Do you go through food phases, like me? For weeks or months at a time, I can’t get enough of smoothies, or egg white and cheese sandwiches, or green tea. For a period during law school, granola was my jam. One day I reached for one of the specialty brands that are sold on the highest shelf in the cereal aisle, and a love connection was made.
Heartland Granola is not sold everywhere, but I buy it locally at Harris Teeter. I hope, for your sake, that you can find it locally (or online). If not, any granola that isn’t too cluster-y would work. But because I found this recipe on the side of the Heartland Granola box, I am partial to that brand. I recently found that they post a whole list of recipes using their granola – I can’t wait to try them out!*
I have said it before and will continue to repeat it – recipes “on the side of the box” showcase the product you are buying, and can be some of the best you will find. Not every recipe will suit you of course (and sometimes the cross-branding with other products is irking), but I assure you I have put many of these recipes into my rotation.
I brought a batch of these blondies in to work this week, and although many people seemed to be initially skeptical of butterscotch, you should have seen how eyes lit up at Bite #1! My colleagues commented on the doughy center, and the almost oatmeal cookie taste (“but different”). The granola bakes in, and loses its crunchy texture, but still lends the blondies some structure. I would not generally say that I like butterscotch, but try butterscotch baking chips. They mostly just taste like sugar, and a bit like white chocolate (which is mostly just sugar). If you are looking for something just a little different to bring to a party or to work, or to have around the kitchen for the weekend to snack on, and don’t have a ton of time, may I recommend this recipe. I can assure you that you – and anyone who takes a bite – will not be disappointed.
And, if I do say so myself, they are quite photogenic.
- .5 c butterscotch chips
- 3 T butter
- 1 c brown sugar, packed
- 2 eggs
- .5 t vanilla
- 1.75 c Heartland Granola Cereal (original variety)
- 1 c flour
- 1 t baking powder
- .5 t kosher salt
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a heat-proof medium or large bowl {be sure to check your bowl for its intended usage!}, melt butterscotch chips and butter together. You can do this in the oven as it’s warming, in the microwave, or on the stove top. Cool a bit.
- Stir in the brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and granola.
- Then stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Spread batter in 8″ x 8″ pan.
- Bake until toothpick comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Set the timer for 25 minutes, and take a look. When it’s done, the edges will get a bit firmer than the middle and will seem to swell up a bit.
- Cool before cutting.
Adapted from: http://heartlandbrands.com/page/recipes/granola-recipes/
*Although, as with all printed recipes, it’s important to read them carefully. This recipe online states that an 8″ x 8″ pan of blondies, cut in to 2″ squares, will make … 36 bars? I am NOT a math person, but cutting an 8″ square pan in to 2″ squares should make 16 blondies. The cardboard remnant I have from the side of a box from over a decade ago does not have such measurements on it!
[…] cook with healthful foods like quinoa or coconut water, her blog is a great place to start. These butterscotch granola blondies are how I plan to make mine. Not sure it counts. 3. As is already well-established on this […]