The Coffee That Makes This Work
All Jacked Up Espresso Blend is bold enough to actually hold its ground against chai spice, chocolate, and toasted pecans — a lighter roast disappears in this batter, and disappearing is the last thing this blondie is trying to do. Ground fine and sifted into the batter, then backed up with a splash of the brewed version too. You could use another dark roast — but this is the one the recipe was built around.
Shop All Jacked Up Espresso Blend →Available in whole bean and espresso grind, in 1/2 lb and 1 lb bags. Fresh roasted to order, every time.
Why You'll Love It
- Perfectly chewy with a golden, buttery bite
- Bold coffee flavor backed up by warm, layered chai spice
- Studded with melty chocolate and toasted salted pecans
- One bowl, no mixer, ready in under an hour
The Java Momma Twist
This is a two-way coffee move: fine-ground All Jacked Up Espresso, sifted right into the sugar and spice, plus a splash of the same coffee brewed and cooled folded into the wet ingredients. One brings texture and a concentrated hit of flavor, the other brings depth without grit. Add Chai Baking Spice — cinnamon, cardamom, and warmth doing exactly what it does in an actual dirty chai — and you've got the coffee shop order in bar form.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp coarse sea salt
- 1 stick (½ cup) butter, softened to room temperature
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp All Jacked Up Espresso Blend grounds, sifted
- 1 tsp Chai Baking Spice
- 2 eggs
- 3 Tbsp strong brewed coffee, cooled (All Jacked Up Espresso Blend works well here too)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup chocolate chunks or chips
- ¾ cup salted pecans, roughly chopped
Directions
- Prep the pan. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
- Build the flavor base. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together both sugars, Chai Baking Spice, and the sifted coffee grounds. Add the softened butter and beat until combined.
- Add the wet ingredients. Add the eggs, brewed coffee, and vanilla extract; whisk until smooth.
- Fold in the dry. Add the flour mixture and fold with a spatula until just a few streaks remain. Fold in half the chocolate and half the pecans.
- First bake. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake 15–20 minutes.
- Top and finish. Remove from the oven and scatter the remaining chocolate and pecans over the top. Return to the oven and bake another 10–15 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely. Transfer to a wire rack and cool fully in the pan before lifting out with the parchment and cutting into squares. Top with vanilla ice cream if you're feeling extra.
Swaps & Permission Slips
- No Chai Baking Spice on hand? A mix of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and a pinch of clove gets you close — Chai Baking Spice just does the math for you.
- Want it nuttier or no nuts at all? Walnuts work in place of pecans, or leave them out entirely and add extra chocolate.
- Prefer a milder coffee presence? A medium roast works, but the chai spice and chocolate will start to lead — this recipe was built around a bold roast holding its own.
- Want the whole blondie lineup? There's also Mocha Glazed Chocolate Chip Blondies if you want a glaze on top, and Peanut Butter Coffee Blondies if you want something lighter and nuttier.
Made this one? All Jacked Up Espresso Blend is available whole bean and espresso grind, in 1/2 lb and 1 lb bags. Fresh roasted to order, every time.
More recipes like this one are at The Menu.
These keep well airtight at room temperature for a few days — if you can keep the pecans out of them that long.
FAQ
What makes these "dirty chai" blondies?
A dirty chai is chai tea with a shot of espresso added — this blondie does the same thing in bar form, combining chai spice with real coffee grounds and brewed coffee instead of choosing one or the other.
Can I use instant coffee instead of ground coffee?
You can, but you'll lose some of the concentrated, slightly textural coffee flavor that sifted fine-ground coffee gives the batter. Instant coffee dissolves cleanly and works fine in the brewed portion of the recipe.
What's in Chai Baking Spice?
A warm blend built around cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and clove — the same spices that give a dirty chai latte its signature warmth, pre-measured so you don't have to build the blend yourself.
Can I make these ahead?
Yes — they hold well at room temperature in an airtight container for a few days, and the flavor actually settles in nicely overnight.
