These Butterbeer Brown Butter Blondies with Toasted Pecans feature the rich buttery brown sugar sweetness of butterbeer (think butterscotch vanilla!). And like any good blondie, they’re gooey-centered and completely indulgent. What could be a more perfect fall snack for curling up on the couch and reading or watching Harry Potter?
I always wonder what gets a person excited.
And I don’t mean regular excited, I mean the kind of excitement that’s palpable. The kind of excited that makes someone’s eyes light up with passion and their voice resonate with happiness.
For some of us, it’s our work. For others, it might be a hobby. Many of us find that true happiness lies within helping others or just spending time with loved ones no matter what you’re doing. Or maybe it’s a combination of all of these.
I’m easy to please in this regard. One of the things that gets me excited to the point of gleeful is spending a chilly fall evening at home watching fall-ish movies and snacking on crisp, sweet fresh apples and homemade roasted pumpkin seeds. I don’t know about you, but I definitely have certain movies that I’ll only watch at certain times of the year. Like Harry Potter, which just says autumn to me.
And what could be more appropriate than butterbeer when you’re in the mood for a Harry Potter marathon? (And don't forget to make Polyjuice Potion and Butterbeer Popcorn too!)
The Best Butterbeer Brown Butter Blondies Recipe
With a decadent buttery brown sugar vanilla flavor, Butterbeer Brown Butter Blondies are sure to be a new favorite of muggles and magical folk! If you aren't familiar with butterbeer, to me it tastes like butterscotch vanilla.
Brown Butter Blondies Ingredients
- Butter
- Light brown sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- Butterscotch extract
- Flour
- Salt
- Ground nutmeg
- Pecans
How to Make Butterbeer Brown Butter Blondies
- Make the brown butter.
- Whisk together the brown butter, brown sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and butterscotch extract. Stir in the flour, salt, and nutmeg, and then fold in the pecans.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until they’re golden on the outside, but still look a touch doughy in the center.
- Cool completely before slicing so you get even cuts.
Variations on This Recipe
- Bump up the butterscotch. Add up to 1 cup of butterscotch chips (stir them in along with the pecans).
- Deepen the flavor. Use dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar for deeper notes of molasses.
- Make them extra indulgent. Serve Butterbeer Brown Butter Blondies warm, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of warm caramel sauce or butterscotch sauce.
Tips for Making Brown Butter Blondies
- If you want to learn how to make brown butter. For step-by-step photos on how to brown butter, take a look at my recipe for Salted Brown Butter Blondies on Daily Desserting.
- Make sure the brown butter is still warm when you make the batter. After browning the butter, only let it cool for about 1 minute before making the batter. It should still be quite hot (but not hot enough to scramble an egg), so that we get a gorgeous crackle top on our blondies.
- Don't worry if you can't find butterscotch extract. Instead of butterscotch extract, you can use a combination of ½ teaspoon butter extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract, and ¼ teaspoon rum extract for a very similar flavor.
- Be careful not to over-bake them. Like all blondies, Butterbeer Brown Butter Blondies are best if they're a little gooey! Take them out of the oven when the outside is golden, but they still look a touch doughy in the center. Let them cool completely before slicing so you get clean cuts.
Harry Potter World at Universal Studios Orlando Florida
Having lived in the Central Florida area for the past few years, I've had the chance to visit Universal Studios several times. Not surprisingly, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ (lovingly called Harry Potter World) is my favorite part!
I took this photo of Hogwarts castle at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. It was a dark and stormy day to begin with, and I had a ton of fun enhancing the look by making it even more moody and ominous!
Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts castle are located in Universal’s Islands of Adventure. And of course just a short train ride away on the Hogwarts Express you'll find Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida.
Hogsmeade Universal
I absolutely love the charm that they captured in Hogsmeade Village. The attention to detail that went into it is incredible.
Cobblestone streets and slanted, weathered buildings with snow-topped roofs and quirky storefront displays add to the ambiance.
