Browned Butter Blondie Brownies

I love love love sweets, but honestly don't bake very often because otherwise I would be the one to eat whatever I bake! So, anytime I have a good excuse to bake, I get excited about the possibilities and want to try to bake something extra special! I was recently invited to a Christmas cookie exchange, so it was the perfect opportunity to try something new!

I have always loved blondie brownies but wanted to do something a little something extra, so I decided to brown the butter. Browning butter results in a really delicious nutty flavor that I thought would work really well with the toffee and chocolate chips. The browned butter really does add a extra special flavor and is definitely worth the extra effort.

2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 cups packed light-brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup toffee bits

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan over medium heat, cook the butter until it turns golden brown—about 15 minutes, but watch carefully and continue to stir with a wooden spoon. Remove from heat and allow to cool. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine browned butter and both sugars. Stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Attach bowl to mixer and add eggs. Using the paddle attachment, beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy--about three minutes. Add vanilla and beat to combine. Add flour mixture and mix well. Stir in chocoloate chips and toffee. Mix thoroughly and pour into greased 9 by 13 aluminum pan. Spread with spatula to even out. Bake 30-35 minutes (test with with a tootpick--it should come out clean!). Cool pan on a wire rack and cut into squares.