MAGIC BLONDIE BITES

Magic Blondie Bites image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Yield Makes 1 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 11

2/3 cup sweetened flaked coconut
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup chopped walnuts (2 1/2 ounces)
2/3 cup dried cherries or cranberries
9 tablespoons (1 1/8 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pan
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps:

Stir together coconut, chocolate, walnuts, and cherries in a medium bowl; set aside. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners; set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a buttered 8-inch square baking pan with foil or parchment paper, allowing 2 inches to hang over sides. Butter lining (excluding overhang); set pan aside.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, and set aside.
Put butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; cream on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until combined. Add flour mixture, and beat on low speed, scraping down sides of bowl, until well incorporated. Mix 1 cup coconut mixture into batter.
Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each three-quarters full. Sprinkle remaining coconut mixture over tops. Bake until a cake tester inserted into centers comes out with a few crumbs but is not wet, about 25 minutes.