The Sweet Sunshine: Homemade Blondies Recipe for Happy Bakers
Sweet, gooey, and utterly irresistible, these blondies recipe deliver pure dessert magic in every single bite.
Dense butterscotch notes dance alongside rich vanilla undertones, creating a decadent treat that melts in your mouth.
The golden-brown edges promise a perfect crisp texture while maintaining an incredibly soft center.
Packed with chocolate chips and a hint of salt, these blondies strike an exquisite balance between sweet and savory.
Each square bursts with nostalgic comfort and bakery-level indulgence.
Warm from the oven or enjoyed at room temperature, these blondies will quickly become your new favorite dessert sensation.
Grab a spatula and prepare to experience blondie perfection that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Calories: 280 kcal
Servings: 13
What You’ll Need for Nutella Blondies
For Richness and Sweetness:
Butter: Provides luxurious richness and helps create a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture; choose high-quality unsalted butter for best flavor.
Light Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: Delivers deep caramel notes and balanced sweetness; opt for fresh, clump-free sugars for smooth blending.
For Structure and Binding:
All-Purpose Flour: Creates the classic blondie structure and soft crumb; select unbleached flour for better texture and more robust flavor.
Salt: Enhances overall taste by balancing sweetness and bringing out complex flavor profiles; use fine sea salt for even distribution.
Eggs: Acts as a crucial binding agent that provides structure and helps ingredients blend seamlessly; use fresh, room temperature eggs for optimal results.
For Flavor and Indulgence:
Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, aromatic depth and complexity to the dessert; choose pure vanilla extract over artificial versions for authentic taste.
Chocolate Hazelnut Spread: Introduces rich, decadent chocolate-nutty swirls throughout the blondies; select a high-quality spread with robust hazelnut flavor for maximum indulgence.
Kitchen Tools That Work Best for Nutella Blondies
8×8 square baking pan: Essential for creating perfectly sized blondies.
Parchment paper: Crucial for easy removal and non-stick baking.
Whisk: Perfect for mixing wet ingredients smoothly and breaking up sugar lumps.
Measuring cups and spoons: Necessary for accurate ingredient proportions.
Spatula: Helpful for folding flour and scraping batter into the pan.
Mixing bowl: Ideal for combining ingredients and creating the batter.
Oven: Required for baking the blondies to golden perfection.
Cooling rack: Great for allowing blondies to cool evenly after baking.
How to Make Nutella Blondies From Scratch
Parchment Prep Excitement Grab a square baking pan and line it with parchment paper, letting edges peek out like delightful handles. This trick makes lifting your treat super easy later.
Nutella Magic Spread a generous layer of chocolate hazelnut goodness across the parchment and pop it into the freezer for a quick 20-minute chill session.
Oven Warmup Fire up your oven to a cozy 350°F, creating the perfect toasty environment for your soon-to-be-amazing blondies.
Sweet Fusion Melt butter and dance it together with brown and white sugars until they form a dreamy, silky mixture that promises incredible flavor.
Batter Bliss Crack in some eggs and splash of vanilla, mixing until everything looks smooth and inviting. Gently fold in flour and a pinch of salt to create your base.
Layer Love Pour half the batter into the pan, nestle your frozen Nutella layer on top, then lovingly cover with remaining batter like a sweet blanket.
Baking Perfection Slide your creation into the oven and bake for 30-45 minutes. Keep an eye out around the 30-minute mark to catch that perfect golden moment.
Patience Reward Let your blondies cool completely before slicing, allowing all those incredible flavors to settle and mingle.
Tricks That Improve Texture in Blondies
Create mesmerizing Nutella swirls by using a toothpick to drag the frozen hazelnut spread through the batter before baking, making gorgeous marbled patterns.
Allow blondies to cool completely for clean, precise cuts and a fudgy, melt-in-your-mouth texture that holds its shape when sliced.
Store blondies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or refrigerate for a week-long delicious treat that stays fresh and moist.
