My patience was tested today when I made these Maple Glazed Pumpkin Oreo Chip Blondies. I got about halfway through making my batter, cracked my last egg into the bowl, and it was bloody. So into the trash I tossed the batter. Two eggs, two sticks of butter, and tons of sugar wasted. It’s times like that when I want to say, “Forget it.” But my love for y’all made me persevere, and I whipped up batch No. 2.
Luckily, my second round went much better. No goofs this time, just one big panful of warm blondie bliss. They’ve got two levels of pumpkin: specks of Nestle Pumpkin Spice Morsels plus whole Pumpkin Spice Oreos baked right in. But even still, I felt there was something missing: a sweet maple glaze drizzled over top like artwork.
When I sunk my teeth into one fresh out of the oven, I was darn glad I didn’t’ give up after my first attempt. Life likes to screw with you sometimes, and you have to decide if it’s worth fighting back. When food is involved, it’s pretty much always worth it.
I love comforting desserts like this that don’t require any fancy techniques or chilling times. It all bakes up in one pan, you drizzle a simple glaze over it, and you’re done. The finished product features multiple textures and flavors: crunchy, chewy, and thick with notes of brown sugar, pumpkin, spices, and maple. It’s a well-rounded treat. In fact, with those Oreos, it’s a treat within a treat!
What really made these worth the hassle was when I came home after a long day to the smell of freshly baked blondies and sweet maple lingering in the air. The mess I had left in my kitchen was not so welcoming, but at least I could reward myself with a blondie when I was done cleaning.
A Few Tips Before You Get Cooking:
- I always find it’s better to take bars and cookies out of the oven a minute or two before you actually think they’re done. That’s usually when they’re just right.
- The glaze is optional. The blondies will still be good without it.
- If you can’t get your hands on Pumpkin Oreos, use regular Golden ones. You can also use white chocolate chips instead of the Pumpkin morsels.
- Try to mix the batter as little as possible. That will help it stay moist.
Maple Glazed Pumpkin Oreo Chip Blondies
By The Smart Cookie Cook
Ingredients:
- 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 cup Nestle Pumpkin Morsels
- 15 Pumpkin Oreos
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp. maple extract
- 3 tbsp. heavy cream
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 pan with nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment paper so that it hangs over the edges.
- Cream together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until fluffy and well-combined. Add eggs one at a time and beat just until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat into butter mixture on low in thirds until well-combined. Fold in morsels.
- Transfer batter to prepared pan and press into an even layer. Stick Oreos into the surface, 5 across and 3 down. Bake for 25-27 minutes or until puffed and set. Let cool completely.
- Whisk together powdered sugar, maple extract, and cream until smooth. Drizzle over cooled bars. Cut into squares and enjoy.
