Gluten Free Blondies

These Gluten Free Blondies are rich, buttery, and simple to make. Everyone should have a classic blondies recipe in their collection and this recipe is my favorite. They are simple to make - no mixer required and ready to eat within one hour. Chocolate is optional but highly recommended.

If you love a good bar cookie, I highly recommend checking out my Gluten Free Peanut Butter Blondies or my Gluten Free Strawberry Crumble Bars.

Recipe Ingredient Notes

Gluten Free Flour: This is gluten free blondie recipe is very forgiving. I use my own gluten free flour blend in this but it works great with King Arthur Measure for Measure and Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1. Those blends do contain xanthan gum.

Butter: The butter in this recipe will be melted. If you like, you may brown the butter which adds a rich and nutty note to the cookies (highly recommend browning the butter)

Brown Sugar: Brown sugar gives blondies a darker, richer flavor due to the molasses. The flavor is very similar to Toffee. You can use either dark or light brown sugar.

Milk Powder: Whole Milk Powder or Non-Fat Milk Powder is an optional ingredient in this recipe. Adding milk powder to baked treats gives them a creamier texture and adds a hint of sweetness. As the milk powder is heated, sugar from the milk powder can also caramelize, giving the cake a browner color and richer taste. You can find milk powder in the baking section or near the canned milk in your local grocery store. I buy this product online: Whole Milk Powder. Non-Fat or Coconut Milk Powder works as well if you have that on hand. 

Chocolate: I use a mix of butterscotch and milk chocolate chips in the blondie batter and top them with a chopped-up milk chocolate bar before baking. Dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate (or even white chocolate) works great in this recipe.

Finishing Salt: I highly recommend sprinkling the baked blondies with some flaky sea salt. I use Maldon Flaky Sea Salt.

What is a Blondie?

Blondies, also known as blond brownies, are baked bars that replace the cocoa in a brownie with brown sugar to turn them into a warm, rich butterscotch-flavored treat. The fudgy texture in blondies comes from the melted butter. Adding chocolate chips or dried fruit is always optional but highly recommended. Butterscotch Chips seem to be the most traditional chocolate chip of choice to add to blondies. A personal favorite is white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.

How do you make Gluten Free Blondies?

This recipe for gluten free blondies can be made by hand with a whisk but you may also use a hand mixer or your stand mixer. This recipe is for an 8x8 pan but can easily be doubled.

• Preheat your oven to 350F
• Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper and set it aside. Make sure to leave some overhang so you can easily remove your blondies from the pan.
• In a small pot, over medium heat, melt your butter. If you like you can brown the butter which will give the blondies a rich and nutty note. Allow the butter to cool for 10 minutes.
• In the meantime combine your gluten free flour, cornstarch, milk powder (if using), baking powder, and salt and whisk to combine.
• In a medium-sized bowl, combine the cooled but still fluid melted butter with the brown sugar and whisk until combined.
• Add the whole egg, egg yolk, and vanilla mix well.
• Once your wet ingredients are fully combined, mix in your dry ingredients. This is is easier with a flexible spatula than a whisk.
• Fold in your chocolate chips or other add-ins you may be using.
• Add the batter to the prepared pan, smoothing out the top with the back of a spoon or an offset knife.
• Top with additional chocolate if you like and bake at 350F for 22-24 minutes. 22 minutes will give you a fudgier blondie while 24 minutes (or longer) will give you an almost fully baked blondie.
• Your blondies are done when the top is shiney and light golden brown.
• Remove the blondies from your oven, sprinkle with some flaky sea salt (if using) and allow for them to cool in the pan.
• Store any leftover blondies you may have in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.

Different flavor ideas for Blondies

This recipe for gluten free blondies is a great base recipe. You can add any add-ins you may like. For an 8x8 pan, please use only around 90-100 grams of add-ins. For a 9x13 pan, I recommend around 180-200 grams of add-ins.

• chocolate chips (dark, white, milk, semi-sweet, butterscotch, caramelized white chocolate, peanut butter flavored....)
• chopped nuts such as walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts (hazelnuts and milk chocolate is a fabulous combo)
• chopped dried fruit such as cranberries (think White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies), dried cherries (Dark Chocolate and Cherries), Candied ginger....
• Instant Espresso is also a great addition to blondies. I recommend no more than 1 tablespoon per 8x8 recipe.

Frequently asked questions about Gluten Free Blondies

Can I double this recipe?
Yes! This blondie recipe is very easy to double. Please bake the blondies in a 9x13 pan for around 24-28 minutes. I recommend starting to check them around 24 minutes since I have not baked them myself in a 9x13 pan.

Can I make this recipe dairy free?
This recipe can be made dairy free very easily by substituting the butter with your favorite non dairy butter.

How should I store my Gluten Free Blondies?
I recommend storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Can I freeze Blondies?
Blondies freeze very well. Bake, cool, and cut your brownies and freeze the individual pieces on a sheet tray. Once frozen transfer them to an airtight container or ziplock bag and freeze up to 3 months.

I don't have celiac. Can I make this recipe?
Yes. Please substitute the gluten free flour with 90 grams of All Purpose Flour.