Sprinkle chopped hazelnuts or chocolate chips on top before baking to add extra crunch and elevate the rich nutty flavor profile of these decadent blondies.
Freeze unbaked blondies in the pan, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, for up to 3 months – perfect for spontaneous dessert cravings or unexpected guests.
Serving Nutella Blondies That Look Bakery-Fresh
Decadent Dessert Pairing: Serve these luscious Nutella Blondies alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a heavenly contrast of warm, gooey blondie and cool, creamy sweetness.
Nutella Lover's Dream: Drizzle extra Nutella on top of each blondie slice and sprinkle chopped hazelnuts for added crunch and nutty flavor that complements the chocolate spread.
Coffee Companion: Enjoy these blondies with a rich espresso or cappuccino, letting the robust coffee notes beautifully balance the sweet, chocolatey richness of the dessert.
Party Presentation: Cut into bite-sized squares for a perfect party treat, arranging them on a decorative platter with a light dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant touch.
Save Nutella Blondies the Right Way
Refrigerator Readiness: Store blondies in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Wrap individual squares with plastic wrap to maintain moisture and prevent drying.
Freezer Friendly: Carefully stack blondies between wax paper layers inside a freezer-safe container. Freeze for maximum 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.
Room Temperature Tips: Keep blondies covered at cool room temperature for 2-3 days. Place a paper towel inside the storage container to absorb excess moisture and maintain texture.
Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare blondies up to 2 days before serving. Slice after complete cooling and store in sealed container. Bring to room temperature before serving for best flavor and soft texture.
Chocolate chip blondies deliver a rich, buttery dessert with golden-brown edges and gooey center. Sweet vanilla notes and brown sugar create an irresistible treat you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
¾ cup (170 g) butter (regular or vegan), melted
2 eggs
¾ cup (150 g) light brown sugar
¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
¾ cup (225 g) chocolate hazelnut spread (regular Nutella or dairy-free, vegan options work great)
1 ¼ cups + 2 tbsps (165 g) all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsps vanilla extract
½ tsp salt
Instructions
Preparation: Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, creating overhanging edges for easy removal. Spread Nutella evenly across the parchment and freeze for 20 minutes to solidify.
Batter Creation: Melt butter in a large mixing bowl, then blend brown and granulated sugars until smooth. Whisk in eggs and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. Fold flour and salt into the wet mixture, stirring minimally to maintain a tender consistency.
Layering: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Pour half the blondie batter into the prepared pan, place the frozen Nutella layer centrally, and carefully cover with remaining batter, ensuring complete and uniform distribution.
Baking: Position the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. Watch for golden-brown edges and a set center, checking around the 30-minute mark to prevent over-browning.
Cooling and Serving: Remove from oven and allow blondies to cool completely at room temperature. Once cooled, slice into squares and serve.
Notes
Freeze Nutella Precisely: Spread Nutella evenly and freeze exactly 20 minutes to create a perfect, firm layer that won’t melt during baking.
Avoid Overmixing Batter: Stir flour mixture just until combined to prevent tough, dense blondies and maintain a soft, delicate texture.
Check Baking Doneness Carefully: Watch blondies closely after 30 minutes, looking for golden edges and a set center to prevent overbaking and dryness.
Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure eggs and butter are at room temperature for smoother batter and more consistent blondie texture.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO
Degree: Diploma in Culinary Arts
Focus: Hands-on training in classic and modern culinary techniques, emphasizing sustainable cooking practices, kitchen professionalism, and real-world restaurant experience through externships.
Oregon State University
Degree: B.S. in Nutrition and Food Management
Focus: In-depth study of human nutrition, food safety, meal planning, and food-service operations, with a strong foundation in public health, dietetics, and community-based nutrition programs.
Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café.
Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.
Sophie Reynolds
Co-Founder, Recipe Curator & Culinary Educator
Expertise
Education
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO
Oregon State University
Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café.
Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.