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F (177ºC). Line a square 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
    • In a medium skillet set over medium-low heat, melt the butter, cooking and stirring until the butter is just browned and smells nutty (keep an eye on it and be careful not to cook it too long or it’ll burn).
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the browned butter and brown sugar until well blended. The mixture will resemble wet sand. Add in the egg and vanilla and whisk to combine. Add in the flour and salt, stirring with a wooden spoon until just blended and no dry flour spots appear. Stir in the chocolate chips.
    • Scoop batter into prepared baking dish and press gently into corners to form an even layer. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until edges are golden brown. Cool blondies in the pan then cut into 16 squares. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream (optional)

    Notes

    • Store cooled blondies covered at room temperature for up to 5 days
    • Recipe slightly adapted from Smitten Kitchen

    Nutrition

    Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 28.5g | Protein: 2.5g | Fat: 10.1g | Saturated Fat: 6.2g | Cholesterol: 26.9mg | Sodium: 78.1mg | Fiber: 1.3g | Sugar: 20.1g
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @kickassbaker on Instagram so I can see!

    Notice: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. By clicking on any of these links, you are consenting to us to place cookies on your browser.

    Filed Under

    Bars & BrowniesCookies
    « Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
    Sugar Cookie Bars »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tasia ~ two sugar bugs

      June 01, 2020 at 2:02 am

      The brown butter and all brown sugar have to make these chocolate chip blondies insanely delicious!! I know they would not last long at my house!

      Reply
      • Kim

        June 01, 2020 at 11:45 am

        Thanks Tasia!!!

        Reply
    2. Alene

      June 10, 2020 at 8:17 pm

      I wonder if gluten free flour would work. Thanks.

      Reply
      • Kim

        June 11, 2020 at 2:08 pm

        I haven't tried it in this recipe, but I bet using a one-for-one gluten free all-purpose flour would work just fine in this recipe!

        Reply
    3. Christine D

      August 02, 2020 at 5:43 pm

      5 stars
      These were the 2 time I've had blondies. The first time, I bought one from a specialty grocery store and it was a local brand and I didn't like it, but I was determined to like blondies because of all the fun flavors usually tied to them, so I really wanted to try fresh homemade ones. So I made these on Friday night and ate about 80-85% of the pan in about 24 hours, by myself--theyr'e that good! My husband was kind enough to help me eat some LOL. They are so good, I wish I had another pan!! The chewiness is perfect and the flavor is SO GOOD!! I added toasted pecans in mine. I will definitely be referring back to your recipe for blondies!! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kim

        August 06, 2020 at 7:37 pm

        I am so glad to hear that you love these as much as I do!! They're so good!

        Reply
    4. Maria

      May 10, 2021 at 12:23 pm

      5 stars
      Brown butter just makes it better,! Really great recipe and super easy to put together.

      Reply
      • Kim

        May 13, 2021 at 7:15 pm

        Yes! So happy to hear this Maria!! This is a fave in my house, too!

        Reply
    5. SHussain

      August 19, 2021 at 10:44 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is so easy and the blondies tasted delicious. I highly recommend for a quick but tasty dessert!

      Reply
      • Kim

        August 22, 2021 at 5:36 pm

        Yes! Thank you for baking and sharing your thoughts!

        Reply
    6. Shannon

      September 09, 2021 at 4:15 pm

      5 stars
      It's a rainy day and I found myself craving a blondie, which I haven't made or had in years. Searched until I found a recipe that (a) mentioned browning the butter, and (b) mentioned "gooey" more than once. And here we are! In one short hour I've browned butter, followed your recipe, let them cool (most difficult part!) and now just ate a small square. DELICIOUS! Perfect in every way! Truly scrumptiously gooey (yet shape-retaining!) and tasty. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kim

        September 09, 2021 at 5:55 pm

        So happy you found just what you were looking for, Shannon! Thanks so much for your comment - it's so helpful for other bakers, too. Enjoy!

        Reply
    7. Nancy Anderson

      October 12, 2021 at 7:55 pm

      These Blondies are delicious! I think it is that brown butter taste that brings our the delicious flavors. They were so easy to make too. I think that these will be my new go to!

      Reply
      • Kim

        October 18, 2021 at 4:59 pm

        Yay Nancy! This made my day! I'm so happy you loved them.

        Reply
    8. Gloria

      October 04, 2022 at 8:03 am

      3 stars
      They taste great overall. Took me about 10-15 min to make which is great! I measured everything as it says on the recipe. They came out soft at first but about an hour later they were hard. Covered them up but it didn’t work, still hard. A bit disappointed.

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        October 05, 2022 at 9:29 pm

        I'm sorry to hear that, Gloria. I wonder what went wrong...

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hey there!  Thank you so much for visiting Kickass Baker!  I’m Kim, the working mom and home baker behind this blog.  I know how crazy life can be.  Too often, we can beat ourselves up and give up things we enjoy because we think we aren’t great at them.  But you are kicking ass everyday and I’m here to help you bake up some crazy-good recipes and embrace your Kickass Baker!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Bakery-Style Double Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe
    • Dalgona Coffee Chocolate Cake
    • Fluffy Challah Bread
    • One Hour Cinnamon Rolls
    • Brioche Donuts with Vanilla Cream Filling
    • Challah Rolls

    Let's Connect!

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    FeedFeed

    Hey there!  Thank you so much for visiting Kickass Baker!  I’m Kim, the working mom and home baker behind this blog.  I know how crazy life can be.  Too often, we can beat ourselves up and give up things we enjoy because we think we aren’t great at them.  But you are kicking ass everyday and I’m here to help you bake up some crazy-good recipes and embrace your Kickass Baker!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Bakery-Style Double Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe
    • Dalgona Coffee Chocolate Cake
    • Fluffy Challah Bread
    • One Hour Cinnamon Rolls
    • Brioche Donuts with Vanilla Cream Filling
    • Challah Rolls

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Kim
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Kickass Baker