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Toffee Blonde Brownies with Cheaters Caramel Icing served on a dark brown wooden cutting board with a metal spatula
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5 from 4 votes

Blonde Brownies with Cheater Caramel Icing (Blondies)

These Blonde Brownies are soft and chewy blondies with Heath Toffee Bits to add a little crunch. They are topped with a fail-proof Cheaters Caramel Icing. It tastes like the old-fashioned caramel frosting but no candy thermometer needed!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Cool20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Servings: 2 dozen
Calories: 160kcal
Cost: 6

Ingredients

Brownies:

  • 1/2 cup salted butter softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 8-oz package Heath English Toffee Bits* (Also called Bits o’ Brickle Toffee Bits found near chocolate chips.)

Cheater Caramel Icing:

  • 1 cup light or dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup evaporated milk
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  • 2 cups powder sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, allowing edges to overhang 2 inches on the end. This will help remove the brownies for easy cutting. Coat the foil with cooking spray or brush lightly with oil.
  • Beat butter and sugars together with an electric mixer in a large mixing bowl 3 minutes at medium speed or until light in color.
    Set a timer; this step is important. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until each one is incorporated. Add vanilla and beat at low speed just until incorporated.
  • Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium size bowl. I like to use a large paper plate so I don’t have to wash another bowl. Add flour mixture and toffee bits to mixing bowl; beat just until flour is incorporated.
  • Dollop batter in lined pan, then spread the batter evenly to the edges of the pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean.
    Don’t over bake them. You want them to be a little soft and gooey. Let cool in pan 20 minutes on a wire rack.

Cheater's Caramel Icing

  • Meanwhile, prepare the icing. Combine brown sugar, evaporated milk, butter, and corn syrup in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Boil 5 minutes without stirring.
    Set a timer. Remove from heat and let cool 15 minutes. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla.
  • Beat caramel mixture in the saucepan with a handheld electric mixer about 5 minutes or until it starts to thicken. It will still be pourable but will thicken as it cools.
  • Pour icing over brownies in pan, spreading it to the edges. Let the brownies and icing cool completely and icing is firm, about 1 to 2 hours, before cutting.

Notes

If using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt or 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt.
You can substitute 2 or 3 chopped Heath toffee bars for the bag of Heath toffee bits.
Heath toffee bars are coated in chocolate. Bits O' Brickle are not.

Nutrition

Serving: 1brownie | Calories: 160kcal