Slightly Skinny Strawberry Blondie Bars: A Sweet Treat & My Quest for a Clean Home
The anticipation for my daughter’s 7th birthday was buzzing in our home. She had one simple wish: a party right here, at our house. While the thought of celebrating with her and her friends filled me with joy, it also brought a familiar dread – the inevitable mess. Multiple kids, their parents, cake crumbs, sticky fingers, and the general chaos of a children’s party meant one thing: a significant cleanup. And honestly, I really didn’t want to clean my house. The idea alone was exhausting, picturing the endless scrubbing and tidying that would be required before and after the festivities.
Then, like a beacon of hope, I stumbled upon it: a strawberry recipe contest. The grand prize? FREE HOUSE CLEANING! It felt like fate, a divine intervention tailored precisely for my current dilemma. If I could somehow win this incredible prize, I could wave a blissful goodbye to our cleaning woes, at least for a day. The thought of someone else tackling the deep grime and everyday clutter filled me with a surge of renewed optimism. It wasn’t just about avoiding a chore; it was about reclaiming precious time and energy, especially with a busy household and a birthday party on the horizon.
I had experienced the luxury of a professional house cleaner once before, a blissful three weeks that felt like a mini-vacation. Every corner of my home sparkled, and the mental load of constant tidying was miraculously lifted. Unfortunately, that luxury was short-lived. A job change led to reduced hours, and the cleaning service became an unaffordable indulgence. Ever since, I’ve held onto a quiet dream: if I ever won the lottery, a house cleaner would be my very first purchase. It’s not just about surface-level tidying; it’s about the “big clean.” You know the one – the accumulated mess that builds up over an entire year, desperately crying out for attention by springtime. This year, it had stubbornly lingered into summer, coinciding perfectly with my daughter’s July birthday. Who am I kidding? This “big clean” had truly been dragging on since my kids were born, a never-ending battle against toys, laundry, and life’s general detritus. I simply lacked the time, and to be perfectly honest, the real interest to tackle it with the dedication it deserved.
The Quest for Cleanliness: My Award-Winning Strawberry Blondie Adventure
It might seem utterly absurd to meticulously clean your house right before an impending invasion of seven-year-olds, armed with hot dogs, cake, and chips, ready to run riot. Believe me, I fully grasped the futility of it all. This very realization was a significant part of my disdain for the task. Cleaning, especially before a kids’ party, had evolved into something that felt profoundly pointless. After decades of doing it, you learn the harsh truth: it will just get dirty again. And when you have children, that reality is not just accelerated; it’s practically instantaneous. Yet, despite the short-lived satisfaction, there was always a fleeting salvation: I always felt immensely better after it was done, however brief that feeling of pristine order lasted. It’s a paradox of parenthood and homeownership, a cycle of effort and inevitable relapse.
So, you can truly imagine my utter glee and excitement when I received the news! I had won the $50 Week 3 prize in the contest with my Slightly Skinny Strawberry Blondie recipe! This was not just a small victory; it meant I was one step, one delicious, healthy dessert, closer to winning the grand prize of FREE HOUSE CLEANING! The thought ignited a spark of hope, a vivid image of a sparkling, professionally cleaned home without me lifting a finger. It felt almost too good to be true, a dream within tantalizing reach.
As the days passed and my house steadily accumulated more dirt and clutter – a stark reminder of the looming birthday party – I waited with bated breath. June 30th was the grand prize announcement date, and my daughter’s birthday was only ten days away. The timing was tight, adding to the suspense. Each day, I hoped to receive that life-changing email, the one that would confirm my victory and grant me the ultimate relief: a sparkling clean home, handled by someone else. This delicious, slightly skinny strawberry blondie wasn’t just a recipe; it was my ticket to domestic bliss, a sweet symbol of hope in a messy world.
