I live in Los Angeles. All of the stereotypes you’ve heard (or perpetuated) are true. We enjoy our juice cleanses (like… a lot). We wear ridiculously expensive yoga pants. We drive everywhere, all the time, into traffic, with traffic, against traffic… so much traffic! We are beach hippies (for real). We are ladies who get our hair blown out like we’re going to movie premiers every night… because we’re probably going to movie premiers every night (this is not my particular reality). Some of us care about the fancy cars that we drive, and the size of our diamonds. Some of us care about our Priuses and hemp shirts. We are everyone and we live together because we like sunshine always and forever.
One of my favorite things about Los Angeles is all of the awesome food people that live here.
Two of my favorite food people are Jessica Koslow of Sqirl Jam and Max Lesser of Morning Glory Confections.
Jessica makes the most lovely jams on the west coast. I love her jams because they taste exactly like the California that I love. Big, beautiful, like sunshine, earth, and quirk.
Max takes the simplicity of candy brittle and flips the script. His Chai Tea and Cashew Brittle… I can’t even deal. It’s all about honoring simplicity and nudging it with crazy fun.
I love what they do. I love brownies. Hence… the most awesome brownie smash-bang fusion ever.
A small pan of blonde brownies is just about the easiest thing to make. No mixer required. No waiting to softened butter.
If you’ve got brown sugar and a cup of flour you’re mostly good to go. Ok.. you also need an egg and a few other things, but you catch my drift.
As with most things in the kitchen, sharing is caring… even when it comes to brownie making.
Jessica and Max do the heavy-lifting of smearing and swirling the brownie batter.
These brownies are completely versatile.
The batter can be studded with candy brittle (I used Morning Glory Chai Cashew Brittle).
And! The batter can be swirled with jam!
Wait… batter can be studded with brittle aaaaannnnddd swirled with jam.
It’s like rocket science, but way easier.
Try to tell me you aren’t obsessed with Raspberry & Fresh Lavender and Cashmere Nectarine Jam. I won’t believe you.
Brittle Blonde Brownies give this dessert that extra chew.
The corner pieces are 83% more chewy/delicious/irresistible/and I’m-totally-calling-dibs.
Slice these suckers.
Generously please.
These brownies are buttery and sweet, with a gooey chewiness. They’re delicious with brittle and jam. They’re delicious with chocolate chips and toasted pecans. Pistachios? Yes! They’re a base for whatever inspires me in the kitchen. These brownies are like the soup of the dessert world. I mean that with love, respect, and melted butter.
Incidentally, Sqirl jam in incredible on Buttermilk Biscuits, and Morning Glory Brittle is the perfect treat for sitting in Los Angeles traffic. Tested. Approved.
Thank you for letting me share.
If you’ve got brownies on the brain, you might also consider:
Triple Chocolate Black Bean Brownies
Ginger Walnut Chocolate Blondies
and Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies
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Brittle and Jam Blonde Brownies
makes 9 blonde brownies in an 8×8-inch pan (recipe can be doubled in a 9×13-inch pan)
recipe adapted from Morning Glory Confections
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
5 oz box brittle, chopped into ½ inch pieces or 1/3 cup of jam
Line bottom and sides of a 8×8 metal pan with parchment paper. Grease with butter or shortening and dust with flour.
Place rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Remove pan from heat and, using a wooden spoon, stir in the brown sugar. Thoroughly mix in the eggs and vanilla extract. Stir in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Stir in half of the brittle (if using). Spread the batter in the pan. Top batter with the remaining half of the brittle.
If you’re using jam, dollop three spoonfuls of jam across the batter. Use a butter knife to swirl the jam through the batter.
Bake for 20-23 minutes rotating pan half-way through. Edges should pull away from side of pan and the top will be golden brown.
Let cool completely in pan on rack. Lift the ends of the parchment paper to remove from pan. Cut into squares.
Abby@ Totes Delish
I’m LOVING this brittle jam combo going on, what a lovely contrast or crunchy and sweet jam! I want that brittle in my face rightnow.
Ashlae
Huge fan of SQIRL jam (helloooooo blood orange + vanilla bean marmalade). And brownies. Together. Lookin’ good, lady.
Jill @ Sincerely Jill
This sounds crazy unbelievably good!
Sophie @ happyspinach
These look SO GOOD! I have to make them for my crush… Hopefully he’ll approve. :)
joythebaker
totally…
Vickie
they sound (& look) awesome :)
ileana
Oh man. This looks and sounds fantastic! I love brittle, but I’ve never tried it in a brownie/blondie. Reminds me a bit of my favorite flavor of Jeni’s Splendid ice cream, Brown Butter Almond Brittle. Oh, the possibilities!
Diane, A Broad
Hooray! I knew you were trying to perfect blondies from listening to the podcast, so now that you’ve posted a recipe I know it’s going to be a good one.
Mallory @forkvsspoon
I am such a sucker for all things brownie/blondie/bar shaped confection. This is going on the must make list…thanks!
leaf (the indolent cook)
Brittle AND jam? Sounds magnificent! And those jam flavours sound seriously, seriously divine. And that brittle! You’re killing me.
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
um, yes. completely want!
Margherita
I’m curious to find out how brittle will play in he brownies….sounds and look amazing
Kathryn
Woah…what an incredible combination of flavours and textures. Love. And this just makes me miss LA so much.
marissa @ the boot
super cool jam and brittle flavors! amazing brownies!
emmycooks
I love the description of LA. I’m originally a NorCal girl myself, but I lived in LA for a few years after college and totally loved it. For the weather, sure, but also because of all the kinds of people you mention. Some were my people and some weren’t, but I figured they were all there to entertain me. :) Anyway, I’m not sure why I’ve been making oat-y jam bars all my life when I could have been making these. Thank you for showing me the way.
Averie @ Averie Cooks
I’m a huge blondie lover and I love PB & J blondies but brittle…oh this is a great idea! The crunchiness amidst the smoothness, the texture, flavor, oh yes, loving this one!