Bready or Not Original: Almond Blondies
These Almond Blondies are proof that simple can be oh-so-good.
There’s no chocolate here. No fancy presentation. This is all about a basic, pan-mixed batter with almonds on top.
These things are a sensory delight. You have thick, chewy bars infused with deep sweetness thanks to a heady application of brown sugar. The chopped almonds add a hearty crunch in contrast.
Some almonds and crumbs will fall off as the bars are sliced, but these remnants are delicious. Let nothing go to waste!
Bready or Not Original: Almond Blondies
Equipment
- 13×9 pan
- nonstick spray
- large saucepan
Ingredients
- 2 cups brown sugar packed
- 2/3 cup unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 cups almonds chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a 13×9 pan with foil and apply nonstick spray. Set aside.
- In a large sauce pan on medium heat, place the brown sugar and butter, stirring constantly until the ingredients combine to be smooth. Set on another burner to cool for about 15 minutes.
- Whisk in the eggs one at a time, followed by the two extracts. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and baking soda until no white streaks remain.
- Spread batter in the prepared pan. Sprinkle the almonds all over the top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. The middle should pass the toothpick test. Let cool for a bit, but cut into the blondies while they are still warm. Store in a sealed container at room temperature.
OM NOM NOM!
Bready or Not Original: No-Bake Almond Granola Bars
These No-Bake Almond Granola Bars are fast to make and contain wholesome, basic ingredients. Plus, they are delicious.
I made this recipe several times to find the right balance of ingredients. Too many almonds and oats, and nothing sticks together. You think it’s solid until you try to cut the chilled bars. (I speak from experience.)
I find it fun to make little swaps with the ingredients, too. Use cashew butter or another kind of nut butter! Try different varieties of honey. You could even use pumpkin spice mix or other spices to give it a different vibe.
The end result will keep for a week or two in the fridge, and even longer in the freezer!
Bready or Not Original: No-Bake Almond Granola Bars
Equipment
- 9×9 pan
- aluminum foil
- nonstick spray
- food processor
- waxed paper
- heavy glass
Ingredients
- 1 cups almonds or buy pre-chopped almonds
- 2 cups quick-cooking oats
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt reduce if using regular table salt or salted nut butter
- 1 1/2 cups creamy almond butter
- 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line a 9×9 square pan with foil and apply nonstick spray.
- If the almonds are whole, give them a rough chop in food processor, just a few pulses.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, cinnamon, and salt, and stir to blend. If the almond butter is stiff, measure it into a separate microwave-safe bowl and heat it for 20-30 seconds to soften it. Add almond butter, maple syrup or honey, and vanilla extract to the big bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir together until it forms a cohesive mass. If it seems too liquid, add more oats; if it’s too dry, add more almond butter. Stir in the chopped almonds to distribute them throughout.
- Dump the mixture into the prepared pan. Even out some, then use a pan-size piece of wax paper and a heavy glass to compress the dough evenly.
- Stash the pan in the fridge for at least an hour, or until the next day. Slice into bars of desired size. Store between stacked waxed paper layers in the fridge, or freeze for later enjoyment.
OM NOM NOM!
Bready or Not: No-Bake Cookie Bars
When you have no time to bake and you need sweets fast–or you don’t have an oven or can’t heat the house–no-bake treats are the way to go. These No-Bake Cookie Bars involve little fuss and are sweet and tasty.
Also, these are pretty cheap to make. I used a generic kind of vanilla wafers that were a dollar-something.
Since I live in Arizona, I had to store these in the fridge, but in most places, you’d probably be fine keeping them at room temperature.
Bready or Not: No-Bake Cookie Bars
Equipment
- 9×9 pan
- nonstick spray
- aluminum foil
- waxed paper
- heavy glass
Ingredients
- 11 ounces vanilla wafer cookies generic is fine
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup chocolate chips semisweet or milk
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Line a 9×9 pan with foil and apply nonstick spray.
- Use a food processor or a gallon bag, rolling pin, and muscle to crush all of the vanilla wafers.
- In a big bowl, stir together the cookies crumbs, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, nuts, vanilla, and salt. Completely mix and coat.
- Dump the mixture into the prepared pan. Level it out, then use waxed paper and a heavy object such as a glass to evenly compress the crumbs. Chill in fridge for at least 2 hours.
- Use the foil to lift the contents onto a cutting board. Slice up and store in a sealed container either at room temperature or in the fridge.
OM NOM NOM!
Bready or Not: Marcona Almond Bars
I’ve used almonds in many cookie and bar recipes, but these Marcona Almond Bars are especially decadent and good.
First of all, the base recipe starts with browned butter. Almond butter is also mixed in, which adds to the taste and texture. There’s just a touch of spice involved. These bars are really about the almonds.
What makes Marcona almonds different? They are from Spain, for one, and have the skin removed. They have a high standard of quality, a buttery, clean, crispness to them that is especially nice in contrast to chocolate. (They are also great on a Spanish-themed cheeseboard with things like Manchego cheese and membrillo paste.)
These bars are delicious for a snack or dessert, and they look especially pretty in their simplicity.
Modified from February 2014 issue of Food & Wine Magazine.
Bready or Not: Marcona Almond Bars
Equipment
- large saucepan
- 9×13 pan
- offset spatula
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
- 3 1/2 cups light brown sugar packed
- 5 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup roasted almond butter
- 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups Marcona almonds 9 ounces
- 1 3/4 cups chocolate chips 11 ounces (1 bag)
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, cook the butter over medium heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Set off-heat to cool for about 30 minutes.
- Start oven preheating at 325-degrees. Place a large strip of aluminum foil in a 9×13 pan and apply nonstick spray or butter.
- Add the sugar, eggs, almond butter, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon to the cooled browned butter. Mix until smooth. Add the flour. Fold in 1 1/2 cups of the almonds and 1 1/2 cups of the chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Use an offset spatula to even out dough. Scatter the remaining almonds and chocolate chips over the top and lightly press in.
- Bake for 60 minutes. The middle should pass the toothpick test. Cool at room temperature, speeding process in the fridge, if desired. Use the foil to lift the contents onto a cutting board to slice into bars. Store in a sealed container at room temperature.
OM NOM NOM!
Bready or Not: Almond Olive Oil Bundt Cake
The second week of 2023, and we’re beginning in proper form with a cake. An Almond Olive Oil Bundt Cake.
This cake isn’t as super-sweet as many. Instead, the olive oil and almonds are what comes through beautifully in the crumb. The glaze finishes things off, and the crunch of slices almonds adds a nice textural contrast.
This is the kind of bundt cake that works well for breakfast, brunch, snack, or dessert. It also works for any season of the year.
Modified from a Pompeiian Olive Oil ad.
Bready or Not: Almond Olive Oil Bundt Cake
Equipment
- 10 or 12 cup bundt pan
- cooking spray with flour
- cooling rack
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup almond flour sifted
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups white sugar
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or plain almond milk
Glaze
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2 to 3 Tablespoons milk or half & half
- sliced almonds optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 325-degrees. Apply baking spray with flour on the interior of the bundt pan.
- In a small bowl, combine flour, almond flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a big mixing bowl, beat together sugar and eggs until they are thick and yellow, about three minutes. Slowly mix in olive oil until smooth, followed by vanilla and almond extracts. Mix in the dry ingredients alternatively with the almond milk, making sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl.
- Pour the batter into the pan and smooth out the top. Bake until the middle passes the toothpick test, about 50 to 60 minutes.
- Transfer to a rack to cool for 15 minutes, then invert cake onto the rack to completely cool.
- Make the glaze. Beat together the confectioners' sugar and milk to make a thick glaze. Drizzle over the top so it oozes down the sides. If desired, top with a sprinkle of sliced almonds. Let glaze set for about 20 minutes. Slice in and enjoy!
OM NOM NOM!
Bready or Not Original: Quick Maple Cookie Fudge Redux
Let’s finish off the year 2022 by reviving a recipe first on Bready or Not in 2016: Maple Cookie Fudge!
This is a shortcut fudge without any need of a candy thermometer or stress. I like to use the microwave, but you can use the stovetop if you want. You can keep the maple cookies chunky, if you desire, or grind everything to crumbs–your choice! I actually like some small chunks mixed in for texture.
The maple flavor is nice and consistent here, not cloying, while the marshmallow fluff grants the texture some extra oomph. The nuts add an extra flavor and crunch, but you can omit them if you want.
This maple cookie fudge is just about perfect if you ignore the pesky nutritional side of things.
Bready or Not Original: Quick Maple Cookie Fudge
Equipment
- 9×13 pan
- aluminum foil
- nonstick spray or butter
Ingredients
- 3 cups white chocolate chips
- 12.3 ounces maple crème cookies crushed/chopped/maimed, about 20 cookies
- 7 ounces marshmallow fluff
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon maple flavor
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts walnuts, pecans, macadamias, etc
Instructions
- Prepare a 9×13 pan by lining it with foil and applying nonstick spray.
- Either in microwave or on stovetop, carefully melt chocolate with sweetened condensed milk and marshmallow cream. If microwaving, do it in short bursts because it can burn fast! Stir often.
- When the mix is smooth, add the maple flavor and vanilla. Fold in the maple cookies and nuts. Pour fudge into the prepared pan. Use an uneven spatula to smooth out the top.
- Refrigerate at least 3 hours, until the fudge is firm. Cut into bite size pieces. Keep stored in fridge between layers of wax paper. Unlike some other quick fudges, this will keep well for hours at room temperature.
OM NOM NOM!
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