Chocolate-Shortbread Blondies with Macaroon Topping

Prep Time:
30 mins
Bake Time:
32 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
32

Ingredients

  • 3 ½ cup all-purpose flour

  • cup granulated sugar

  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 1 ⅔ cup butter

  • ½ cup miniature semisweet chocolate pieces

  • 2 cup packed brown sugar

  • 2 eggs

  • 2 teaspoon vanilla

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 cup chopped salted cashews or peanuts

  • 1 Recipe Macaroon Topping

  • Melted milk chocolate (optional)

Macaroon Topping

  • cup sugar

  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 ¼ cup unsweetened flaked coconut

  • 3 egg whites, lightly beaten

  • ½ teaspoon vanilla

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with heavy foil, extending the foil over edges of pan. Grease foil; set pan aside. For crust, in a medium bowl stir together 1-1/2 cups of the flour, the granulated sugar, and cocoa powder. Using a pastry blender, cut in 1 cup of the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in chocolate pieces. Press mixture evenly onto the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake about 8 minutes or until set. Prepare Macaroon Topping; set aside.

  2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan cook and stir brown sugar and the remaining 2/3 cup butter over medium heat until butter is melted and mixture is smooth. Cool slightly. Add eggs, one at a time, beating with a wooden spoon after each addition just until combined. Stir in vanilla. Stir in the remaining 2 cups flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Stir in cashews.

  3. Pour batter over crust, spreading evenly. Spoon Macaroon Topping over batter; carefully spread to edges of pan. Bake for 32 to 34 minutes or until topping is light brown. Cool in pan on a wire rack. If desired, drizzle with melted milk chocolate. Using the edges of the foil, lift uncut bars out of pan. Cut into bars.

Macaroon Topping

  1. In a medium bowl stir together sugar and flour. Stir in coconut, egg whites, and vanilla.

Layer bars between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes if chilled. Thaw bars if frozen.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

291 Calories
15g Fat
38g Carbs
4g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 32
Calories 291
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 37mg 12%
Sodium 160mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 38g 14%
Total Sugars 24g
Protein 4g
Calcium 30.3mg 2%
Iron 1.4mg 8%
Potassium 107mg 2%
Folate, total 32.3mcg
Vitamin B-12 0.1mcg
Vitamin B-6 0mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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