Bakewell Blondies

Bakewell (almond + cherry) is one of my favourite flavour combos to work into new bakes, especially as you can get so many different types of almonds and cherries! In these I use almond extract, ground almonds and blobs of marzipan, paired with frozen cherries in the mixture and glace cherries on top! All incased in a fudgy blondie cake, studded with chunks of white chocolate!

Recipe

Makes 12 blondies

Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

• 170g butter
• 220g light brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (or extract)
• 1 large egg
• 210g plain flour
• 75g white chocolate
• 75g marzipan, torn into small chunks
• A few drops of almond essence
• 50g cherries (I use frozen as it’s cheaper but you can use fresh if you prefer)

To decorate

• 50g cherries
• 200g icing sugar

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C. Grease and line a 9” square tin with butter and baking paper.
2. Melt the butter in a large bowl by putting it in the microwave for 20 second bursts. Add the sugar and vanilla and whisk until combined.
3. Add the egg and whisk again to combine. Then add the flour and whisk again to make a smooth batter.
4. Take the white chocolate and chop it into rough chunks. Then add this chopped chocolate to the blondie mixture. Add the marzipan bits, almond essence and cherries and mix it all together.
5. Pour the batter into the lined tin. Bake the blondies for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown and still a little fudgy in the middle. Leave to cool and then cut into 12 slices and enjoy!

Thanks for reading!

Emma x