Description
Cashew caramel pretzel blondies deliver a perfect harmony of sweet and salty in one irresistible dessert. Crunchy pretzels, creamy caramel, and rich cashews combine to create a blondie experience that will have everyone craving another bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Nuts and Pretzels:
- 1 cup roasted cashews
- 1 cup pretzel pieces
Caramel and Sweet Elements:
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup caramel chips
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing excess to hang over the sides for easy removal.
- Cream butter and both sugars in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, creating a smooth, pale mixture.
- Incorporate eggs and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, blending until completely integrated and uniform in texture.
- Gently fold in flour and salt, mixing just until a soft dough forms without overmixing.
- Roughly chop cashews and break pretzels into smaller, uneven pieces to add varied texture to the blondies.
- Fold half of the chopped cashews and pretzel pieces directly into the batter, distributing evenly throughout.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly and smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Drizzle caramel sauce across the surface of the batter in a zigzag pattern, creating a decorative swirl.
- Sprinkle remaining cashews, pretzel pieces, and caramel chips across the top of the batter.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan for about 1 hour.
- Use parchment paper handles to lift the blondies out, then cut into square pieces.
- Optional: Drizzle additional caramel sauce and heavy cream over the top before serving for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Toast cashews and pretzels lightly before adding to the batter to enhance their nutty, roasted flavor and provide extra crunch.
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth blending and consistent texture throughout the batter.
- For gluten-free version, swap regular flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free pretzels.
- Reduce sugar content by using half the amount of caramel chips and replacing some sugar with a natural sweetener like stevia for a lighter dessert option.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg