Monday 9 August 2010

Chewy Chunky Blondies

Having brought butterscotch chips back from Canada, it seemed appropriate to use some of them in my first baking session since returning home. While catching up on the blogs on my regular reading list, the Chewy Chunky Blondies, from the Tuesdays with Dorie baking group, caught my eye. Fortunately the recipe was given on the Cookies on Friday blog, so I was able to use it almost as written there.

I  used a mix of 100g  of each of white and dark chocolate chips and 150g of butterscotch chips, instead of just dark chocolate and butterscotch chips, but was a little short of the full amount of walnuts, so there was only 500g of add-ins instead of 540g as per the original recipe. I also used the smaller amount of brown sugar and unsweetened desiccated coconut. The recipe was simple to follow, and didn't cause any problems, except that I used a slightly smaller baking pan, which meant a longer baking time - almost an hour. When I turned out the blondies to cool, I was worried about the amount of grease left on the baking paper, and the bottom of the sheet of blondies, but once they had cooled properly everything was fine.

These blondies were a little too sweet for my taste, even after reducing the sugar in the recipe, but the texture was very good. With a more careful selection of add-ins - say, no white chocolate and more dark chocolate with a higher percentage of cocoa solids - to reduce the sweetness, these could be really great!

I've also learned that not having access to Hershey's Butterscotch Chips here in the UK is no great loss - they taste and smell very artificial!

12 comments:

Alicia Foodycat said...

So smashing a lump of real butterscotch would be a better idea?

They look very nice, but I think I would prefer them without the white chocolate.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for that, Suelle, I'd always wondered what butterscotch chips were like!

Choclette said...

Well, Suelle, it didn't take you long to get back into baking mode. The chips may not be up to much, but they look very tasty.

Lucie said...

mmmmm these look so good!

Caroline said...

They do look rather delicious, but I know what you mean about the butterscotch chips. I think it's knowing you can't get them that makes them seem more special than they are, grass being greener and all that...

Suelle said...

I'm not sure we have a good alternative to butterscotch chips in the UK. I've tried chopping up both fudge and soft toffees but I think they melt during cooking and blend with the cake batter rather than remaining in whole pieces.

Gillian said...

Ah it's nice to know that Im not missing anything so not having butterscotch chips. Although I'd say my Dad would have snacked on then straight up!

Snowy said...

Can you still buy butterscotch sweets? I think Keiller used to make them [or am I showing my age?!!}. They'd be great chopped up, as I don't think they'd melt. I was disppointed in the butterscotch chips too. I used them for some cookies. Have you tried Werther's, Sue?

Suelle said...

Hi snowy - I have used the soft Werther's in baking, but I think they melted. I'm worried that hard toffees/butterscotch would be too crunchy after baking - us old 'uns can't risk broken teeth!

Snowy said...

Hadn't thought of that Sue! Maybe not butterscotch!

joanna said...

Do you think these would be the same as the ones you brought back? Suelle I saw this company when I was googling for somethign else the other day and thought of you!

http://www.melburyandappleton.co.uk/nestle-toll-house-butterscotch-morsels-678-p.asp

Suelle said...

Hi Joanna, the butterscotch chips look the same, but the brand I bought was Hershey's (and nothing like that expensive!).