Description
Winner of Food Network Magazine Recipe Contest
Ingredients
Scale
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
3 eggs, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, divided
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup toasted chopped pecans
5 tablespoons high quality caramel topping, warm
1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel
Instructions
- Heat oven 325F. Spray a 9-inch square pan with non-stick cooking spray. Line pan with parchment paper leaving a 1-inch overhang over sides. Spray parchment with non-stick cooking spray.
- In small bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add 1 egg and ½ teaspoon vanilla; blend well and set aside.
- In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
- In large bowl, whisk melted butter and brown sugar until blended. Add remaining eggs and vanilla; blend well. Add flour mixture and mix with a spatula just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in ¾ cups pecans.
- Spread half the blondie batter over bottom of prepared pan. Drop half the cream cheese mixture by spoonfuls on top.
- Reserve 2 tablespoons of caramel. Drop the remaining caramel by teaspoonfuls in between the spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture.
- Repeat layering with remaining blondie batter and cream cheese mixture.
- Using the tip of a butter knife gently swirl the blondie batter, cream cheese mixture and caramel together creating a marbled effect.
- Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes.
- Using the parchment edges, lift the blondies from the pan to a cooling rack.
- Drizzle with remaining caramel and sprinkle with pecans and fleur de sel.
- Chill in refrigerator until completely cool. Cut into bars or squares.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: dessert
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: American