Slightly Skinny Strawberry Blondie: A Dessert for Every Life Balance
The absurdity of feeling compelled to undertake a deep clean before a boisterous 7-year-old’s birthday party is, in many ways, a reflection of human nature itself. We strive for order amidst chaos, for perfection in an imperfect world. This Slightly Skinny Strawberry Blondie recipe, in its culinary essence, mirrors this human tendency. It begins with a light, tender blondie bottom, offering a subtle sweetness and comforting base. This is followed by a curvaceous, rich cream cheese layer, providing a delightful indulgence without being overly heavy. Then, atop these foundational elements, we add a “trying to be good” topping – a nod to our aspirations for health – and a vibrant, healthy fruity finish from the strawberry compote. It’s a dessert that perfectly embodies balance, allowing for both enjoyment and mindful eating.
This culinary philosophy profoundly epitomizes a typical week in my own life. I often start the week with the best intentions, back on the weight watchers wagon, meticulously tracking points and making healthy choices. Then, as the week progresses, I might slip into moments of indulgence, perhaps a forgotten snack or an extra treat. But as weigh-in day approaches, I find myself earnestly trying to be “good” again, attempting to steer back towards my goals. I believe this cycle resonates with many of us. We are all generally trying to make good choices when it comes to eating, aiming for health and wellness, but we are also inherently human. We crave comfort, celebrate with treats, and occasionally succumb to temptations. This is precisely why this dessert is dubbed “slightly skinny.” It embraces the concept of moderation, allowing for a satisfyingly sweet experience without guilt. This strawberry blondie is, in essence, the ultimate celebration of balance and sensible indulgence, offering a delightful way to satisfy a sweet craving while keeping health in mind.
An Ideal Light Dessert for Mother’s Day and Beyond
If you’re searching for delightful Mother’s Day meal ideas, why not elevate your celebration with this light and refreshing Strawberry Blondie? It pairs beautifully with a special brunch. For instance, consider making my 15 MINUTE EGGS BENEDICT WITH ARTICHOKE & ROASTED RED PEPPER HOLLANDAISE SAUCE – a truly impressive and relatively quick dish. What’s even better? This Blondie recipe cleverly utilizes only egg whites, leaving you with extra egg yolks. These yolks are precisely what you need for a luscious hollandaise sauce, making it a fantastic way to minimize food waste and maximize flavor! The mothers in your life will undoubtedly adore this light and thoughtful dessert, appreciating its fresh flavors and guilt-free indulgence. It’s a perfect ending to a celebratory meal, offering a sweet note that’s not too heavy. Beyond Mother’s Day, its crowd-pleasing appeal and relatively easy preparation also make it a fabulous potluck dessert, guaranteed to be a hit with everyone who tries a slice.
I just hoped it would win me that sweet house cleaning prize! The dream of a sparkling home fueled every step of its creation.
Sadly, despite my enthusiastic efforts and the undeniable deliciousness of my Strawberry Blondie, I did not win the coveted grand prize of free house cleaning. And to be completely honest, that stung. The disappointment was real, a gentle reminder that some dreams, however practical, sometimes remain just out of reach. However, amidst the initial letdown, a profound realization began to emerge. I understood that this quest wasn’t just about cleaning; it was about purging. The entire experience, driven by the hope of winning, had inadvertently compelled my family and me to undertake not only the long-overdue “big clean” but also a significant decluttering effort. It was the purging that truly made a difference.
There’s a deeply cathartic quality to letting go of unused items, organizing neglected corners, and creating space. For me, these days, it’s almost a cleansing of the soul, a physical act that brings mental clarity and a sense of fresh start. Since my daughter has requested her birthday parties at home for the past few years, I now know with certainty that we will need to perform this clean/purge ritual at least once every year. While I still inwardly cringe at the sheer thought of the effort involved, I also intimately understand the profound sense of well-being that follows its completion. That feeling of lightness, order, and renewed energy, however short-lived it may be, makes all the hard work worthwhile. It’s a cyclical journey of mess, effort, and temporary bliss, a testament to the ongoing saga of maintaining a home and finding joy in the small victories, even when the grand prize eludes you. And through it all, we still have a delicious, slightly skinny strawberry blondie to enjoy!
