Anyone Care for Dessert?

Good evening everyone to an extra night of cooking here on Out of the Culinary!  As we focus on low calorie recipes, sometimes it's nice to splurge on a dessert everyone now and then.  Unfortunately, the majority of these recipes are ridiculously high in the calorie count and it wouldn't even be worth the splurge.  Tonight, I'm creating a delicious dessert, that just happens to be nutritious too!

The Recipe:  Butterscotch Blondes
Original Recipe Found In:  Cooking Light, September 2013 Issue

What You'll Need:
4.5 Ounces Whole-Wheat Pastry Flour (about one cup)*
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Cup Butterscotch Morsels
2 Tablespoons Half-and-Half
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
3 Tablespoons Canola Oil
3 Tablespoons Butter, melted
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Large Eggs
1/3 Cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips

*Note:  While we knew that whole-wheat pastry flour is a specialized ingredient, we knew not to look in the regular grocery store.  We found the flour in a supermarket and I'm sure you can find it too in a grocery store that has a large baking section.

To start, preheat an oven to 350 degrees.  Next, weight or lightly spoon the flour into a dry measuring cup and level in a knife.  In a medium mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Stir with a whisk, making sure all the ingredients are well combined.

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, mix the butterscotch morsels and the half-and-half.  Pop into the microwave and microwave on high for 45 seconds, stirring every 15 seconds until this mixture is smooth.  Into a mixing bowl, add the brown sugar, canola oil, butter, vanilla, and eggs.  Using a mixer, beat these ingredients for two minutes, or until all the ingredient are well combined.  Add the flour mixture and the butterscotch mixture to the mixing bowl and stir until just combined.  Finally, stir in the chocolate chips.

In an 8-inch square metal baking pan, coat with cooking spray.  Pour the batter into the baking pan.  By this time, the oven should be preheated.  Place the baking pan in the oven and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees, or until a wooden pick inserted comes out with moist crumbs clinging.  Place the pan on a wire rack to cool.  Cut into 16 squares, serve, and enjoy!

The End Result:

These little squares are packed with moist, yet crumbly goodness.  The whole-wheat flour definitely is a different flavor direction your mouth will not be ready for.  It a complete flavor difference than just regular all-purpose flour.  Bits of butterscotch flavor are infused into the bars.  While it's not a smack in the face flavor, it's enough to notice and it makes it more flavorful.  The chocolate chips become somewhat melty and an ooey-gooey consistency happens.  With each square being 154 calories, it's okay to have more than one and you won't feel guilty!

Thanks for joining us this week.  If you are in the states, celebrate the last blast of summer of Labor Day, and we'll rejoin next week with brand new recipes to share with you all.  Until then,

~Cheers!