Whileitmaybemid-August,mybakingbrainisalreadyshiftingtowardfall.Ifindmyselfthinkingaboutpearsandapplesandallofthosewarm,comfortingdessertsthatIlove.Andcaramel!Lotsofwarm,gooeycaramel.PleasetellmeI’mnotaloneservicedapartmentsinhongkong!AsI’vebeentryingtobalancethefactthatit’sstillsummerwithmylongingforallthingsfall,Ithoughttheseblondies-slash-cupcakeswouldbetheperfecttransition.Theyhavethatsmall,portable,picnic-yfeeltothemthatmakesthemagreatsummerchoice.But,theyalsohaveplentyofnutsandaniceswirlofgooeycaramel,whichalwaysmakesmethinkoffall.Anothermarkinthepluscolumnfortheseblondiesistheirgreatsweetandsaltyflavor.WeallknowhowmuchIlovesweetandsaltydesserts,andtheseblondiesarenoexception.Iincorporatedsaltednutsintothebatterandthentoppedeachblondiewithasalty,crunchypretzel.Ifyou’refeelingespeciallysalty,youcanevensprinklealittlecoarsesaltoverthetopofeachonebeforeyoubakethemXeroInventory.Theselittleguysareagreatgrab-and-gosweetsnack.Bakingtheminmuffinpansasopposedtoinarectangularpangivesthesimplicityofsingleserving,nocuttinginvolveddessert.Ofcourse,ifyouprefertomaketheseinmoretraditionalbarform,theywillworkjustaswell.JustfollowthesuggestionsImadeintherecipeforadaptingthemQSworlduniversityrankings.Ijustlovetheflavorsintheseblondies.And,they’resosoftandchewy,too.Ifyou’reafanofallthingsnutty,caramel-y,sweet,salty,andall-outdelicious,thenyou’resuretolovethem,too!
