DARK CHOCOLATE CHERRY BLONDIES

 If you like Blondies, this is the one for you.  I will tell you, I modified the "add-ins" the recipe originally called for, so I'm going to take credit for the amazing flavor explosion of dark chocolate and dried cherries in these blondies. 

They are super easy to prep.  Plan on about 20 minutes.  Bake time is roughly 30 minutes.  So basically, within an hour you can be enjoying your first bite!  Oh, and in case you're wondering, the original combination was dark chocolate and cranberries.

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup light or dark brown sugar, firmly packed

¼ cup granulated sugar

½ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

1 large egg + 1 egg yolk, at room temp

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. orange zest*

½ tsp. baking powder 

½ tsp. kosher salt, or ¼ tsp. table salt

1 1/3 cup flour

3/4 dark chocolate chips or chunks

3/4 cup dried cherries

*I've made these twice and left the zest out.  I just never seem to have this spice in my pantry.  

DIRECTIONS:

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.  Line a 9 inch square pan with a parchment paper sling, or grease with non-stick spray.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, sugar, and melted butter.  Add in the egg, yolk, vanilla and orange zest.  Whisk until well incorporated, about 30 seconds.

Add the baking powder, salt and flour to the bowl and mix by hand until well combined.  Stir for about 30 seconds to purposely develop a little bit of gluten, which will give your blondies more chewiness.  Fold in the chocolate and cherries.

Transfer the mixture into your prepared pan and spread evenly. 

Bake for 28-33 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Set the pan on a cooling rack for about 15 minutes before slicing into squares (or as I did, triangles).  

Enjoy!

Adapted from:  www.sallysbakingaddiction.com