Vanilla Chip Cranberry Blondies

These blondies, because they're low fat, are quite cake like, and VERY delicious. I love the flavor combination of cranberries and white chocolate (or vanilla) chips. At Christmas time, I make a cookie that has very similar ingredients so I wanted to try this recipe and I wasn't disappointed.

This recipe calls for dried cranberries but I used fresh and just chopped them up. You can buy cranberries when they're in season in the fall, and keep them in the freezer for quite a long time. I usually buy a few extra bags and store them in the freezer for making crisps, cookies, quick breads, and now these bars!

I chopped up the cranberries using my zylis chopper, although next time I'll probably use my cuisinart to save time!



Once the cranberries are chopped, you can make the batter. (Of course, if you're using dried cranberries, you don't need to chop anything.)

Beat the eggs, oil, applesauce and vanilla. Then add the dry ingredients and mix until well blended. Stir in the chips and cranberries, and pecans. (I didn't use pecans because I prefer nut-less bars!)



Spread the batter into a 9x13 pan coated with cooking spray. The batter in the pan will be quite thin - I took this picture to show you that you'll have a lot of pan left!



Bake the bars for 20-25 minutes or until they test done. They will also pull away from the side of the pan a bit, like this:



Cool on a wire rack, cut into bars, and enjoy!

More ideas can be found at Foodie Friday and Friday Feasts.

Vanilla Chip Cranberry Blondies

2 eggs
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup applesauce
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/3 cups flour
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup dried cranberries OR 1 cup chopped fresh cranberries
1/2 cup vanilla or white chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

In large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, oil, applesauce and vanilla. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking soda and salt; add to egg mixture and mix until blended. Stir in the cranberries, chips and nuts.

Spread into a 13x9 pan coated with non stick cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until bars test done with a toothpick. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes 20.