Active Time

　　30 min

　　Total Time

　　2 hr (includes cooling)

　　Loaded with dried fruit, toasted almonds, and bittersweet chocolate, these blondies combine the best of a brownie with what you wish fruitcake could taste like. A terrific addition to any holiday cookie platter, they are also a satisfying stand-alone dessert.

　　

Ingredients

Makes 10 to 12 servings

　　1 cup boiling-hot water

　　1 cup dried cranberries (5 oz)

　　1 cup dried tart cherries (5 oz)

　　1 cup golden raisins (5 oz)

　　2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

　　1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

　　1 teaspoon salt

　　3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

　　2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

　　2 cups sugar

　　3 large eggs

　　1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

　　1 cup whole almonds with skins (6 oz), toasted and very coarsely chopped

　　8 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened; preferably 60 to 70% cacao), coarsely chopped

　　Accompaniment: eggnog ice cream (optional)

　　

Special Equipment

a 17- by 12-inch shallow baking pan (1 inch deep)

　　

Step 1

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325°F. Butter and flour baking pan, knocking out excess flour.

　　

Step 2

Pour boiling-hot water over dried fruit in a small bowl and soak 20 minutes, then drain well in a sieve.

　　

Step 3

Stir together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in another bowl.

　　

Step 4

Beat together melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low, then add flour mixture and mix until just combined. Mix in dried fruit, almonds, and chocolate.

　　

Step 5

Spread batter evenly in baking pan and bake until golden brown and a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a rack. Run a thin knife around edges of pan to loosen blondie, then cut blondie into roughly 3-inch squares.

　　Cooks' note:

　　Blondie can be baked (but not cut into squares) 2 days ahead and cooled completely, then kept, wrapped well in plastic wrap, at room temperature.