Slightly Skinny Strawberry Blondie Bars
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Ingredients
Light Blondie bottom:
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ⅔ cup mashed bananas about 2 small bananas
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 4 egg whites (See NOTES below for using up egg yolks)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Curvaceous Cream cheese layer:
- 1 cup chopped strawberries see directions, cooked but not pureed
- 16 oz light cream cheese
- ¼ cup icing sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- ⅓ cup toffee bits I use Skor bits
“Trying to be good “ Topping:
- 1 box fat free white chocolate instant pudding mix 32g
- 2 cups 1% milk
- 3 tablespoons powdered whipped dessert mix I use Dream Whip
Strawberry Compote :
- 2 cup fresh chopped strawberries ½ of this will be compote and ½ used for cream cheese layer
- 4 tablespoons white granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons Kirsch
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Instructions
Light Blondie bottom:
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Blondie Bottom: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9-by-13-inch cake pan with non- stick cooking spray. Whisk flour and baking powder in a medium bowl. In a large mixing bowl, add softened butter, brown sugar, and mashed banana. Mix on medium-high speed until the mixture is pale and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes. Beat in the egg whites and vanilla extract until well combined. Reduce mixer speed to low. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just combined and no dry streaks remain. Be careful not to overmix.
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Evenly spread the blondie batter into the prepared dish, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, which should take approximately 20 minutes. The edges should be lightly golden. Let the blondie cool in the dish for about 15 minutes before proceeding to the next steps.
Compote:
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Prepare the Strawberry Compote: In a small saucepan, combine the fresh chopped strawberries (2 cups total), white granulated sugar, Kirsch, and lemon juice. Cook the mixture over medium-high heat for approximately 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries begin to soften and release their juices.
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Carefully remove ½ of the cooked strawberry mixture from the saucepan. Drain these strawberries through a fine-mesh sieve, gently pressing to extract excess liquid. Set aside the drained strawberries to cool for about 10 minutes; these will be incorporated into your cream cheese layer. Discard the collected liquid.
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Continue cooking the remaining ½ of the strawberry mixture in the saucepan on low heat for an additional 3 minutes, allowing it to thicken slightly. Pour these strawberries and their liquid into a food processor. Process for 30-45 seconds, or until a smooth, pureed compote is achieved. Set this strawberry puree aside to cool completely; it will be used for the vibrant swirl topping.
Cream Cheese Layer:
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Prepare the Cream Cheese Layer: In a mixing bowl, combine the icing sugar, light cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of room temperature unsalted butter, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Once the previously drained strawberries (from step 1.1) have cooled, gently fold them into the cream cheese mixture. Finally, fold in the toffee bits, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
Topping: .
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Prepare the “Trying to be good” Topping: In a separate bowl, whisk together the fat-free white chocolate instant pudding mix and 2 cups of 1% milk according to the package directions until smooth. Add in the powdered whipped dessert mix (such as Dream Whip) and continue to beat for an additional minute until the mixture is light and fluffy. Place the pudding mixture in the fridge to cool and set for about 5 minutes, allowing it to firm up slightly.
Assembly:
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Assemble the Strawberry Blondie Bars: Once the blondie bottom has completely cooled, carefully spread the prepared cream cheese mixture evenly over the top, creating a smooth layer. Next, gently spread the cooled pudding mixture over the cream cheese layer. Finally, using a butter knife or a skewer, evenly swirl in the reserved strawberry compote puree, creating beautiful patterns. For best results and to allow the layers to set perfectly, refrigerate the bars for at least 30 minutes (or longer if time permits) before serving. Slice into generous bars and enjoy this delightful, balanced dessert!
Notes
Nutrition