BLONDIES WITH VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Butter an 8×8 pan
• Mix melted butter with brown sugar and beat until smooth. Beat in egg, then stir in vanilla or almond extract.
• Whisk flour and salt together, then stir into sugar mixture. Mix in any additions (below) just until combined.
• Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350°F 20-25 minutes, or until set in the middle.
• Further additions, use one or a combination of:
• 1/2 to 1 cup chopped nuts, toasting them first for even better flavor
• 1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 teaspoon mint extract in addition to or in place of the vanilla
• 1/2 cup mashed bananas
• 1/4 cup bourbon, scotch or other whiskey; increase the flour by one tablespoon
• 2 tablespoons of espresso powder with the vanilla
• 1/2 cup dried fruit, especially dried cherries
• Top with a vanilla butter cream or chocolate peanut butter cream frosting.