You can find Hermione's Yule Ball dress on display in a window, as well as mandrake plants, and an Howler (a magical letter that yells at the recipient).
A few of the restaurants and stores there include The Three Broomsticks (anyone fancy a butterbeer?), Ollivanders (the wand chooses the wizard, right?), and Honeydukes (which has all manner of treats straight out of the Harry Potter books!).
And of course, this is where you'll find the Hogwarts castle, which is worth a trip to Harry Potter World in and of itself!
If rides are your thing, you can find Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is located in Hogwarts castle. In Hogsmeade you'll also find Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Flight of the Hippogriff.
Don't be scared of a long line for attractions because there's so much to see as you wait! When you're in line for the Forbidden Journey attraction, you get to walk through Hogwarts castle.
You will get to see Hagrid's Hut in line for the Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure attraction.
Diagon Alley Universal
And if you can believe it, Diagon Alley has even more character than Hogsmeade.
You walk into Diagon Alley as though you're entering through the magical brick wall that Harry and Hagrid entered through. And then you'll feel like you literally just stepped onto the set of Harry Potter!
Looking straight down the alley you'll find charming shops on both sides and Gringotts bank at the end, which is where you'll find the ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. On top of the bank is a Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon on top that breathes fire every 10 minutes.
There's plenty of shopping to do in Diagon Alley! Even if you're not in the market to buy a souvenir, it's a fun place to window shop. A few of the shops include Ollivanders (just in case you didn't pick up your wand in Hogsmeade Village), Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Sugarplum's Sweetshop, and Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment. Don't forget to look for the infamous Borgin and Burkes, which is located in Knockturn Alley.
And to satisfy your hunger, you can grab a meal at The Leaky Cauldron and a sweet treat at Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour.
There's nothing like a trip to Harry Potter World to put you in the mood to make some Harry Potter treats!
More Blondies Recipes to Make
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Butterbeer Brown Butter Blondies with Toasted Pecans
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter browned and cooled slightly (see Note)
- ¾ cup light brown sugar lightly packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon butterscotch extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup pecans toasted and coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F; line an 8 by 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper so that it hangs over all 4 sides.
- Whisk together the brown butter, brown sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and butterscotch extract. Stir in the flour, salt, and nutmeg, and then fold in the pecans.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until they’re golden on the outside, but still look a touch doughy in the center, about 20 to 25 minutes. Be careful not to overbake; these are best gooey in the center.
- Cool completely before cutting.
Faith's Tips
- How to Brown Butter: Add the butter to a small saucepan over medium heat. Once it’s melted, turn the heat down to medium-low and continue cooking the butter until it is slightly browned and smells nutty. This takes less than 5 minutes, so don’t walk away from it. For step-by-step photos on how to brown butter, take a look at my recipe for Salted Brown Butter Blondies on Daily Desserting.
- Butterscotch Extract Substitute: Instead of butterscotch extract, you can use a combination of ½ teaspoon butter extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract, and ¼ teaspoon rum extract for a very similar flavor.
Nutrition
This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on October 28, 2015. I updated it with more information on October 15, 2021.
Kevin | Keviniscooking says
These just look outstanding. I'm a sucker for any blondie bar, too!
What gets me excited is watching my dogs run free when hiking in the mountains with my love by my side. Knowing we are going the evening before is the best - until we get there the next morning in the open sweet air of the mountains.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Your blondies look so rich and buttery, love these!
Krista says
Ohhh, Harry Potter in Autumn is my favorite too!! :-) These blondies would be perfect accompaniment for such happiness. :-)
Marissa says
Confession - I'd choose a blondie over a brownie any day. And these look perfect! That gooey middle....swoon. And, this may sound sappy, but my husband, after 20 years of marriage (!) still makes my heart leap when he walks into a room.
Rosa says
Mmmhhh, heavenly! Such great flavours.
Cheers,
Rosa