Chewy blondie bars swirled with cherries, cola, and topped with a sweet cherry glaze. Ideal for festive gatherings.
# Components:
→ Blondie Base
01 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
02 - 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
05 - 1/4 cup cola (regular, not diet)
06 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Cherries
09 - 3/4 cup maraschino cherries, drained, chopped
10 - 2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice, reserved from jar
→ Cherry Glaze
11 - 1 cup powdered sugar
12 - 2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
13 - 1 to 2 teaspoons cola, as needed for consistency
# Preparation Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8x8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter and brown sugar until the mixture is smooth. Incorporate the egg, vanilla extract, and cola; whisk until fully blended.
03 - Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined. Avoid overmixing to preserve a tender texture.
04 - Gently fold in chopped maraschino cherries and 2 tablespoons cherry juice until evenly distributed.
05 - Transfer the blondie batter to the prepared pan, spreading it into an even layer.
06 - Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center yields a few moist crumbs.
07 - Allow blondies to cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack before glazing.
08 - In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, cherry juice, and enough cola to achieve a thick but pourable glaze.
09 - Drizzle the glaze over cooled blondies. Let the glaze set before slicing into bars.
