Step 1: Preheat the Oven. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures your blondies bake evenly and come out perfectly chewy.
Step 2: Prepare the Baking Pan. Grease your 8x8-inch baking pan with butter or line it with parchment paper for easy removal later on.
Step 3: Mix the Blondie Batter. In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter and brown sugar. Whisk until smooth, then add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated.
Step 4: Incorporate the Dry Ingredients. Sift the all-purpose flour and salt into the wet mixture. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the batter using a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are okay!
Step 5: Bake the Blondies. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Step 6: Cool the Blondies. Once baked, remove the blondies from the oven and let them cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Step 7: Make the Caramel Sauce. In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the ½ cup melted butter, 1 cup brown sugar, and half-and-half. Stir constantly until the sugar dissolves, and the mixture is smooth.
Step 8: Add Vanilla Bean Paste. Remove the caramel sauce from the heat and stir in the vanilla bean paste. If desired, add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor.
Step 9: Combine with Confectioners' Sugar. In a separate bowl, sift the confectioners' sugar to avoid lumps. Gradually whisk the sugar into the caramel sauce until smooth and glossy.
Step 10: Assemble the Blondies. Once the blondies have cooled completely, pour the caramel sauce over the top, allowing it to drip down the sides. Let it set for a few minutes before slicing into squares.
