MASALA CHAI SPICED BLONDIES

aka the perfect homemade Christmas gift

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I have never been the biggest fan of mince pies, Christmas cake or Christmas pudding - I guess I’m just not that much of a dried fruit fan - unless of course we are talking dates & prunes. Anyway, the point is, at Christmas my favourite bakes are those that are heavily spiced with all things nice - and by that I mean ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, black pepper etc - all ingredients that make up a good cup of masala chai. I have written about my love of masala chai before, namely last year when I shared this recipe for a vegan alternative to the traditional Christmas cake.

These blondies were born out of the need to make a quick bake to take to a Dracula reading at a friend’s house (as fun and alternative as it sounds), and I just didn’t feel like a cookie or a brownie and I really wanted them to feel somewhat festive. This recipe hit the nail on the head. I have been making them multiple times a week since and they are now a firm festive season staple in the warehouse - a full batch disappeared at our annual Christmas party within an hour.

If you’re anything like me you are probably feeling a little rundown, over worked and ready for the working year to be over so you can curl up at home in your pyjamas - is it me or is 2024 overstaying it’s welcome? If you are in that burned out zone, I can heartily recommend taking an evening to stay home and bake, a moment for yourself, away from the laptop, perhaps with some carols on in the background and a nice glass of wine in hand. Whether you are baking these blondies or something else, it really is a mood booster and a tonic for all the hectic Christmas party nights we’re in the midst of.

Sending love, Rosie x