Fireworks Blondies

Have you ever needed a dessert that makes everyone’s eyes light up before they even take a bite? These Fireworks Blondies are exactly that kind of treat – festive, fun, and absolutely irresistible!

With their chewy texture, buttery flavor, and colorful bursts of red, white, and blue M&Ms and sprinkles, they’re the perfect sweet ending to your Independence Day celebrations.

The first time I made these for my family, Sophia and James practically dove into the pan before they had even cooled. David gave me that appreciative nod that every home baker lives for.

Since then, these have become our go-to patriotic dessert for summer gatherings.

If you’re looking for more festive treats, you might also love my Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies.

Why You’ll Love These Fireworks Blondies

Simple Ingredients These blondies use pantry staples you likely already have on hand, with just a few festive add-ins for that patriotic touch.

Kid-Approved My kids always fight over who gets the corner pieces! The colorful M&Ms and sprinkles make these particularly appealing to little ones.

Make-Ahead Friendly Bake these a day before your celebration and they’ll still taste amazing – in fact, the flavors develop beautifully overnight!

What Makes These Blondies Special for Fireworks Celebrations

Fireworks Blondies are a festive twist on classic blondies – those deliciously chewy, buttery bar cookies that are like the vanilla cousin to brownies.

What makes these special is the addition of red, white, and blue M&Ms and patriotic sprinkles that create a colorful “fireworks” effect throughout the bars.

The base is rich with brown sugar, giving these bars that signature caramel-like flavor that makes blondies so irresistible.

The texture hits that perfect balance between chewy centers and slightly crisp edges that make you want to reach for a second (or third!) piece.

Ingredients For Your Patriotic Fireworks Blondies

Butter I use unsalted butter to control the salt content. Make sure it’s softened but not melted for the best texture.

Brown Sugar This is the star flavor-maker in blondies. The molasses in brown sugar gives these bars their distinctive caramel notes and helps create that perfect chewy texture.

Eggs Eggs bind everything together and add richness. Room temperature eggs blend better with the other ingredients.

Vanilla Extract Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.

Salt Just a bit enhances all the other flavors.

Baking Powder This gives a slight lift to the blondies without making them cakey.

All-Purpose Flour The structure of our blondies. Measure carefully for best results.

Red, White, and Blue M&Ms These create the festive “fireworks” effect and add chocolatey goodness.

Patriotic Sprinkles These add extra color and crunch throughout the bars.

How To Make Perfect Fireworks Blondies

The best part about these Fireworks Blondies (besides eating them, of course) is how simple they are to make. You don’t need any fancy equipment – just a mixer, a bowl, and a pan.

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13″ pan with foil and spray well with cooking spray.
2. Mix the butter and brown sugar with a stand or hand mixer until the mixture looks crumbly, about 2 minutes.
3. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until the batter becomes smooth and well-combined.
4. Incorporate the dry ingredients by mixing in salt and baking powder, then gradually adding flour until just combined. Don’t overmix!
5. Fold in M&Ms and sprinkles gently with a spatula, reserving a few for topping if desired.
6. Spread in the prepared pan. The mixture will be thick and sticky, so I find it helpful to spray my hands with cooking spray and use them to press the dough evenly into the pan.
7. Add extra M&Ms on top for a prettier presentation. This step makes them extra festive for your 4th of July celebrations.
8. Bake for 22-25 minutes until the edges start to turn golden brown. The center might look slightly underdone, but that’s perfect! They’ll continue to set as they cool and this ensures they stay chewy.
9. Cool completely before cutting into squares. I know it’s tempting to dig in right away, but they’ll cut much more neatly if you give them time to set up.

Tips For Making Your Fireworks Blondies Perfect Every Time

Over the years of making these for countless summer gatherings, I’ve learned a few tricks:

Don’t overmix the batter Once you add the flour, mix just until combined to avoid tough blondies.

Use a metal pan for the best results. Glass pans conduct heat differently and can lead to overcooked edges and undercooked centers.

Line your pan with foil or parchment for easy removal and cutting.

Err on the side of underbaking Blondies continue to cook as they cool. Taking them out when they’re just barely done ensures they stay chewy rather than cakey.

Let them cool completely before cutting for clean slices.

Creative Variations for Your Blondies

Add white chocolate chips for even more sweetness and creamy texture.

Try different M&M colors to match any holiday or celebration.

Add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for extra crunch and flavor.

Swap some butterscotch chips for some of the M&Ms for a different flavor profile.

What To Serve With Your Fireworks Blondies

These patriotic dessert bars are perfect with:

Vanilla ice cream Warm a blondie slightly and top with a scoop for an indulgent dessert.

Fresh berries Continue the red, white, and blue theme with some fresh strawberries and blueberries on the side.

Cold milk or coffee The perfect beverage pairing for these sweet treats.

For a complete 4th of July spread, serve these alongside my Creamy Lemon Pasta and Garlic Butter Chicken Bites for a meal everyone will love.

How To Store Your Blondies

Counter storage: Keep these blondies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.

Freezer-friendly: These Fireworks Blondies freeze beautifully! Wrap individual squares in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.

Thaw at room temperature when the craving strikes.

FAQs About Fireworks Blondies

More Festive Recipes You’ll Love

If you enjoyed these Fireworks Blondies, check out these other festive treats:

• Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies Another colorful treat perfect for celebrations!
• Ultimate Brownie Recipe When you’re craving something chocolatey instead.
• Sugar Cookie Recipe These can be decorated with patriotic colors too!

Let’s Celebrate Together!

I hope these Fireworks Blondies bring as much joy to your family gatherings as they do to mine. There’s something special about sharing homemade treats during holiday celebrations – they create memories that last far longer than the dessert itself (though these never last long in my house!).

If you make these 4th of July blondies, I’d love to hear how they turned out! Drop a comment below or tag me in your photos on social media.

Happy baking and happy celebrating!

Iris

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