Blondie (confection)

Blondies are a type of dessert bar that is similar to brownies but with a different flavor. They are made with brown sugar instead of cocoa and are often baked in a pan, and then cut into squares or rectangles. Other ingredients such as walnuts or chips can be added to the mixture. Blondies are soft and chewy. The name blondies comes from their light color, which contrasts with the dark color of traditional brownies.

History
The first recipe for blondies was published in 1896 by Fannie Farmer, a pioneer of modern American cookery. Notably, they were called brownies when the recipe was first published. However, her recipe contained vanilla and molasses instead of cocoa, which gave the blondies their golden color. Blondies are the predecessors of the brownie; some food writers argue that they are the original brownie because the first recipe for today's chocolate brownies was published almost a decade later in 1906 by Fannie Farmer. A common misconception is that brownies are named after their brown color; in fact, they were named after the "Brownies", elfin characters that were popular in books and folk stories, chosen due to their brown color. It was not until the mid-1970s or early 1980s that the terms blondie and butterscotch brownies seemed to appear.

Appearance
A blondie bar typically has a golden or light brown color, attributed to the use of brown sugar and vanilla instead of cocoa. They are usually square or rectangular, cut from a larger pan of baked dough. Depending on the recipe, the surface can have a slight crackle, or it may be smooth and shiny. Additional ingredients like chocolate chips or nuts might be visible on the surface or when biting into the bar.

Variations
Blondies can be customized with a variety of ingredients to create unique flavors. Some popular variations include:


 * Chocolate chip blondies: These blondies are loaded with chocolate chips for a rich, chocolatey flavor.
 * Nutty blondies: Nuts like walnuts or pecans can be added to the blondie mix for a crunchy texture and nutty flavor.
 * Butterscotch blondies: Butterscotch chips are added to the mix to give these blondies a sweet, buttery flavor.
 * Coconut blondies: Shredded coconut is mixed into the batter for a tropical twist.
 * Caramel blondies: A layer of caramel is added to the middle of these blondies for a gooey, sweet surprise.
 * Caramelized white chocolate pistachio blondies: Featuring the rich, caramel-like flavor of caramelized white chocolate and the nutty crunch of pistachios.

Serving and pairing
They are usually paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Blondies can also be topped with caramel or chocolate sauce.