White Chocolate Walnut Blondies with Maple Butter Sauce

Wow! If you're looking for an over-the-top, rich, decadent, and scrumptious dessert, you should try this recipe. Totally easy to make, yet it looks and tastes amazing. My kind of recipe : )

These are delicious with just the blondies and sauce, but if you want to take it to the next level...

Top with some vanilla ice cream - absolutely YUMMY!

White Chocolate Walnut Blondies with Maple Butter Sauce
Adapted from Tasty Kitchen
Makes 12-16 servings (depending on the size)

For the blondies:
3 cups all-purpose flour (or 15 oz Soft White wheat flour)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
10 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups light brown sugar (or honey sucanat)
3 whole eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or nuts of choice)
1 cup white chocolate chips

For the sauce:
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup maple syrup
Optional garnish: vanilla ice cream and chopped walnuts

Preheat your oven to 350º.

Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together melted butter and brown sugar. Stir until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir well.

Gradually add flour mixture to butter/sugar mixture. Stir until just combined - do not overmix. Fold in nuts and chocolate chips. (Batter will be thick).

Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. Pour batter into dish and spread evenly. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 25-30 minutes.

To make sauce:
In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat (being careful not to burn the butter). Add heavy cream and maple syrup. Simmer mixture over medium for about 20-30 minutes, allowing sauce to thicken and reduce. Don't boil the sauce, just simmer. Stir sauce occasionally. Once is has reduced by about 1/3, it should be ready.

To serve: Heat blondie on a cast iron skillet, the microwave, or use while still warm from baking, and top with vanilla ice cream. Drizzle with the warm maple butter sauce, and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.

Tasty Kitchen note: If using glass pan, you might want to reduce oven temperature to 325º, (and bake a little bit longer). You can also double the sauce, if desired. Enjoy!