Matt and I stopped by Trader Joe’s to pick up a few things, and we went our separate ways in the store like we usually do. When we met at the cash registers, I had a bag of fingerling potatoes, some limes, a bottle of sesame oil and 4 cans of light coconut milk. Matt had a six-pack of beer and a package of Maple Walnut Blondies. When I asked him if they were vegan, he gave me his sad face and said he hadn’t had a maple walnut blondie since he was a kid, when his now-deceased grandmother used to make them in Stark, KS. He played the dead grandmother card and I folded. I have to confess that when we got home I did try one and they were delicious. Here is my vegan version that Matt says comes really close to the ones his grandmother used to make.
- 2 cups flour (I used 1 cup whole wheat and 1 cup white)
- ¾ cup turbinado sugar (or brown sugar)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1½ cups walnuts
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup, plus 1 Tbsp, canola oil
- ⅓ cup almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 Tbsp dark molasses
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Process one cup of the walnuts in a food processor until ground. Add this to the dry ingredients, along with a ½ cup chopped walnuts.
- In another bowl, combine the canola oil, milk, vanilla, maple syrup and molasses.
- Add the wet mixture to the dry and mix with a wooden spoon until combined. Batter will be thick.
- Spoon into a greased 8-inch square pan (smooth out the top) and bake for 30-35 minutes. Let cool before serving.
Ok, I finally found some time to make some of these world famous blondes. First off, I was surprised at how simple it all was. I was waiting for some alternate side cooking or somehing that is usually added at a later time. Not! Just mixed all the dry incredients in one bowl and all the wet ingredients in another. Then mix them together and it’s ready for the oven. After getting over its simplicity and baking for around 35 minutes, I finally got to see what everyone was raving about. OH MY HECK, these are incredible! They taste fantastic. I’m now totally conflicted. No, really, conflicted. I can’t decide if I prefer the Lemon Cake or these Blondies. I guess I’ll just have to make more if each. Thanks Karen
Thanks for the nice comments James! I know how you’re feeling, I’m conflicted as well. Luckily we don’t have to choose just one! 🙂
What a great recipe–both Justin and I really liked these! Justin actually said, “I guess vegan food can be good!”
I never thought I’d hear those words come out of Justin’s mouth. Now my work is done.
Karen,
John told me how great these were…time for me to make some too!
I’m so glad that John liked them! I think you’ll find they’re really easy to make, and it’s a nice change from brownies.