Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Blondies

Has anyone been keeping up with American Idol this year? Well, a couple weeks ago I renounced my "viewership" towards the TV show. There's just something about the show that's not the same ever since Simon Cowell left. Simon Cowell spoke the truth. If he didn't like a singers performance, a majority of America didn't like as well simply because he was right.

This season of American Idol, I like to call it the "Season of Kindness". Without even watching the show anymore, I can tell you that all the judges will think that the contestants are phenomenal. Every episode I saw was the judges praising each and everyone of the contestants. Do I think they're phenomenal? Yeah...Not really. Without Simon Cowell, the show is not the same and will never be the same. 

This leads to todays treat, Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Blondies. These are supposed to be a mixture of a cookie and brownie all in one. Just like American Idol, these blondies are not the same as a chocolate chip cookie or brownie. Ha.

Tips
-I saw recipes in which you melt the butter and sugar together instead of creaming. This may lead to a chewier blondie

Results
Taste: Tasted like a chocolate chip cookie but not exactly. It seemed to lack a depth of flavor that a chocolate chip cookie has.

Texture: Not chewy like a cookie or brownie. The edges were chewy but you only get so many edges in a 9x13 pan. More cakey than anything

Brewer's Blondies
Ingredients
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons malted milk powder (I omitted this)
14 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 3/4 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup malted milk balls (like Whoppers or Maltesers), coarsely chopped in a food processor (Omitted)
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips  (I used 1 cup milk chocolate chips)
3/4 cup toasted walnuts, chopped (I used 1 cup macadamia nuts)

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and malted milk powder together.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until completely combined. Scrape down the bowl, add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until combined.

Add the flour mixture in two batches until just combined. Add the malted milk balls, chocolate chips and walnuts and beat until just combined, about 10 seconds. The mixture will be thick. Turn the mixture out into the prepared pan and use an offset spatula to spread it evenly.

Bake in the center of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the blondie comes out clean.

Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for 20 minutes.

-Aaron John